Empower, Engage, Educate in Rural Kenya!

They came on the back of motorbikes, buses, cars and on foot. In mid-June, 400 parents joined us for a mobilization event at the Kenya Connect campus to discuss ways to decrease teen pregnancy and gender-based violence. We were hoping for 150 parents and 400 came!

In 2022, we launched the Girl/Boy Empowerment program when we learned that 3964 girls in our county became pregnant during a 3 month period in 2020, and when we dug into the numbers, we found that 96 girls at our 63 schools became pregnant; many as a result of non-consensual relationships. We knew we needed to do something. Under the leadership of Faith Doucette, we launched the year-long Girl/Boy Empowerment Student and four session Parent Program. At the heart of both programs is communication, understanding body boundaries, respect and consent while providing accurate sexual reproduction information.

Our third phase was launched at the Parent Mobilization meeting with parents from throughout our region coming to learn how they can keep their children safe. As they arrived, each parent received three colorful advocacy posters to hang in their communities. Once assembled, the parents heard from the Girl/Boy Empowerment team, a local pastor, and elected officials who shared content information and encouraged parents to talk with their children about sexual health and reproduction and about how to stay safe from gender-based violence. 

Many people have asked, "why include the boys in this program?" We believe by including boys and men, they learn about consent, respect, boundaries and peer pressure and can be advocates for girls while learning how to develop healthy relationships. It was clear at the session that fathers were as engaged as mothers.

At the conclusion of the event, one parent shared, "Can we have another session next month?" and everyone clapped. It is clear that the community wants to learn more to protect children and to decrease gender-based violence.

We are grateful to your support that allows us to create and implement these programs that help keep children safe so they can remain in school. We also know that families that communicate provide a healthy foundation for their children and community. Thank you for investing in our work. We couldn't do it without you!