1000 Kibera slum girls empowered to excel

Where is the slum she?  This is the question various stakeholders and policy makers need to ask. Is she a third party or is actively involved in discussions and engagements such as the ICPD? Adolescent girls and women of all ages are often left behind in discussions around their wellbeing especially if they come from under privileged background. Since Kenya and other 178 countries adopted program of Action (PoA) during ICPD summit in Cairo 25 years ago, a little progress has been realized in the set the businesses while other businesses have not been worked on. There is still a need to take transformed action and link between SDGs and ICPD goals to end poverty, address human rights, and access to universal health coverage including sexual reproductive health. In the days leading up to the main ICPD event in Kenya ( Kenyatta International Convention Centre), a 2 day Pre- ICPD event was held in Kibera. The first was held on 4^th for the adolescent girls and the 2^nd one on 5^th for the women in Kibera.

ACTIVITY GOAL

Ensuring that Adolescent girls and women of all ages from the informal settlements are not left behind in accelerating the ICPD promise.

Target Populations: Adolescent girls and women from 5 informal settlements in Kenya.

Project Objectives

1. To contribute to reduction of early pregnancies among school going girls.
2. To provide relevant information on SRH through life skill and access to safe spaces
3. Come up with sustainable relevant solutions to daily challenges affecting the lives of adolescent girls.
4. To identify the progress made since the discussion in Cairo, identify the gaps and make commitments of achieving the said gaps

Highlights for the Events

Discussions on SRH and Harassment

Sexual harassment cases have been increased. PDP has been with 50 schools in the slums and have introduced talking boxes where girls share through unanimous notes. Many of those notes are about sexual harassment. Women to work hand in hand to support children’s rights

Commitments by stakeholders

Assistant County Commissioner –Kibra Sub County working with the government together with NGOs and CBOs in Kibra towards the implementation and achievement of the principles and goals of the ICPD Programme of Action. They that are looking forward to working with Civil Societies and other partners on these important achievements of the ICPD Agenda and further promote the global development agenda.

UNFPA Executive Director said - As women and girls celebrate the remarkable progress women have realized advancing their rights to health, though some women in some areas have no opportunity of accessing this kind of right, efforts must be doubled to reach those who have not yet benefited from the promise of the ICPD. She informed the women about the upcoming Nairobi Summit Event which is going to help us rally a broad coalition of stakeholders to protect the gains made and advance the ICPD agenda to ensure that no one is left behind.”

Discussions around Mental health

As we empower AGYW to take control of their lives, it must be remembered that some issues are as a result of mental health. Women and girls cannot be healthy without mental health. Just months before ICPD there is several adolescent girls who took their lives. A mental health specialist was engaged to facilitate and talk to the adolescent girls and women to promote their health. The session had a comprehensive discussion on SRH, mental health and the ICPD25 key pillars. On mental health the girls were taken through the different types of mental health that affects all girls at that age group. They were guided on different forms of mental health how to approach them and attend o them in case they or their friends are experiencing it. On Sexual Reproductive Health conversation there was a discussion on avoiding sexual activity during the holidays. On the ICPD 25 the girls were empowered on right to education, sexual health, early marriages and attaining equal rights.

Panel discussions - Understanding of ICPD 25

Since ICPD conversation in the year 1994, the government has made equally important strides in many other areas like our fight against HIV/AIDS. Not completely there yet, but visibly the HIV landscape is definitely not what it used to be. Women are still looking forward to the government to help fight Cancer disease.

Many girls are attending schools since the introduction of free primary education. Some the Adolescent girls from some communities are married off by the age of 18 due to lack of school fees to continue with their studies or due to cultural activities.

Empowered women who can access free health facilities like AMREF, Medicine San Frontiers, CDC do so while other women who are not yet empowered and are far from such facilities are still unable to meet their family planning needs. Others are still practicing harmful cultural practices.

One in three women are affected by sexual and gender-based violence. Others are killed by their spouse. So many women have been killed in the slums by their spouse raising up the number of orphans.

Sexual harassment cases have been increased. PDP has been with 50 schools in the slums and have introduced talking boxes where girls share through unanimous notes. Many of those notes are about sexual harassment. Women to work hand in hand to support children’s rights

People living with disabilities, their situation is improved, elevators and lifts, preserved parking areas, isolated toilets, special tags for identification provide to PWD’s “I live with disabilities” e.g. am blind, am deaf,

Crisis, poverty and discrimination continue to put basic sexual and reproductive health care out of reach for far too many women and girls. Leaders will convene to reaffirm that sustainable development and the full realization human rights depend on making sure they have it. No matter their circumstances

Women and girls who missed out their education before, the government is providing Adult education for all. Women and girls are able access affordable education and are able to sit for the same government examination. This will improve women’s literacy level and access to information at the right time.

ANNEXES

        i.            List of Participants/attendance list

       ii.            Program/timetable for the event.

     iii.            Supporting financial documents

Conclusion

Participation of the community in the ICPD 25 is a clear acceleration of the promise to the highest urban population, a powerful component of inclusion.

Links:

• Polycom Girls Shines at ICPD 25

Janet (Not her real name) believes that she is pregnant, she had unprotected sex 3 months ago and hasn't received her periods every since, she is stressed and lost, she sleeps in class and picks up fights with everyone. She vomits in the morning, she is worried and does not know what to do. Maxy is worried, as a Gpende Ambassador she cannot ignore this, people are already talking behind Janet's back suspecting that she is pregnant. 

"Can you come to our school and talk to the girls about how one can get pregnant and what they should do not not annoy everyone if they are pregnant," One Taking Boxes Content reads, its from Maxy, she would like Polycom to help her friend. Talking Boxes are locked up boxes installed in schools where girls are encouraged to write anything they have that thay cannot speak about openly. The contents are collected and assemblies organized to encourage the girls to use the boxes or to respond to issues raised by the girls.

Polycom mentors are up in arms to the school, they liaise with the teacher to organize the girls for an assembly and the girls are ready to listen, They are going to share about pregnancy, questions prepared;

1. How does someone become pregnant

2. What does she feel.

3. What should one do if she suspects that she is pregnant

4. You are not to blame - Taking charge

The girls listened keenly as the mentors shared, the Ambassadors led by Maxy were keenly looking at Janet's reaction, they wanted to be sure that their suspicions weren't true. Janet fell into their trap when she asked her questions after the presentation and they confirmed their fears. After the session, they approached Janet and convinced to come to our office for a talk with the mentors who referred her for counselling. Janet was later accompanied to the hospital for pregnancy test and thank God, she wasn't pregnant.

GPENDE Assemblies have become powerful platforms for speaking on issues affecting girls within their schools, the girls continue to develop their own support structures to ensure that no gircl is left behind.