Improving lives of 1000 girls in Nairobi's slums

As the world was observing the last day of sixteen days of activism against gender based violence and celebrating human rights day on 10^th December, VAP’s Mrembo project zipped it up by organizing a GBV procession walk. Sixteen football teams from all the corners of Nairobi mainly composed of girls and few boys came with their guns blazing with whistles on their mouth carrying a huge banner and placards written on different types of messages in support of a girl child and under one #stopping Rape joined in the procession that started from the streets of Eastleigh, through the slums of Kiambiu all the way to Kiambiu football ground. The procession had a brief stopover at the Kiambiu chief’s camp where the chief applauded  VAP’s effort in fighting gender based violence and pledged to work together and support VAP in its fight against gender based violence especially in Kiambiu slum where the prevalence of G.B.V is sky rocketing.

Scoring Against Gender Based Violence

After amplifying their voices on the streets, it was time for the teams to put their best feet forward on the football pitch and compete for the 4^th annual Miss Mrembo tournament. The sixteen teams played in small sided games 7 vs 7 with football 3 methodology where boys and girls had equal time to discuss before and after the match. The methodology teaches young people to learn how to solve issues themselves and build consensus. The approach has been of great impact to VAP towards achieving its core aim of transmitting and reinforcing important messages on health issues as well addressing other topics such as gender equality, social inclusion, peace building and youth leadership.Off the field, Mrembo peer educators were at hand to take the teams through gender based violence topics, discussions and the rights of a girl child

Queens Against Gender Based Violence

Putting the cream on the day’s cake was Mrembo beauty pageant contest that attracted twelve girls from the participating teams. Mrembo salon staff were at hand with all the salon’s beauty paraphernalia to provide the necessary beauty applications to the participants who had to perform a catwalk on the runway displaying their outlook and walking styles. Vivian  from Golden Angels team was crowned Miss mrembo 2015 by the two judges as a result of not only looking stunning and performing an excellent catwalk but answering G.B.V questions correctly which was the key aspect of miss mrembo beauty pageant. The winner walked away with a voucher to purchase educational supplies, one ball and one year supply of sanitary towels. Runners up walked away a voucher to purchase educational supplies, ball and six months supply of sanitary towels. Third runners up walked away with a voucher to purchase educational supplies, a ball and a three months supply of sanitary towels.”I have gained the confidence to speak out against on rape issues” Said 13 years old Vivian . “I will speak out and protect our sisters against G.B.V”.Said 15 years old Alfred.

The month of September was a month of surprise for two Mrembo VCT graduates: Benta and Faith as job openings came beckoning for them. Through efforts and a partnership made by Mrembo Vocational Training manager and 'Step In 'salon where Brenda works and 'Shine Out' barbershop where Faith works, the two girls were first absorbed as interns for one month the whole of September and later confirmed job placements in the month of October."Am happy that I can make my own money and support myself and my family."Said Faith. "I had given up my life but since I joined VAP programs and the vocational trainings, my hope started coming back. Am also so proud that I have a job to help myself and live independently."Said Benta. The entire VAP fraternity wishes both girls the very best in their future endeavors. Hands On! VAP coaches and volunteers were caught unaware when the newly recruited Mrembo salon vocational training girls emerged with salon equipments ready to treat them on: manicure, pedicure and facial as part of their practical sessions. The practicals were done at VAP's head offices where coaches and volunteers had converged for a monitoring and evaluation meeting. The exercise provided an avenue for assessment of their work led by their head trainers, Celestine Onyango and Bonila Otieno. Since the admission of the new girls in the Mrembo vocational training, there has been a significant piece of improvement for practicals and theories as well as financial literacy and computer skills that was introduced recently Girls Football Tournament Under the theme of 'Cheza Ball avoid kuget ball' which is a Swahili version coupled with some english and slung meaning, play football to avoid early pregnancy, Nairobi Brain Trust (NBT) a network composed of over 20 organizations who work with vulnerable adolescent girls in Kenya in conjunction with VAP's Mrembo program, rolled up their sleeves with VAP through Mrembo program in organizing a one day girls football tournament targeting 15 teams of ages 14-19 years. The tournament was held at Jericho community grounds attracting a crowd of over 400 people who came to watch football and witnessing participants being taken through: causes of teenage pregnancies, effects of teenage pregnancies on adolescent girls, role of sports and attending school as well as preventing early sex debut and other health talks all these provided by Mrembo peer educators. The football matches were conducted using football 3 methodologies where Prior to each match, teams came together to discuss how they would want to play the match and agree on specific rules which they would like to apply during the match where there was no referee and so players were given a chance to solve their disputes through dialogue with an aim of creating peace. Becoming A Citizen Journalist More than four organizations, VAP being one of them were invited to attend Nairobi Brain Trust NBT media workshop held at Henessis Hotel in Nairobi. The three day workshop attended by three young girls from VAP was all about how to capture compelling stories, media ethics and how to be a good Citizen Journalist in the Community and to identify a problem in the address it in a more robust way to the people affected, narrating a story as it is, work on with the community on how to come up with possible solution.