Responding to Deadly Conflicts in Western Kenya

In two basic HROC workshop trainings we trained thirty participants both young mothers and community stakeholders. In the trainings the young mothers blamed poverty as the main reason associated with increased rates of teenage pregnancy. Teenage pregnancies are so rampant in the area because young girls get involved in the relationships with older men so that they can provide for them. In Chepyuk, poverty has played a major role in young girls getting into relationship with older men. Some young girls accept male teachers, motorbike riders (Bodaboda) and police officers for financial gains andmaterial items like clothes, body lotions, sanitary towels, this is because the girls can’t get them from their parents due to high cost of living and henceno alternative but to sleep with older men who promise to finance them and take advantage of their vulnerability. Also, many girls have been raped as they take the long journeys from or to school and in Mt. Elgon Forest while fetching firewood and food

         Healing from trauma is a process that takes time and effort depending on the depth of loss one has experienced. In all our trainings we sit in a circle, this process has transformed to a healing circle which brings supportive groups of people talking about trauma, loss or other issues troubling them, during this training we adapted healing circles for teenage girls, which creates safe space for girls who would not talk openly. In the circle we have helped our participants to deepen their understanding of trauma, strategies of recovery, identifying and responding to strong emotions and personal journey of healing. In the healing circle we have helped our participants recover from trauma through creating ssafety, encouraging remembrance and mourning, helping both victims by addressing their needs through connection to family, friends and community and commonality which help bring other people who have experienced similar loss.

          Through this healing circle we identified healing companionswho provided support to girls who on their journey of healing, from the circle participants have build resilience and coping mechanism.It is from this training that we introduced mentorship program for young mothers and teenagers.

“I got my first child when I was fifteen years, after my mother died, my father married another wife leaving me with responsibility of taking care my three siblings as I continue with school, I was left with no option but look for male friend who will help me, I got pregnant and he was arrested for impregnating me. Life has never been the same, I have been working in people farms to raise my child and siblings, I want to thank Hellen for introducing me to this trauma training, I thought I was alone, meeting all these young mothers gives me hope, we will continue listening to each other as we seek more help and opportunities”