Educate & Empower 1200 Girls in the Nairobi Slums

SAFE SPACES STRATEGIC RESPONSE AGAINST CORONA VIRUS

Background to the problem

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a respiratory infectious disease that causes illness ranging from common cold, middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) to server acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV). 30 million cases and over 500,00 deaths have been reported globally. The government of Kenya has committed itself to fighting the virus through mass testing, isolation, treatments, closing schools, placing curfews and closing borders. The measures have negative socio-economic impacts specifically, to the urban marginalized girls and women living in the informal settlements. Many young women have lost their informal jobs and business, households are currently facing acute shortage of food, there have been reported cases of domestic violence and stigma. Girls that are not going to school are being exposed to child labor, negative peer influence, drug abuse, early sex and unwanted pregnancies. 

Intervention

Safe Spaces a Community Based organization that empowers and advocates for girls and women rights in the slums of mathare has come up with strategic responses to mitigate the adverse effects of corona virus. Our goal during this pandemic are to ensure that there is zero hunger, continuity of quality education to girls, decent work for women and good health and well being of households in Mathare slum.  Our objectives in this pandemic include Creating awareness and sensitizing over 300 households on the Public health measures against corona virus. Distributing of sanitization products to 1200 people living in Mathare slum, Provision of food to 150 needy households, providing a working Space and jobs to 3 young women, trainings on life skills and provision of resources for girls to study when they are home.

Key milestones in programs/projects

SDG 1 Zero hunger

       I.          150 needy households living in Mathare slum have been supplied with relief foods

      II.          Safe Spaces community farm has 72 circular gardens that provide bi-weekly 216 kgs of fresh vegetables supplied to 300 households in Mathare

SDG 3 Good Health and well being

       I.          Safe Spaces has created awareness and sensitized 300 households in Mathare slum on the Public Health measures against corona virus

      II.          Safe Spaces Organization has distributed 1200 hundred face mask and antiseptic soap to 300 households in Mathare.

    III.          Safe Spaces has training of Trainers for Peer educators on the Public health measures against Corona Virus

SDG 4 Quality Education

       I.          Safe Spaces Has launched a Digital Library in the Slums of Mathare where over 1200 girls will be accessing educational materials virtually

      II.          Safe Spaces selected 11 girls who are currently undergoing a course on Photography. The trainings are being done by Lensational.

SDG 8 Decent Work and economic growth

       I.          Safe Spaces Has provided 3 women with tailoring skills a contract of 3 months Produce and sell over 1200 Face mask

     II.          Safe Spaces has provided casual Jobs to 10 disabled women living in the slums of Mathare. Their responsibilities involve packaging of food to household packs.

Next Steps

Safe Spaces is planning to resume its school and holiday programs adhering to strict social distancing and government directives. Additionally, Safe Spaces is planning to launch its computer literacy trainings, and continue its basketball program activities in October.