Protect Girls and Prevent Gender Based Violence

Thank you for supporting this project protecting girls and preventing gender based violence. This update is from Richard Kirui, Community Health Education Co-ordinator. Richard tells us more about the Alternative Rite of Passage courses.

'Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP) training is conducted in the communities by ARP Facilitators and Brighter Communities Worlwide staff in collaboration with government ministries not excluding Administration. All ARP and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) topics are taught, promoting the valuable cultural positives of a rite of passage and providing information about body changes and development, developing self-esteem and empowerment, learning about finance and including discussion on morals and ethics.

Making reusable sanitary kits is a topic of its own after learning about puberty and menstrual health in detail. Participants are equipped with the correct facts and knowledge to make positive choices and decisions about their own sexual and reproductive health. These sessions are aimed at enabling young people to make informed decisions which support them to complete their education, and widen the opportunities and choices available to them in the future.

Brighter Communities Worldwide do trainings that empower girls, boys, women and men, who challenge all cultural norms that contribute to any kind of gender based violence i.e. gender inequality and discrimination, poverty and economic dependency lack of eduaction and awareness and other form of conflicts.

Solomon is from Bureti where FGM was rampant before ARP courses and he narrates how he has become a champion promoting gender equality as well as a Community Health Promoter, an ARP Facilitator and an ambassador for SRHR.

“I am confident of doing what it takes to make positive change as I represent my community in different roles as an agent of change. Trainings by BCW have made me a dignified member of the community.I am happy to put all effort of making equal society and adapting the changing culture.We now have zero issues of FGM in my village, though we are still faced by the challenge of some young mothers being exposed to FGM through cross border movement.

I was almost silenced by powerful traditionalists, but knowledge gained from trainings made me stand up for myself, my family and my community. Therefore, everyone listened, felt inspired, gained courage/confidence and hoped for brighter future.”'