Protect Girls and Prevent Gender Based Violence

Thank you for your generous donation and subscribing to updates for our Gender-Based Violence project. Below, you can read a report from Richard C. Kirui, our Community Health Education Coordinator, highlighting the impact your contribution is making.

"Brighter Communities Worldwide provides impactful community and school education programmes for women, men, girls and boys that work towards ending Gender Based Violence. The programmes include, Lifeskills, Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights(SRHR) and the Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP)

These programmes offer valuable support and guidance to help communities understand and recognise Gender Based Violence (GBV) and the power imbalances that lead to GBV. We empower communities to challenge and reject the deeply ingrained gender inequalities within society. By promoting awareness and support, these programmes help protect women and girls and youth from physical, sexual, and psychological abuse and exploitation.

Hellen is from a village where we work and is happy to share her story about how Brighter Communities Worldwide Lifeskills programme transformed her life. Hellen says “ Having graduated from the course I became passionate of advocating for equal rights for women and youths who are beaten always by men guided by negative traditions. This has led to girls dropping out of school employed as maids, exposed to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), causing early marriages which in turn affect their future health and increase poverty”

Samwel from another village works as the community village manager. Samwel says “I thank Brighter Communities Worldwide so much for supporting a wonderful Lifeskills 5 day training with all Kipsirichet Location village managers and Community Health Workers (CHPs). Having graduated from this training I will ensure safeguarding of all women and girls, talk openly on HIV/Aids, tackling adolescent challenges which was taboo for us men to talk out openly. I commit to sensitise my community using the skills, welcome again brighter communities worldwide.”

Amos is a teacher by profession and he says “I thank Brighter Communities Worldwide for enabling me to gain my brighter future life through bursary scheme support that made me sail through the secondary Education. I came from a humble background and if I wasn’t supported, I don’t know how my life could have been with youth peer pressure and culture. Being trained as Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) and SRHR facilitator, I’m determined to campaign for womens’ empowerment, join motivational youths training of creating awareness on challenging school continuity for both boys and girls. And utilising the time passing my experience with value of re-usable sanitary pads which save a girl from exploitation.”

Ruth is a senior Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) facilitator as well as Head teacher in a primary school, she is apart of Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT). Ruth says “I attend various community meetings sensitising the essence of fighting cases of defilement, drugs abuse, new HIV infections and prevention which need combined efforts from all the actors. Given more support I will use my spare time to empower youths and women in Kericho county to make Zero tolerance to GBV!”

I sincerely thank all the supporters who have contributed their donations that has contributed to happy and healthy lives for our volunteers and the communities we work with. We aim to reach more if we get more support in campaining and raising awareness, involving men, women, boys and girls in reducing gender based violence."

Asante Sana for your kind support.

Mark your calendars!   All donations up to €50 will be matched at 50% between March 25th and 28th during the GlobalGiving Little by Little campaign.

Thank you for supporting this project to protect girls and prevent gender based violence. Here is an update from Judy Chelangat who works closely with vulnerable girls.

Through the economic empowerment programme, young mothers were given knowledge and skills in business to help them identify new business and manage it for sustainability. The group received sheep as start-up resources to rear in their location as a source of income. As a result, they have used the knowledge gained to start up merry go round, table banking and small individual group business aside from their group business. Time spent idling is now utilized in their various businesses which has created independence and have become role models to their peers.

Young girls and women are at a risk of gender based violence during this November and December holiday and we look forward to having over 2000 girls being empowered to raise their voices to say no to Female Genital Mutilation. Brighter Communities Worldwide efforts are geared towards community adolescence empowerment and young people while protecting them from inequality and other health and social vulnerabilities that act as barriers for realizing full potential of productivity.

Through the Alternative Rites of Passage programme the girls also benefit from reusable sanitary towels, this helps the girls menstruate with dignity, confidence and helps them boost their morale and share the knowledge with their peers. When people have been empowered, given the right information open opportunities will be realized and wise decision making.

Thank you for your continuous support in protecting girls and preventing gender based violence for a brighter and better future for the girl child.