Advancing education opportunity for vulnerable children
Girls' Empowerment Program
WHY GIRLS EMPOWERMENT
Pregnancy, early marriage and poor performance cause 40% of primary-aged schoolgirls in Homa Bay County to drop out of school. Girls to lose a week of class each month due to lack of sanitary supplies. The absence of girls’ health and AIDS-prevention education results in 25% HIV/AIDS prevalence among girls in this region, compared to the national average of 6%.
WHAT WE DO
To promote gender equity and mitigate the causes of girls' absenteeism, poor performance and school dropout, KSHP developed an integrated program supporting girls' social empowerment and health education in 23 Kendu Bay primary schools. Program-supervised Girls' Clubs are a vehicle for instruction and life skills development. Over 2,050 adolescent girls in partner schools receive 'Dignity Kits' containing underwear and locally-made reusable sanitary supplies. Construction of gender-sensitive latrines at partner schools ensures girls have secure, private facilities.
WHY GIRLS EMPOWERMENT
Pregnancy, early marriage and poor performance cause 40% of primary-aged schoolgirls in Homa Bay County to drop out of school. Girls to lose a week of class each month due to lack of sanitary supplies. The absence of girls’ health and AIDS-prevention education results in 25% HIV/AIDS prevalence among girls in this region, compared to the national average of 6%.
WHAT WE DO
To promote gender equity and mitigate the causes of girls' absenteeism, poor performance and school dropout, KSHP developed an integrated program supporting girls' social empowerment and health education in 23 Kendu Bay primary schools. Program-supervised Girls' Clubs are a vehicle for instruction and life skills development. Over 2,050 adolescent girls in partner schools receive 'Dignity Kits' containing underwear and locally-made reusable sanitary supplies. Construction of gender-sensitive latrines at partner schools ensures girls have secure, private facilities.
|
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
School dropout reduced 98% in 23 schools. Pregnancy reduced to ZERO in 23 schools. Absenteeism reduced up to 70% in 23 schools. Improved academic performance in 23 schools. Improved high school eligibility, from 43% to 100%. |
Nyakongo zone. Homa Bay County: 2011 230 girls dropped out of school 2014 4 girls dropped out of school |
WE HAVE DISCOVERED that the combination of 'Dignity Kits', a health and life skills curriculum, and gender-sensitive latrines exponentially reinforces positive outcomes for this program dedicated to keeping girls in school. We also learned that availability of high school scholarships is a key incentive to improving girls' performance.
"When I was in Standard 6, only one girl was in the top ten of our class. Then KSHP trained us and made us confident. This year in Standard 8, girls lead the boys. Out of the top ten students, eight are girls! Four girls are in the top five at my school today," boasted Rose Auma, Alego Primary School.
"When I was in Standard 6, only one girl was in the top ten of our class. Then KSHP trained us and made us confident. This year in Standard 8, girls lead the boys. Out of the top ten students, eight are girls! Four girls are in the top five at my school today," boasted Rose Auma, Alego Primary School.
|
KSHP is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charity.
100% of every donation is applied to program services. |
KSHP is proud to help you make a difference in the world.
|
Girls' Club
WHY GIRLS CLUB
Traditional families are reluctant to discuss sexuality and reproductive health with their children. Girls are at particular risk. Relationship decisions are based on rumor and misinformation, often spread by boys who seek personal advantage. Girls' low self-esteem places them at risk for exploitation.
WHAT WE DO
To improve girls' health awareness and decision-making, KSHP supports an integrated learning and skills-building program that benefits more than 3,400 girls in 23 partner schools. Trained teacher mentors conduct weekly meetings on topics relevant to girls' health, AIDS-prevention education and life skills development. A KSHP-produced Girl Child Manual gives teachers resources for guided discussion that helps girls improve critical thinking and boost self-esteem.
Girls apply their learning through inter-school club debates. These competitions with neighboring schools help girls develop their research, language and leadership skills. Girls Club debates have become 'bigger than football' in Kendu Bay, earning prestige for the school and recognition for the girls who bring home the trophy.
HOW GIRLS CLUB WORKS
Weekly after-school meetings give girls in grades 4-8 opportunity to learn and share in a framework of trust and support. Topics discussed in term one recur as subjects of inter-school debates in term two. The popularity of Girls Club debates has elevated its preparation to a school wide event in which boys take an active coaching role. From the hundreds of girls who participate in Girls Club debates, a 'Complete Makeover' of new school uniform, socks and shoes awaits twelve winning debaters.
"What you people at KSHP are doing for our girls is the best thing that has ever happened in our schools," noted one head teacher. "These girls grow up being told, 'You can never amount to anything,' But you came in with Girl Child Club education and helped them learn to VALUE THEMSELVES. Girls' self-confidence has grown so much! These activities make them realize they have potential."
"Not a single girl wants to miss this meeting! In fact, one week KSHP was late to arrive, so our teachers sent us home. But we hid in the bushes to wait. When we saw the vehicle, we rushed out to meet Date so we could have our meeting. I can tell you, our behavior has changed. We counsel our sisters to stay in school and to never give up."
Dignity Kits
WHY 'DIGNITY KITS'
Lack of sanitary supplies causes adolescent girls to stay home from school up to a week each month. Repeated absences cause girls to fall behind in class. Discouraged by poor performance, girls choose to leave school. Girls who drop out of school are pressured for early marriage or become pregnant. HIV/AIDS prevalence among girls in this region is 25%, compared to the national average of 6%.
WHAT WE DO
To reduce absenteeism caused by girls' monthly menses, KSHP distributes 'Dignity Kits' to over 2,050 girls in 23 partner schools each year. Kits contain underwear, locally-made reusable sanitary supplies and emergency disposable pads.
HOW 'DIGNITY KITS' WORK
KSHP partners with a group of local widows who make our reusable sanitary napkins. Local production helps keep costs low and returns a small stipend to the widows. In 2009, 125 girls at six partner schools received our first distribution of 'Dignity Kits'. This year, the VOTY (Voice Of The Youth) women's cooperative assembled over 21,000 reusable pads for KSHP. These pads enable more than 2,050 girls to stay in school during their menses so they can maintain their studies. 'Dignity Kit' distributions serve as school and community education events to raise awareness and improve understanding around girl child issues.
"We are so happy," exclaimed a schoolgirl. "I feel very confident now and am not afraid to go out from my house. Now that I have innerwear, the pads won't fall down."
'Dignity Kits' empower girls who most need an education with a way to stay in school," notes Alidade Rangita, KSHP Kenya project manager.
Girls' Latrines
WHY GIRLS LATRINES
Lack of privacy from poor latrine facilities discourages girls' school attendance during their menses. Shared facilities and broken doors fail to protect girls' privacy. To avoid humiliation, adolescent girls stay home during their menstrual periods, missing up to one week of school per month.
WHAT WE DO
To improve girls' hygiene and sanitary conditions, KSHP works with local school communities to construct gender-sensitive latrines at 23 partner schools.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
- 21 gender-sensitive latrines constructed at partner schools.
- Over 5,700 school girls benefit from improved sanitary conditions.
- Absenteeism dropped up to 70% in partner schools.
Access to secure and private latrines improves girls' school attendance and health and promotes self-esteem.
School communities seeking project benefits submit application and a signed Partnership Agreement to contribute their share of funds, labor and/or materials.
View latrine news here!
