Anti-GBV advocacy for Kenyan males

COL continues in its support of the Rural Education and Economic Enhancement Programme (REEP) in Kenya to conduct training for 20 members of the Marachi Council of Elders and 200 boys to become agents of change in Busia County. To support the Council of Elders in community outreach, REEP trained 12 male champions of gender from four villages in the county.

The champions received advocacy instruction to help ensure that 450 girls, who will receive training in human rights and legal protection, have their communities’ support in tackling all forms of gender-based violence (GBV) against females.

During training, the gender champions listened to Janet Auma — a survivor of GBV. Janet, a 24-year-old mother of two, became pregnant as a teenager and was married off to a man 15 years older. When she left her husband due to domestic violence, he ambushed her and severed her right hand. As a result, Janet, a hairdresser, can no longer pursue her profession, but with the support of REEP, she is gaining the courage to tell her story and speak out against GBV.