Sisterhood for Change (SFC) and Safe Space are initiatives started by Kisumu Medical and Education Trust (KMET) to tackle the challenges that young women face. The goals of both programs are to educate and empower young women aged between 10-24 years from vulnerable communities within the Kisumu district of Kenya. The programs arm them with reproductive health training and vocational training, and empower them to change the course of their lives.
Many of the students at SFC and Safe Space have not finished their education, have young children, and do not see an alternative to their current unhealthy path. With SFC model, disadvantaged girls from the slum areas most of whom are teenage mothers, school dropouts, orphans and school dropouts are recruited and trained as peer educators. It is believed that the power of personal experience in collaboration with collective energy and spirit will enhance these girls ability to influence peers who might be in the similar situation and be agents of change in communities.
However, once they make the commitment to participate in Sisterhood for Change, they are given the choice of vocational training for one of three occupations—catering, hairdressing, or tailoring. These trades are particularly successful for women in the Kisumu community. The goal is for these young women to be equipped with a tangible trade, a practical skill that can enable them to obtain sustainable employment. In addition to learning vocational skills, they receive intensive reproductive health training. After honing their skills over a six-month period, they are transferred to a three month attachment, or local apprenticeship, where they can further enhance their skills in the real marketplace and business. SFC is confident that at the end of the nine-month period, the girls are empowered and ready to attain employment in their professional field.
Armed with life skills, knowledge about reproductive health, and a new confidence, these young women enter the workforce as different people than nine months before. They are changed, empowered with realistic dreams of a future that they are well on the course to achieving. Their previous resignation is replaced by more self assurance.
SFC Goal and objectives
PROJECT GOAL
The primary goal of the project is to contribute towards the reduction of teenage pregnancies, unsafe abortion and HIV/AIDS prevalence n Kisumu District.
VISION
To have a community where teenage mothers are kept safe, know their rights, access youth friendly sexual reproductive health services and able to air out their views freely.
MISSION
Empowering girls through educating and advocating for behaviors change and equipping them with skills.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
Increase access to utilization of quality sexual reproductive health services by adolescent girls in Kisumu District.
Increase access to information, sexual reproductive health and gender sensitive issues among adolescent girls in Kisumu District.
Enhance adolescent girls’ participation, involvement and empowerment at all level of SFC Program and management.
ACTIVITIES
Provision of comprehensive youth friendly sexual reproductive health services at KMET Clinic.
Integration of recreational services such as drama, sports, poetry at youth center based at Tom Mboya next to Josana Academy.
Training of 60 girls from the slum areas around Kisumu every year.
Use of Drama to pass massages on Sexual and Reproductive, teenage pregnancy and HIV/Aids and to engage youth in discussion on relevant issues.
Production of youth friendly information education and communication (IEC) materials in the form of poster, T- shirts and bill boards to be distributed at schools and churches and around Kisumu District.
Formation of youth advisory committee that will provide continuous feedback and advice on project activities.
Training of SFC members on financial literacy and vocational training such as: Tailoring, hairdressing and catering
Tailoring class, Catering class and the hairdressing class
Introduction of entrepreneurship training within the centre schedule.
Formation of a Youth Advisory Committee comprising of members from different ministries in Kenya. Quarterly meetings conducted.
Annual exhibition organized by partners like Centre for the Study of Adolescents (CSA). The girls attended and participated in this year’s exhibition with the theme on HIV/AIDS at Kisumu Day Secondary school. They got awarded with certificates and had the best song at the event. This took place on 12th of November, 2011
Training the girls in Tae Kwondo for self defense within their neighborhood. They need to defend themselves against rape and other fatal attacks they may face when alone.
Tae Kuondo Class
Formation and launch of a mentorship program. Now, with the addition of the Mentorship Program, the graduates of SFC will have an extra support system as they start out on their own. Mentoring will help them hone the skills they have gained from the training program and maintain their relationship with SFC. In creating the Mentorship Program, it has been crucial to form an alumni organization through which the young women graduating from SFC are able to work with older alumni to achieve their goals. With a continuing connection with SFC alumni and SFC staff, they will be able to confront any challenge as they begin their new journeys. The girls already in business will be able to have successful business people to be their mentors. By this, they will be able to achieve their goals towards being financially independent and in a way support other girls in need.
(Right) KMET's Programs Manager, Sam Owoko, giving a speech
