Hello!!!
Charged with our desires to transform communities! This newsletter exclusively brings you updates on our work and opportunities to engage and partner with us.
This quarter has been full of successful stories of creating change and shaping impact. We have equally had our moments to learn and grow from our low moments in our pursuit to impact communities through community education and engagements, advocacy partnerships and collaborations. In this newsletter, we expect you to be informed on our work including milestones achieved, opportunities seized and updates upcoming events. Get to know what we have been able to do for the last 3 months!
1.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & EDUCATION
a) Community Awareness and Education on Triple Threats
We conducted three community sensitization forums on triple threat (Gender Based Violence prevention and control, teenage pregnancies and HIV) and access to SRHR services in Lurambi, Shinyalu and Ikolami sub counties. The dialogues provided a platform to 150 women and girls and men champions to share experiences on GBV and access to SRHR. They were informed on available GBV referral pathways to ensure survivors can access appropriate support services.
b) Community Dialogue on Rehabilitating the Reglected Mining Sites and Ecosystem Restoration.
Through the support from Mazingira Bora phase 2 a project funded by SDI-Kenya with an aim to rehabilitate the neglected gold mining sites and ecosystem restoration in Ikolomani Kenya. We conducted a community dialogue in Shirumba, Ikolomani Sub county to create awareness on environmentally responsible mining techniques and ecosystem restoration. The dialogue convened local administration including the area assistant chief, village elders and 80 community members who shared environmental issues and concerns emanating and occurring from and within the gold mining processes.
c) Mobile medical camp.
We conducted a medical and legal aid camp in Bushiangala to sensitize and provide knowledge on GBV and SRHR, distribute condoms, provide HIV and counselling services and conduct STI, TB and GBV screening to the miners. A total of 75 people turned for sensitization sessions with 15 of them getting HIV testing and counselling services, 6 young women were given family planning services and 6 were provided with condoms. The main purpose of taking these services to the community is to ensure everyone gets the privilege to access them without going through
any struggles.
d) Psychosocial Support
Following the Tumaini gold mine collapse that claimed the lives of 2 artisanal miners and left 18 with critical injuries, we conducted psychosocial support sessions to 20 youth artisanal miners who had been rescued from the mine collapse.
2. MARKING INTERNATIONAL DAYS
a) Pre-International Women’s Day dialogue in Shinyalu-Kakamega
We collaborated with Investing in Children and their Society (ICS) organization for a pre-IWD dialogue community’s role in accelerating action for women’s equality. Through the dialogue we reached 200 women and girls, men and community actors with information on advancing women’s rights, GBV referral pathways and strengthening ties to accelerate action for gender equality across all levels.
b) International Women’s Day celebrations.
On March 8, 2025, we joined the county government of Kakamega and partners in celebrating the International Women’s Day in Mumias East constituency.The event which was attended close to 1000 women and girls, community members, CSOs, and key government officials and graced by His Excellency the Governor of Kakamega County. His speech emphasized its importance in reinforcing women’s determination to overcome challenges such as limited business opportunities, land ownership issues and gender based violence, which hinders their progress. In his speech, the governor called for legal and policy reforms that safeguard’s women’s socio-economic and cultural rights and put an end to femicide and violence and against women and girls.
3. NETWORKING AND PARTNERSHIPS
a) Engagements in Technical Working Group Meetings
In collaboration with sub-county MOH and Rural to Global organization, we conducted a TWG at Shinyalu model center to analyze the data on gender based violence sexual reproductive health in the sub-county, identifying the existing challenges and assessing the impact of the previous TWGs. The meeting brought together key stakeholders including police, chiefs, ICS representatives, paralegals, the sub- county GBV and reproductive health coordinator and various heads of health departments in Shinyalu.
During the session, in collaboration with the stakeholders, we successfully developed a work plan to enhance the implementation of targeted activities aimed at strengthening response mechanisms, improving service delivery, and reducing GBV cases in the region.
b) Consultative Meeting with Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.
We honored the invitation of the High Commission of Canada in Kenya and attended the Canada Fund Workshop western region workshop. The workshop brought together current grantees of Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and local organizations to learn about the Canada fund programs and future funding programs. Key highlights of the workshop included learning about CFLI application and granting process, understanding social media advocacy strategies and meeting with the Canada High Commissioner and the team.
4. BUDGET ADVOCACY
Together with Kakamega Community of Practice, we developed a joint memo documenting our key recommendations to the Kakamega county fiscal strategy paper (CFSP 2025/2026. We submitted the memo to the five sub counties during public participation forums. Afterwards, we joined the County Fiscal Strategy Paper for the FY 2025/2026 public hearing by County Budget Committee members of the County Assembly ensuring that our submissions were prioritized by the committee.
5. MONITORING AND EVALUATION SESSION
We conducted a facility visit to Iguhu Level 4 hospital to assess the status of GBV response and management, HIV and STI treatment, SRHR service delivery and psychosocial support services offered and especially to the cases we do refer to the facility. We equally explored collaboration with the facility in planning forthcoming medical legal camps and sought provision of their services.
6. MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS
- TV talk show
With the rising number of intimate partner violence we were hosted at West TV to discuss how we can break the chains of abuse and advocate for healthy relationships. The platform was used to sensitize ,educate and create awareness to the community to understand the signs of abuse in a relationship.
- Social media engagements
We partnered with grassroots organizations in hosting digital campaigns and online talks on critical topics of love and violence, accelerating action for gender equality and youth leading the charge of GBV prevention. These discussions were hosted through X-space and chats, and online messaging and blogs.
OUR IMPACT IN NUMBERS
400- Women and girls reached with our programs
95- psychosocial support cases attended to.
3359- Right holders impacted with our programs
25- Dialogues, talk-shows, stakeholders meetings and online chats conducted
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR THE NEXT QUARTER
- Mobile medical and Legal aid camp
- Budget Advocacy
- Community Dialogue
- Radio talk show
- Monitoring and evaluation visits to health facilities
- Social media engagement
- Partnership meetings and engagement in Technical Working Group Meetings.
- Staff exchange learning.
- Review meetings with stakeholders
- Launching of our Strategic Plan
SUPPORT OUR WORK
Donate to our course for setting up “Restoring Dignity Centre for survivors
We are more than grateful to our partners who continue to support our work!
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