By Fredrick Odiero
Over 230 learners in Kisumu County have been sensitized on the identification and reporting of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
The awareness campaign dubbed ‘End SGBV initiative project’ was conducted by Nyalenda Young Turks Community Based Organization (CBO) in partnership with Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) to commemorate this year’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Week.
The program benefited young learners from the Oasis of Glory Secondary school, Chief Onunga School for the Deaf and St Mary’s Legio Maria Church in Kisumu East and Central sub-counties.
The CBO Executive Director Mr. Victor Elvis said that the main aim of the project is to reduce the number of SGBV cases within the community by enhancing the capacities of households, teachers and community gatekeepers.
He said the deaf community, students and churches are becoming the latest victims of SGBV in the community.
The official said they envision a community where girls and women are free from the threat of violence of any kind and opportunities for empowerment that are available for them.
In this way, he said, the CBO and its funding partner KCDF plans to enhance community awareness on SGBV and advocate for improving health services for the survivors with a keen focus on screening and generation of medical reports that can be used to seek legal redress.
Elvis said to effectively and efficiently achieve this move, the CBO will undertake capacity development for policymakers, Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), HealthCare, and the community on SGBV reporting, referral mechanisms and social accountability so as to participate in budget-making processes to push for gender-responsive budgets.
“This will help in building the resilience in survivors of SGBV, promote safe neighborhoods for young girls and women and sensitize the community on the existing 2019 Kisumu County SGBV Policy,” Elvis said.
While at Oasis Secondary school, Elvis further pointed out that they also seek to create awareness on the matter through community dialogues and radio to enhance the capacity of the community and other grassroots organizations on budget processes.
He observed that through active participation in the budget-making processes, the community will be in a better place to push for more resources to be allocated for GBV prevention and treatment of survivors, advocate for improved staffing and develop their capacity.
“We shall also continue engaging with faith-based organizations as they are key in supporting and promoting peace and healthier coexistence in the society,” he said.
He said the County SGBV Policy aims at strengthening its mechanisms for reporting and making referrals on SGBV cases.
The school administrator Felix Ochieng lauded the CBO’s initiative for the outreach on GBV and SGBV in schools.
“There is a high number of such cases within the community that students face even at school including primary school, where there are high numbers of sodomy, rape and defilement,” he said.
He added that there is a need for psycho-social support experts in schools as there are multiple challenges at home related to addressing such cases.
The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education and ICT Mr John Awiti lauded the organizers for creating the awareness.
