Wezesha Wasichana Project

1. • The project is implemented in Laikipia North Constituency, covering nine locations: Mukogodo, Loborsoit, Ilmotiok, Ilgwesi,Ilpolei, Ilndigiri, Mumonyot, Makurian and Seek.

    Project Thematic Areas
   

   • a. Strengthening Community Engagement
     
   • Training Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), Gender Defenders, and Community Elders on:
   1. Reporting FGM cases
   2. Providing first aid and psychosocial support to FGM survivors
   3. Engaging elders in advocating for Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP) instead of FGM
   4. 
      
   • b. School Health Clubs
   • Establishing school health clubs in 30 schools after training 60 teachers (2 per school). These clubs empower students with knowledge on:
   1. Child rights and protection
   1. Basic first aid skills
   2. Understanding puberty and adolescence
   3. Sexual and reproductive health
   4. The dangers of FGM/C and GBV
   5. Reporting channels for abuse cases
   6. 
      
   • c. Intergenerational Dialogues
   • Conducting quarterly forums in all nine locations in Laikipia North allowing bridge generational gaps, offering platform for community members to openly discuss the dangers of FGM, child marriage, and GBV. It further aims to promote community-wide acceptance of Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP).
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   • d. Strengthening Child Protection Structures
   • The project works closely with Child Protection Working Groups, bringing together key stakeholders, including:
   1. Ministry of Health
   1. Ministry of Education
   2. Local administration (chiefs, local leaders)
   3. Police officers and judiciary representatives
   4. Children’s office
   5. Social services office
   6. Gender office
   7. 
      
   • e. Conducting Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP)
   • The project aims to conduct nine ARPs across the nine target locations. Each ARP ceremony will bring together 150 girls, equipping them with:
   1. Life skills and first aid training
   1. Child rights and legal awareness
   2. Menstrual and reproductive health education
   3. Mental health and psychosocial support
   4. 
      
   1. • Target Beneficiaries
      • Direct Beneficiaries
      1. 4,800 children from 30 schools through school health clubs
      2. 1,350 girls undergoing Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP)
      3. 300 Gender Defenders
      4. 200 Community Elders
      5. 75 Community Health Volunteers (CHVs)
      6. 60 Teachers (2 per school)
      7. 135 members of Child Protection Working Groups
      8. 
         
      • Indirect Beneficiaries
      • 30,000 community members reached through Community Elders and Gender Defenders via intergenerational dialogues.
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      • • The project has achieved significant milestones, including increased community engagement and acceptance across 30 schools in Laikipia North, evidenced by greater acceptability among community members and child protection stakeholders, and more elders and religious leaders advocating for Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP). A successful first ARP was conducted in December 2024, bringing together 150 girls for a three-day training covering FGM awareness, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and child protection laws. Furthermore, the project has strengthened child protection networks by organizing training workshops for stakeholders, establishing strong partnerships with key ministries, and enhancing collaborative reporting and referral mechanisms for FGM and GBV cases.