‘Champions for Change’ Initiative in Kenya Brings Together Community to Speak Out Against Gender-based Violence

“It is not unusual for me to break down doors to rescue children once a case has been reported to me. Together with my friends we go door-to-door sensitizing our community on Gender Based Violence. Many would not even dare touch a child because they would have to deal with us. Even though I am almost 60 years old I do not plan to retire from doing this.”

““I have spent the last 5 years going door to door sensitizing our community on the dangers of FGM including our women bleeding to death or being exposed to HIV as the same knife is used to cut many girls. We are beginning to see our girls working in hospitals as a doctors and nurses. I am proud of our women. What a man can do, a woman can do too.”

“I was born and raised in the streets. I do not know who my parents were. I did not even have a name. I named myself. I was abused and beaten more times than I can recall in the streets. An opportunity to go to school was the highlight of my life. I advise my classmates to focus, stay in school and not be swayed by things that will lead them down a destructive path.”

“I lost my sight 13 years ago and almost died from depression. I was shunned by members of my family and community and deemed useless and unworthy. My husband is currently in jail for assaulting me. I am passionate about standing up for others like me who are living with disabilities. I now educate patients on how to overcome abuse.”

“I am a businesswoman! I rear chicken! Over the weekends, I mentor young girls aged 10-14 years old. It is not easy for someone who is being abused to speak up. When I notice one is uncomfortable during a session I come up with games or take them for a hike where they relax and open up. I was a DREAMS girl and I learnt a lot that I want to pass on.”

“Being boda boda operators is what we do to earn a living, however the boda boda culture is one that can be very harmful especially to children. We, on many instances rescue children and take the perpetrators who are often our fellow boda boda operators to the police. The community knows us and call us when they are in danger. They know we will fight for them.”

“I have counseled hundreds of people who have been defiled or raped. Sometimes our clients are as young as 2 years old. I encourage them to get treatment and even speak to a paralegal to try arrest the perpetrators. In any given day I counsel about 20 victims of violence. It is a tough and traumatic job but I am not about to retire from it.”

“As a paralegal officer, I help survivors get justice. This year alone we have arrested 259 perpetrators and 84 of them have already been convicted and currently in jail. We have seen a big difference as the community trusts us and the numbers of reported cases have more than tripled in the last year. We leave no stone unturned in our pursuit for justice.”

“At the clinic, I tell my patients that it is their right to receive treatment as well as to press charges against their abusers. To date I have testified over 200 times in courtrooms across Kenya on behalf of my patients. It has become part of my life and seeing my clients win cases keeps me coming back to court. I encourage nurses to support other GBV survivors.”

“When we first moved to the village, we heard many people say untrue things about people living with HIV. Many were abused and beaten and some would shun the partner they believe brought the disease to their homes. We made a decision to be open about our HIV status and demystify these myths as well as advocate on the well-being of women and children.”