Workshop “increase your safety and self-confidence” for high
school girls in Kenya, 600 Euro
The Turkana region, in
the far northern part of Kenya, west of lake Turkana is a hot and
desert-like area. The entire Turkana area is 17 times the size of
Holland. The Turkana High school for girls is located in a small
town called Turkwel, which is about 50 km form Lodwar,the capital of
the Turkana region.
Veroniek Kerssemakers is on the board of
directors of Mama Mzungu which sponsors the education of a large
group of girls in the Turkwel area. The funds are especially for
girls 14-18 years of age from families who are not able to pay for
the educaton of the children.
In augustus 2007 fifty girls attended a workshop “Increase your
safety en self-confidence”, hosted by 2 Dutch volunteers and 6
Kenyan social workers. The girls who attended this workshop have
gained self confidence, personal strength and skills that will help
them deal better with difficult situations in school, at home and on
the street.
They have learned to stand up for themselves and how to say NO,
something invaluable in a society where children are still sold for
livestock. The girls have gained self-respect and a better
self-image. It is hoped that now they will be strong enough f.i. to
refuse to sleep with their teacher for a better grade point because
now they know they can reach their goals in life just as well
without that kind of “help”.
The purpose of the workshop is to give the girls more
self-confidence and self-reliance. This should help them cope with
the often difficult circumstances they have to face as young girls
growing up in this area. The skills taught in this workshop can
increase the chances for graduating from school and may help in
preventing early pregnancy and HIV/AIDS.
A follow up workshop "empowerment’ is planned for April 2008.
This workshop is taught by a counsellor from Nairobi, supported by 2
social workers and 2 girls who attended the first workshop. The
workshop will be held at the Turkana High school for girls where 20
girls already attended the first course and 70 more new girls are
going to do this second workshop. The girls that already did the
first training will participate as helpers in role-play and such.
Most of the girls from the first training have indicated they would
like to share the information with the new girls at school and help
with the teaching. The head mistress has expressed interest and the
girls have asked to do the workshops during their holidays..
The money requested is to cover costs for travel expenses (70 km
roundtrip) and room and board for the counsellor’s stay at
Turkwel. Money is also needed for a meal plan during the workshop.
The workshop is planned at the school during the Easter holiday
period so there will be no foodservice from the school. Therefore
funding is needed for 3 meals a day for 5 days. The rest of the
money will be spent on preparing for the course (printing and
copying of materials) and for writing equipment for use during the
course. Based on the amounts spent for the workshop in 2007 (40
girls and 5 days) the total will amount to 600 euro.
