Empowerment
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched two programmes in the Coast region in a bid to eradicate Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the Coastal Counties.
The initiatives include the, “USAID Sauti yako, Amani yako” programme which is geared towards strengthening locally driven resilience to Violent Extremism in the targeted communities. This is established by an inclusive, responsive and self-sustaining preventing and countering violent extremism system in Kenya.
The other one, “USAID elevate voice yake” is meant to amplify the voices and aspirations of adolescent girls and women to better exercise their right to dignified and meaningful life protected from SGBV through integrated action by communities, government, private sector and civil society initiatives.
Speaking in Mombasa during the launch, USAID Mission Director David Gosney said that the initiative will work towards ensuring that all Kenyans have the ability to be saved from Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and to be heard.
Gosney said that Sh1billion has been allocated by the US government to facilitate the two initiatives in a span of three years in efforts to provide a safe space to all communities in the Coast region.
“We have partnered with the county governments, civil societies and local communities to provide people with a safe space and opportunities to grow, prosper and be included, have a voice, provide economic and educational opportunities and access to critical services,” he said.
He noted that the organization has embarked on a program to provide training to 77 primary school teachers across the county in a bid to improve performance of the students in the counties. “Workforce training is significant in developing core skills that can be put to use as people go forward,” he said.
He added that USAID has provided 3000 students with vocational training across the country, looking forward to expanding the sponsorship in the future.
Gosney commended county governments for providing internship programmes to the youth while he revealed that USAID is currently facilitating a mentorship programme across Africa dubbed “Young African Leaders Initiative” that aims at equipping the youth with life skills, encouragement and the ability to grow and achieve their goals citing 1800 Kenyan youths who have benefited from the programme.
Mombasa County Deputy Governor Francis Thoya (L) leads County and USAID officials during the launch of the USAID “elevate voice yake and Amani yako programs” at White sands Hotel, Mombasa
Photos by Andrew Hinga
He further highlighted that a USAID healthcare programme dubbed “Dreams programme” is in progress with a total of 28,000 youths, primarily women as participants in Mombasa County. On his part, Mombasa County Deputy governor Francis Thoya said that there is need to relook at the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) to design a programme for the youth to get employment.
“Among the issues we are looking forward to discussing with USAID include analyzing the curriculum guiding our various vocational institutions to determine whether they meet the job market expectations,” he said.
Thoya assured the public that the county government will continue to prioritize more resources towards supporting the youth through implementing several programs to counter violent extremism and radicalism, this includes an initiative dubbed ‘Mombasa Yangu’ which is currently in the 5th phase with over 6000 youth who receive a monthly stipend of Ksh15,000.
“We have witnessed a slight reduction of crime rate of 10 to 20 percent in Kisauni and Likoni area as a result of the mentorship programme,” said Thoya.
Kilifi County Deputy Governor Flora Chibule said that the county is committed to ensuring that they provide resources to the youth that will enhance sustainability including job opportunities, incentives in various work stations, empowering vocational training centers to ensure the young people are equipped with adequate skills to enable them to live fulfilling lives.
“We are ready to support USAID in collaboration with other stakeholders to ensure that these two programmes are going to be a game changer in our respective counties focusing especially on the girl child who is more vulnerable,” she said. A gender-based violence expert Angelina Cikanda who is also in charge of the “Elevate Voice yake” programme noted that in collaboration with the county government they are committed to ensure that the menace of SGBV is put to a halt.
“We are going to take different approaches to address the issue of SGBV and hence we urge the community to speak more, do more to ensure that people are moved from abuse and live a life of dignity in their various communities,” she said. The “USAID Elevate Voice Yake” objectives include promoting positive norms, values, attitudes, and practices that make Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) unacceptable.
Themed “Empower, educate, elevate; creating safe communities for all” the programmes will be offered in the four coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu and Garissa in northern Kenya.