The Need
While access to education for girls in Kenya has improved, girls attending public primary schools in rural Kenya continue to encounter systemic obstacles and norms that undermine their value, impact their confidence, and inhibit their potential to contribute as learners, leaders and self-sufficient citizens.
Our Approach
We partner with primary school teachers and Child Protection Volunteers to create gender-equitable classrooms and to strengthen safety and inclusivity within primary schools.
We conduct Gender Equity Trainings for leaders across our 9 Network schools. Using components of USAID’s Doorways Training Program, we train primary school teachers and Child Protection Volunteers to introduce concepts of gender equity, discuss beliefs, and examine gender roles.
What we do
Training of Trainers
We adopt a “Training of Trainers” approach to position primary school teachers to conduct school-based workshops for their fellow teachers and share knowledge on topics of gender using USAID’s Doorways Student Training Manual.
Engaging Boys
We engage with boys in their early adolescence, as they form perceptions of gender and social norms by educating them on sexual and reproductive health and healthy relationships, and by creating safe spaces where boys can have dialogue and conversations with each other – and with girls – on issues of gender equity.
Impact Highlights
32%
During an October 2024 evaluation, we found that when our teachers went back into their classrooms to facilitate their own workshops on gender equity among their students, the number of girls who agreed they should be treated equally in school increased by 32% (48% at baseline to 80% at endline).
Mr. WaihenyaMr. Waihenya, a Network School teacher and Chairman of the Kenya Primary School Headteachers Association (KEPSHA) stated in a recent training: “It is a shame that corporal punishment was declared illegal in 2001 in Kenya, yet it is now over 20 years and we are having the first conversation about how to move past this bad practice.” Mr. Waihenya further stated that [in his capacity as Chairman of KEPSHA], “the union will no longer defend any teacher who is accused of a violation of childrens’ rights.”
Mr. Waihenya Kenya Primary School
