The statistics are stark. The stories behind them are heartbreaking.
For girls growing up in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, violence is a part of daily life. At home, at school and on the walk between the two, they are targeted by boys and older men.
With limited healthcare and a reluctance to prosecute sexual assault cases, 90% of girls don’t receive any medical, emotional or legal support in the aftermath of abuse.
This Christmas we’re supporting an innovative project in the Kibera slum in Nairobi that is giving young girls a way of breaking their silence.
Womankind is working with Polycom Development Project in Kibera to give young girls a place where they can share their experiences and ask for help without fear of being identified or shamed.
Girls write down their problems and post them into the secure metal boxes at school known as Talking Boxes. Mentors then visit each school weekly, go through the notes and hold group discussions to talk through the issues raised. Where there is an urgent need to intervene, mentors meet with girls one-on-one and support them to access help.
Handwritten notes collected from Talking Boxes across Kibera paint a devastating picture of the world young girls live in. Rape, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), incest, and early marriage have all been reported.
This Christmas we are working to build a safer future
for girls in Kibera and beyond by:
Expanding the Talking Boxes project in Kibera so more girls can break the silence and seek help
Raising awareness of sexual violence and the crushing impact it can have on young lives
Uniting women’s groups in Kenya to campaign for changes to the law to bring more stringent punishment for sexual offenders.
Kibera is just one place where your support will make a lasting difference this Christmas.
With warm regards
With best wishes,
Hannah Little
Fundraising & Marketing Officer
Womankind Worldwide
