Challenge
Marsabit in northern Kenya is affected by ongoing drought and inter-tribal conflicts. Here, girls and women have no voice or choice. Cultural taboos prevent discussions about the issues affecting women and girls, including Female Genital Mutilation, early forced marriages, beading, and girls dropping out of school.
Description
HODI uses football to create a safe space and break the silence on violence affecting women and girls, including FGM, early marriage, and beading. The initiative includes baseline surveys, community mapping of safe spaces, peer education, and life skills training. Graduated girls become champions running the program. The intervention also engages parents and communities to support the initiative. By the end of the program, significant improvements in awareness and safety among girls were observed.
Outcomes
- Empowered 1040 girls over the last 3 years
- 6 young women took leadership positions at HODI
- Increased knowledge on pregnancy prevention from 22% to 84%
- Increased awareness of safe spaces from 44% to 95%
