- Gaserego said most children from widowed families are often affected by GBV in one form or another.
- She said many girls raised by widows or widowers are victims of sexual abuse.
Image: SHABAN OMAR
About 30 girls from vulnerable families are set to benefit from a 13-month empowerment programme in Msambweni, Kwale county.
At least 70 per cent of the targeted group will include girls who were solely raised by widows and 30 per cent by widowers and from ages 18 to 35 years.
The programme is dubbed PISSCA. Tuwajali Wajane director Mwanaisha Gaserego said the project is geared towards supporting girls' empowerment to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and sexual rights.
Gaserego said most children from widowed families are often affected by GBV in one form or another.
"The majority of widows go through a lot of misery which is transferred to the children living in those families," she said.
She said many girls raised by widows or widowers are victims of sexual abuse.
Gaserego said sometimes the girls are double affected through their childhood and marital life.
She said the project will ensure the targeted group is taken through psychosocial support, empowerment and exposed to referral pathways and human rights laws to enhance resilience.
Tuwajali Wajane is a Kwale-based NGO that advocates for the rights of widows and offers empowerment opportunities on matters of leadership, inheritance and economy for self-reliance.
Gaserego said the girls will be educated on various forms of GBV and how to report and protect themselves.
She said the selected group is expected to train others to help lower the swelling GBV vice in the region.
The director said the project will bring together various stakeholders and provide insights and support to strengthen the campaign against gender-based violence.
Gaserego said most widows and their children's rights are violated for lack of understanding of human rights.
She the programme will capacity build the girls and create awareness of GBV and enhance reporting.
Gaserego said through the project, they will ensure all the reported sexual and physical violence cases are dealt with and justice is served.
Tuwajali Wajane board member and mediator Rashid Mbwiza said GBV cases have been one of the major challenges affecting the Kwale community.
He said the programme will boost the fight against the vice in the region.
Mbwiza said the project will provide a deeper understanding of the constitution on matters of human rights, equality and the third gender rule.
"Some of the topics of discussion are fair opportunity in development, health, education and socioeconomic empowerment especially for the vulnerable groups," he said.
Msambweni subcounty children officer Johnstone Kivuli hailed the programme, adding that it will help curb GBV cases.
He said the project comes at a time when the children and the community need massive support to unshackle themselves from the vice.
Kivuli said GBVs have destroyed the lives of many children and requires a multi stakeholders' approach and unity to tame the problem.