Education & Programs

Girls’ education is a driving force against poverty, leading to increased income and opportunities for girls themselves, but also for nations as a whole. Our team in Kenya literally goes the extra mile to reach villages in need in order to share our mission and resources via community dialogues and workshops. We are backed by the help of Action Allies, a local collective of professionals in the areas we serve who add to our network of protection for girls and women.

We encourage youth and their families to seek quality professional support and report incidents of violence, including FGM and coercion of child marriage. In addition, we coach adolescents to manage risks and challenges while navigating expectations set upon them within coming of age. In order to expand our reach, PCF has participated in summits, radio broadcasts and other forums to spread awareness of our work and upcoming gatherings.

Who are our Action Allies?

Anti-FGM Board Members

Nurses and Medical Aide

Police and Security Guards

Local Teachers

Samburu County Officials

Community Elders

Children Services Members

Community Dialogues

This is our inclusive approach to learning and unlearning with the participation of village youth, women, men, elders, chiefs, and circumcisers. Religious leaders join dialogues to present factual information from sacred texts that remove the belief and perception that religion condones FGM. The presence of teachers is also critical to discussing FGM because of the trust they have gained from their students. Action Allies facilitate sessions on FGM and child rights, the social implications of FGM, and its adverse health effects. PCF’s efforts to bring everyone together and peacefully discuss the sensitive issue of FGM with vulnerability advances the perspectives and plans to eradicate it. Listening to the population affected by these issues gives a voice to the “unheard.”

In addition, we also open topics in community dialogues that include:

Child Rights and Marriage
Gender Equality
Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights
Teen Pregnancy
HIV/AIDS & Sexually Transmitted Diseases
The Importance of Formal Education
Self-Awareness & Self-Confidence
Community Service
Peer Pressure
Health & Sanitation
Preserving Positivity in Samburu and Maasai cultures

Workshops

Workshops are formed as safe and extensive gatherings with action allies, supplies, a safe room to connect, activity materials for demos, and snacks and resources for the attendees. These meetings involve door-to-door rallies and also include all stakeholders and key administration in the regions we visit so they can support our logistics and help us engage participants.

We have developed a mindful and collaborative curriculum that prioritizes the well-being of communities with out-of-school girls. This initiative focuses on ensuring the safety and rights of children, particularly in the rural and marginalized regions of Samburu and Narok counties in Kenya. Our action allies are our line of defense to aid young girls who may undergo harmful practices, ensuring that they receive prompt medical attention through nurse referrals with law enforcement notified.

Workshops We Provide

Child Protection

The workshops illuminate the risks and challenges of child exploitation, abuse, and neglect, which can also lead to FGM and child marriage. PCF provides training on child rights and protective measures for parents, teachers, and community health workers in pastoralist areas where child protection awareness may be lacking or under-prioritized. We also cover parenting techniques that encourage school attendance, which can have a lasting impact on parents who may need to adjust their attitudes toward sending children, especially girls, to school. This shift leads to better educational outcomes for children and strengthens family resilience.

Educational Access & Empowerment

Education and empowerment workshops aim to equip both children and community members with the knowledge and skills needed to advocate for better access to education, including overcoming challenges like long distances to schools, economic barriers, and gender disparities. Like many rural and marginalized regions in Kenya, Samburu County and Maasai Mara face barriers to providing quality education. Educational access workshops help ensure that children, especially girls and marginalized groups, have the opportunity to attend and complete school. Empowering communities with education initiatives can improve literacy rates and provide better opportunities for local youth. In addition, educated families are more likely to invest in their children's education, contribute to economic activities, and advocate for their community's well-being.

Gender Equality and Women Empowerment

This workshop’s primary goal is to reshape societal views on gender roles that have historically limited opportunities for women. Aiming to shift traditional gender roles that often place women in subordinate positions, PCF is dedicated to tackling the gender inequalities faced by girls and women. This is instrumental in fostering change around gender equity, promoting the importance of education for girls, and advocating for equal rights within the community. Participants learn about their rights, equipping them with the knowledge and resources necessary to challenge traditional norms and assert their confidence.

Health and Nutrition

Focusing on the importance of good nutrition, basic healthcare practices, and disease prevention, our workshops provide valuable information for families to improve the well-being of children and the larger community. Education about women’s health, family planning, and reproductive rights is emphasized. Educated girls who become women have smaller, healthier families with lower infant and maternal mortality rates, and we share the value of girls making informed decisions about their bodies regardless of their age, FGM experience, or HIV status. Fun Fact: PCF offered a cash transfer to selected communities in 2022, 2023, and 2024 as an incentive to promote and improve community health efforts.

Livelihood and Economic Development

Families in pastoralist communities face economic challenges or environmental pressures that affect traditional livelihoods and, ultimately, the goals of their women and girls. Our workshops include practical skill-building that enables women to interact in economic-sustaining activities such as marketplace preparation, entrepreneurship, artisanship, and proper livestock care. In other words, this is how we help women become their own bosses. Women are trained to become leaders within their communities, helping them gain confidence, take on more public roles, and advocate for their rights and the rights of others.

Advocacy and Leadership Development

This program inspires the development of leadership skills in teens. Community leaders come together to share their personal journeys, serving as inspirational role models for the next generation. As they engage with teens, they explore the importance of developing a leadership mindset, encouraging each young person to find their unique voice and stand up for their peers. This interactive session fosters an environment of motivation and support, helping teens to develop strong bonds of teamwork and trust while discovering and celebrating their individual identities.