11th October is the International Day of the Girl child, a day that seeks to create awareness on the inequalities faced by girls worldwide. Sustainable development goal number five is on gender equality which informs the ending of discrimination against women and girls. Thus the need to empower the girl child so as to overcome numerous challenges such early marriages, female genital mutilation, exploitation, sexual violence, poor access to sexual and reproductive education among others.
Koinonia Community in partnership with Amani Onlous under the MAECI project organized a procession to mark this particular day. The MAECI project is currently rehabilitating 22 girls at the Mother house center so as to reintroduce them to a new way of life different from the street life.
The procession kicked off at Ndungu Mdogo one of the two rescue centers under the MAECI project, and culminated at the Kamkunji grounds in Kibera. It was graced by over 10 schools from Kibera and was flagged off by Assistant County Commissioner Kibera division, Betty Gakunda. The children were really excited to be part and parcel of this big day and at exactly 10am the procession began lead by a band that ensured the journey through to Kamkunji was an enjoyable one.
At the grounds it was a fun packed event where the children got to show case different talents from singing, dancing, poetry and drama. Other than the entertainment the children were encouraged to concentrate on their studies for a bright future. Brenda Atieno, an account at Koinonia Community encouraged the children to be patient in life as good things take time. Also taking time to warn girls not to get involved with boys as this could distract them from their main focus which is education.
This year’s theme is Girl’s progress = Goal’s progress, which can be translated to mean that a girls progress will be of benefit to her family and the community as a whole. The chairperson at Sarang’ombe Ward encouraged girls and boys to coexist peacefully as they both have equal opportunities.