Faraja is a Swahili word for comfort, but in Mlolongo Kenya Faraja represents much more. Founded by Positive life Kenya, Faraja is a rescue centre that provides a safe space and empowers women with life skill lessons.
The need for such institutions and places is very
needed in Kenya’s Machakos county. Prior to the onset of the
COVID-19 pandemic, results from Kenya’s 2019 publishing of the
Violence Against Children Survey (VACS) reported 49% of girls
between the age of 13 - 17 experienced physical violence, while
sexual violence was experienced by 11%. Once the pandemic took hold
of the world with its paralysing health impacts, COVID-19’s lockdown
mandate caused detrimental economic stress, thereby galvanising
abuse towards adolescent girls and women within their households due
to the restrictions on movement. The impact of such violence bears
the consequences of debilitating psychological, physical, and
academic development. Social skills, self-esteem and self-worth are
diminished and may lead to heightened issues like dropping out of
school, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, or suicidal ideation.
Understanding gender dynamics is important in developing effective
strategies to secure educational continuity and to promote gender
equality (Wairimu I. & Chilufya C., 2022).
Faraja offers tailoring lessons after which the attendants are
given a certificate, are equipped with theoretical and practical
knowledge which makes it easier for them to apply for a job or start
their own businesses. As such, we have tried answering questions on
what would empower a girl, a woman in the midst of a system that
supports men by default.
Positive life Kenya is currently trying to equip Faraja
with the following resources to expand the content offered to the women:
- Group therapy
- Cooking lessons
- Exercise, and
- Literacy (language development, computer and tech literacy, financial literacy)
Lastly, many of the Faraja women are mothers of very small children. They are left without any choice but to bring their kids with them. While their mothers are educating themselves, the kids are left to roam and play around without proper entertainment and supervision. Positive life Kenya’s goal is to implement a daycare where the kids would receive better care.
