Improving girl's lives through creative interventions strategies in the Mukuru slum, Nairobi Kenya

Background: Data from APHRC shows girls particularly those living in slums, have lower chance of completing secondary education. These barriers are enhanced by socio-cultural factors including: poverty, limited access to... [ view full abstract ]

Background: Data from APHRC shows girls particularly those living in slums, have lower chance of completing secondary education. These barriers are enhanced by socio-cultural factors including: poverty, limited access to health services and quality education, gender roles, and traditional tribal practices. The aforementioned factors lead to majority of parents neglecting girl’s education leading to high number of girls unable to transition to secondary schools. Time outside school may increase girl’s vulnerability to early initiation into sex, dependency within relationships, and in some instances survival sex work. Furthermore, most girls lack knowledge and skills, which they would have gained in school to protect themselves from HIV, STI, pregnancy, and other harms.

Description: U-Tena recruits mentors and co-mentors from Mukuru who work with girls aged 11-17 where they lead participants in weekly sessions and group exercises around; monthly experience sharing and life-skills development. Topics such as, adolescent sexual health, Financial literacy and informed decision-making are covered. Parents are also counseled on the benefits of close relation with their girls.

Lessons learnt: Since the program’s inceptions in 2012 where 200 participants were recruited, their decision making skills have improved as observed in the monthly meetings. Currently, school drop-outs due to pregnancy have reduced to 10%, a marked improvement from 50% dropout rate from previous years. Additionally, 100 girls were referred to other U-Tena programs. Schools in the slum report a 10% increase of girl’s performance in literacy and numeracy. 65% of participants attended all 192sessions.

Conclusions/Next steps: Interventions targeting girls from urban slums with parental counseling are more effective. Information and services need be tailored to the needs of girls within the context of their lives in the slum.