Pema 4 Girls

Pema is a Swahili word that means ‘safe place.’ This programme is aimed at creating a safe and secure environment for adolescent girls that allows them to be their own advocates and fight for reproductive justice.

This is an integrated mentorship programme, which encourage girls to have self-confidence, self-esteem, take responsibility and the importance of staying in school. Girls are encouraged to take up core subjects like Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer studies, and not to shy away from subjects that are traditionally seen to be more “masculine

This program advances reproductive justice among girls and young women. It involves advocating for comprehensive sexuality education in schools and running integrated community outreach sexual reproductive health programs.

This programme targets all girls of school-going age – those between the ages of 12 and 18 and young women 19-24 years.

Pema 4 Girlshas partnered with other organisations to raise awareness through various platforms. In future, we hope to build a rescue centre for abused and stigmatised girls and teenage mothers, providing counselling and rescuing them from child labour and child commercial sex work (which is rampant especially in the border towns of Malaba and Busia Kenya).

WETEC also promotes digital literacy and using digital platforms to access opportunities through Pema 4 Girls.

Boresha Dada

‘Boresha Dada’ is Swahili word that means ‘to make better.’ The purpose of the programme is to empower vulnerable girls and women up to 30 years of age, encouraging them to take control of their future, body and physical, financial, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. The girls and women learn new skills like crocheting mats, sewing quilted Ankara patched hand bags, baking and beading for sale and other dignified income generation activities. This programme also focuses on fundraising and reintegrating teenage mothers back to school.

Boys for Change

This programme promotes men and boys in supporting female victims of sexual and gender-based violence, particularly teenagers. Boys and girls discuss the various challenges they all face growing up to identify shared solutions. In Kenya, music and sports are an essential part of the co-curricular activities in schools, and we encourage teenagers to actively participate in arts and other talent development activities.

WETEC also:

• Partners with the Positive and Active Towards Change Organization (PACHO), which focuses on the economic empowerment of women living positively despite their HIV/AIDS status.
• Established bursaries for 50 teenage mothers who have been able to return to informal schooling , whilst economically empowering other teenage mothers unable to return to school, through skills development such as baking, beading, weaving and designing.
• Visited various communities in Siaya, Busia and Kakamega and have reached more than 5,500 girls since inception, through our Teso Girls Summit and “ T Space” Programme in schools. The programme has been applauded by local governments, the Kenyan Ministry of Education, both primary and secondary schools, churches and World Pulse.
• Through our digital campaign, girls are encouraged to speak out and write about issues that affect them online, free from the fear of social backlash.

WETEC envisions a Community Resource Centre, bringing together vocational training, a computer laboratory, rescue centre and exhibition for crafts. This Centre will act as a safe haven for the girls, where mentoring can take place, and will provide access adolescent-friendly health services.

Our Partners Include Akili Dada, World Pulse, Trust For Indigenous Health and Culture(TICAH(Inroads) American Jewish World Service(AJWS), Wise Kenya, Acacia in Kenya