Empowerment of women in Kuria, Kenya

The project aims at strengthening women in Kuria East and West in the south-western Kenya economically and socially. In groups the women are trained in entrepreneurship and management of micro enterprises, on their rights as women and on health issues, such as HIV/AIDS and genital mutilation. In this way the women can be strengthened to advocate for their own rights and to sustain their livelihoods through small cooperatives rooted in the women groups. A central equal rights committee with subcommittees, consisting of local authorities and women's group representatives, will be established. Through events in the communities the equal rights committees will raise awareness about women's rights and advocate for these. These events are expected to contribute to a long-term change of attitude to women's rights, particularly among men and local decision makers in Kuria. The project is a continuation and extension of the partnership between FIC and SOTENI Kenya, which has existed since 2007.