BIG SISTER PROJECT

The Leadership Development Consortium (LDC) provides specialized research, capacity building and best practice training in human rights and diversity for schools, groups and institutions. LDC’s goal is to provide institutional training and human resource development, while reducing the number of sexual crimes in schools.

The Big Sister Project is a mentoring, training, and career guidance initiative for girls in secondary schools, in association with women leaders at constituency level and women’s groups in the rural setting. Targeting 28 schools across Kenya, it is aimed at raising awareness and encouraging career development in relation to the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act.

The project will endeavor to ensure girls are aware of the various different forms of sexual violence and the associated criminal reporting procedures. The overriding goal is to reduce the overall level of sexual violence in Kenyan society. One-day seminars areheld in secondary schools for students and teachers, disseminating information on sexual violence and how to control and reduce it.

Personal hygiene is also covered, including education on and distribution of sanitary towels to the girls. This is designed to ensure that girls are not absent from school due to the unavailability of sanitary pads. The project’s future was secured by Lotto Foundation’s grant of Ksh 3.8 million.