Working with several Kenyan organisations since 2012 allowed our Founder, Allys, to understand the culture and different community groups in Kenya. It allowed her to see first-hand the challenges that are faced and learn from the people in the community about the existing gaps in support.
Allys completed various research, including:
- Research on period poverty which was requested for another charitable organisation.
- Undergraduate research which explored the current awareness of children’s rights and the existing legal frameworks.
- Postgraduate research, which investigated the extent in which the current laws are helping or hindering anti-FGM initiatives in Kenya.
Working directly with professionals, community members and young women who had all escaped gender-based violence, Allys listened to suggestions and ideas from the local people to learn what projects and programmes should focus on to ensure development and societal change.
Acknowledging the importance of working with members of the community and understanding their viewpoint, a community day was organised in Barut, Nakuru. This not only allowed Upendo Tena to introduce ourselves, but we also set up a room (with a confidential box offered), for people to come and talk to us regarding the concerns they had for children and young people in their community. The community day was a huge success, with hundreds of people showing up throughout the day to find out more, show support and contribute feedback. This has shaped the direction of Upendo Tena going forward, and we continue to be in an open dialogue with the community, to ensure they feel involved, informed and empowered.
Shortly after initially setting up Upendo Tena Initiative, the world experienced the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic, which could not have been foreseen, and indubitably, impacted on the plans and work of Upendo Tena.
Poverty rates soared significantly due to the pandemic. This put an increasing number of girls at risk of gender-based violence including FGM, child marriages and exploitation. There has been an additional increase in early school drop-out for girls, and the prolonged closure of schools heightened the prevalence of intrafamilial sexual and physical abuse, and neglect.
The Covid-19 pandemic meant that many of our plans were put on hold due to the restrictions in place. Instead, we focussed on creating activity packs that the children and young people could do from home, and prioritised health and safety within the community, by implementing handwashing stations and distributing face masks.
During the pandemic, it allowed us the time and space to develop our workshop programme, which was then first piloted in 2021 with our first partner school, SOAR Kenya Academy (Nakuru).
Upendo Tena 