Upendo Tena

Upendo Tena Initiative was initially set up in 2019 with the aim to enhance gender equality throughout Kenya, which we did through delivering hands-on educational workshop sessions to girls in schools aged 8-18 years old. 

However, when we evaluated our 2021 pilot programme, we identified the need to expand our programme to include the needs of boys. We adapted the topics in our programme based on research and focus groups that we held with the boys and girls in the community, as well as parents and teaching staff.

We focus on community sensitisation, participating in community seminars and delivering our workshop programme in schools (primary and secondary) and within children’s rescue centres. We work with trauma informed and child/young person centred approaches, creating safe spaces to explore sensitive topics. Look at our ‘workshops’ page to find out more about the topics that we cover.

We initially developed an innovative workshop programme which was being piloted to groups of girls aged 8 – 18 years in Barut Community in Nakuru, Kenya in 2021. The programme aimed to Support, Educate and Empower – focussing on raising awareness of girls’ and women’s rights, positive mental health, self-esteem and empowerment. We strived to raise awareness about gender-based violence and harmful cultural practices, encouraging healthy relationships amongst other things.

However, when we evaluated our 2021 pilot programme, we identified the need to expand our programme to include the needs of boys. We adapted the topics in our programme based on research and focus groups that we held with the boys and girls in the community, as well as parents and teaching staff. The programme is now delivered twice a month to boys and girls, reaching up to 300 children a month.

In February 2023, several members of the U.K. board were able to visit Kenya again for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak. During our time in Kenya, we were able to review how our current programme was running, obtain feedback, meet with the government, deliver outreach work and develop new partnerships.

Our outreach work allowed us to reach roughly 1,000 children in the space of 2-3 weeks. We delivered Upendo Tena workshop sessions in a mixture of settings, including schools (primary and secondary), children’s centres and orphanages, across different regions in Kenya (including Nakuru and West Pokot). We were particularly excited and grateful to have had the opportunity to work closely with Hope and Restoration Centre and I-Rep Foundation during our time there.

We were able to start the process of registration with the government, and our goal is to become an officially registered Non-Governmental Organisation in Kenya by the end of 2023. We hope that this will allow us to expand, develop and progress even further! We have also welcomed new volunteers supporting with workshop adaptation and fundraising.

In September 2023, two of our UK board members will be returning to Kenya to follow up with the registration process. We will also be delivering some outreach work in a new region (Mombassa) with a children’s centre, focussing specifically on the needs of the children in this area. Most of these children have experienced abuse, neglect and trafficking/exploitation and are experiencing significant levels of trauma. We will be adapting our sessions accordingly and are very excited to meet the children!

Our future ambition

Once we are more established, the long-term goal is to open up a refuge; a safe house for children and young people escaping gender-based violence, exploitation and abuse, where they can access safety, counselling, and rehabilitation, whilst also identifying a relevant link school where they can access education.