Teachers at Kibowen Komen Primary School in Nakuru Town West have assumed a vital role in the holistic development of their students, particularly in the areas of social and emotional growth.

The initiative to combat sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) within the school community led two teachers to begin the sensitization.

Teacher Rose Njogu notes that the effort began in response to a distressing incident involving a student who experienced GBV at the hands of a guardian.

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Ms Njogu, along with her colleague, embarked on training sessions to sensitize students about SGBV prevention.

Since the commencement of this awareness campaign, many students have started to speak up about their experiences, leading to the identification and resolution of SGBV cases.

"This initiative utilizes collaborative learning methods, focusing on students' social and emotional development, resulting in a significant number of students understanding how to identify cases and potential threats," Ms Njogu notes.

Mr. David Kangogo, notes that the school has plans to establish a student-led club dedicated to addressing gender-based violence issues.

Mr David Kangogo a teacher at Kibowen Komen Primary School in Nakuru Town West.

Photo credit: MERCY KIHUGU/MTAA WANGU

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He emphasizes the importance of a collaborative effort between the school and parents to ensure a sustainable solution to SGBV.

Furthermore, the initiative actively encourages boys to speak out and seek help, as they often remain silent after experiencing SGBV incidents.

"This inclusive approach strives to break down barriers and create a safe space for all students," he notes.

In Ngala School for the Deaf, the Head teacher, Mr. Samuel Ndirangu, acknowledges the prevalence of SGBV against people with disabilities and the challenges they face in having these cases resolved.

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"Most perpetrators tend to take advantage of the people with disabilities especially since they think they won't be able to report the cases," Mr Ndirangu says.

This initiative has proven significant in enabling differently-abled learners to identify potential threats and address issues through the support of the teachers.

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Two teachers team up to sensitize students on GBV at Kibowen Komen school

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Mercy Kihugu