In Samburu, Kenya, the people face intersectional social and environmental challenges including limited access to healthcare and education, food insecurity, and harmful socio- cultural practices. Livelihoods are dependent on pastoralism and very little land is suitable for agriculture – exacerbated by drought. An average of 50 minutes a day is spent collecting water. As women carry out 70% of these trips, they have less time to study, earn an income and take care of their health – making them economically dependent on men.

This project builds on SAFE Samburu’s successful ALMT-funded pilot project in Sasaab and Kiltamany regions in the Westgate Conservancy, Samburu which enabled 160 children and young people to go through the curriculum, develop theatre skills,  parents to enroll their children in school, and many hundreds of community members understand the challenges facing children.

This work will now be extended to two-year programme and replicated in two other areas: Ngutuk and Lempaute, with the addition of career visibility and follow-up sessions with beneficiaries from all four locations.

Youth Forums will focus on areas include HIV; Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting; countering extremism; peacebuilding; water, sanitation, and hygiene; gender-based violence, sexual health and building climate change resilience. This project will also use traditional Samburu performance to empower young people to raise awareness of their own issues.

The performances will spark wider community dialogue between young people and their elders, empowering them to actively participate in society, know their rights and respectfully challenge harmful cultural practices.