Girls benefit from mentorship drive to curb defilement cases

School girls receiving mentorship at Rambusi Primary School in Ndhiwa Sub-county. At least 200 adolescent school girls have begun receiving mentorship aimed at reducing defilement and other forms of child rights violation in Homa Bay County. [James Omoro, Standard]

An organisation, Champions for Change Youth Network in partnership with Plan International Kenya has rolled out a mentorship programme to curb defilement cases in Homa Bay county.

The programme targets at least 200 adolescent school girls and aims to enlighten them on child rights violations.

The organisation founder Everline Atieno said they are molding school girls to overcome risks of defilement.

Speaking during a mentorship at Rambusi Primary School in Ndhiwa Sub-county, Atieno said the talks are aimed at impacting positively the lives of girls in the county.

The mentorship programme targets parts of the county with a high prevalence of girls' sexual rights violations.

"Children from Ndhiwa and Rangwe sub-counties mostly fall victim to sexual rights violations and other forms of abuse according to data from the Children Services Department," Atieno said.

Homa Bay has one of the highest cases of defilement which has also been blamed for teen pregnancies.

According to the latest Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, the defilement rate stands at 23.2 per cent in Homa Bay county.

The mentorship programme is undertaken at various schools.

The officer in charge of child protection at Plan International Kenya, Joseph Mwita, said the exercise is aimed at enabling the girls to have a bright future.

"This exercise improves the skills and knowledge of the girls to enable them to make the right decisions which can impact their lives," Mwita said.

Homa Bay Children Services Officer Joseph Otieno warned that anybody found violating a children's sexual rights will face legal action.

"Members of the community should know the consequences of child rights violations. Let people stop violating the rights of children," Otieno said.

The acting Chief of North Kanyamwa Location Chief Kenneth Ogutu told parents to take a leading role in molding the behaviour of their children.

The girls were given sanitary towels, soap and panties in efforts to ensure menstrual hygiene.