Community Programme For Peace and Reconciliation

Programme Overview

Our work promotes ethnic dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution to secure lasting social cohesion. We also empower communities, to confront and end gender-based violence head-on, forging a path toward a world free from fear.

Focus Areas

Projects

Dumisha Amani Project (2020 -2026)

Goal: To promote peaceful resolutions to political and social conflicts among communities of Laikipia West Sub County.

Interventions.

Engaging children in peacebuilding: Children can be considered as peacemakers and peacebuilders, or conversely, as troublemakers. They represent the future of the country; therefore, engaging them in peace processes and socializing them as peacebuilders early on is important. We introduce and empower Amani clubs in Primary and secondary schools to promote peaceful coexistence in their schools through creative art. Arts for peace allows children and youth a temporary escape from destructive conflict and simultaneously provides them with an outlet for their emotions, opinions, and hopes for the future.

Engagement of youth in peacebuilding through sports: We use football to engage young people from different ethnic groups in peace building. For decades, sport has brought together people from all over the world regardless of their age, gender or ethnicity, to inspire and unite everyone. In Nelson Mandela’s words: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope, where there was once only despair.” It provides a space for the upcoming generation to interact, learn social skills, have an inter-cultural exchange and develop their personalities in a positive environment, thereby building a more inclusive community.

Empowering communities on peace building: We recruit and empower volunteers as community peace ambassadors across different ethnic groups. They work as agents of conflict resolution and transformation by addressing the unique cultural, social, and historical realities that shape conflicts within local communities. Community peace ambassadors promote restorative justice where cultural integrity is maintained while also adhering to established legal frameworks.

Empowering duty bearers in strategic peace building: We strengthen the capacity of existing structures at all levels of society to establish and sustain relationships among people locally. The aim is to resolve conflicts peaceful and build societies, institutions, policies, and relationships that are better able to sustain peace and justice.

Gender Mainstreaming project (2024-2027)

Socially constructed roles and responsibilities assigned to women and men, girls and boys have direct and indirect impacts on how they experience projects. Inherent social and structural constraints and inequities arising from cultural norms, legislation and policy frequently lead to gender disparities and the unequal access to and control over assets and resources, resulting in fewer social and economic opportunities for women. Understanding the different needs of women and men, girls and boys and the different impacts that social, environmental, political or economic interventions may have on each group is crucial to creating inclusive, safe and sustainable communities, as well as to empowering women and vulnerable groups. Gender mainstreaming provides project teams with an approach to understand the gender differences in play in the area of intervention and to tailor activities to harness social and economic opportunities and inclusion for women and vulnerable groups. To ensure that projects effectively recognize gender perspectives and promote women’s empowerment, gender considerations have to be mainstreamed throughout the project, starting at the design and planning stage and ending with the closure stage.

Goal: To promote social, economic, and political inclusion, ensuring equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, economic status, or disability. Through: –

Hands-on learning and knowledge sharing: Building on experiences from RWAMREC and expanding best practices to St. Martin CSA and L’Arche Kenya to enhance gender inclusion efforts.
Capacity building and staff development: Enhancing staff knowledge through online courses on gender-transformative approaches to strengthen internal training and effectively disseminate lessons within the organization.
Gender transformative approaches: Integrating gender-transformative principles across thematic areas by developing a comprehensive manual and conducting training sessions for organizational staff to foster inclusivity and equality.

Awakening Suppressed Voices project (2022-204 phased over to community structures)

GBV is the most extreme expression of unequal gender relations in society, and a violation of human rights, as well as a main hindrance of the achievement of gender equality. GBV is preventable, which entails a focus on the root causes of violence and on possibilities for change (Sida, 2015) The situation is no different in Kenya. Statistics indicate that Kenya has some of the highest rates of violence against women in the world. The Kenya Demographic Health Survey of 2014 showed, GBV cases In Laikipia County, stood at 6.7% in a population of 399, 227 people. This translates to 26,700 cases, a staggering number. The main forms of GBV occurring in the area include female genital mutilation, forced/early marriages, physical violence, sexual assault, and general marginalization of women in decision making and leadership roles. Vulnerability of women and girls to gender based violence and gendered discrimination is contributed to by retrogressive gender norms, practices and beliefs, weak implementation of existing laws and policies, dominance of the male gender in decision making structures, low awareness on and stigmatization of women rights, stigmatization of gender-based violence hindering women to pursue justice, uncoordinated response and lack of economic security amongst women. These causes operate in intertwined, interlocked and interrelated ways that affect poor populations the most.

Goal: To empower marginalized women and girls by reducing inequality, preventing gender-based violence, fostering gender equality, and strengthening their ability to claim their rights.

Interventions

Transforming communities: We envision a society where women and girls thrive, free from violence, discrimination, and systemic barriers. Through our interventions, we empower them to challenge societal norms, break barriers, and drive meaningful change toward a more inclusive and equitable world.

Strengthening community capacity: Sustainable change begins from within. To address the root causes and impact of gender-based violence (GBV), we conduct capacity-building sessions for social actors, equipping communities with the knowledge, skills, and tools to combat GBV and foster safer, more supportive environments.

Providing quality care and support: Women, girls, and GBV survivors deserve access to holistic care and empowerment. We ensure they receive psychosocial support, economic opportunities, and access to essential services that promote resilience and long-term well-being.

Driving social and cultural change: True transformation requires collective action. We engage communities in challenging harmful social norms, advocating for policy reforms, and promoting gender equality through inclusive dialogues and cultural shifts that foster lasting change.

Soma Mwana Project (2021 – 2025)

In 2003, Kenya first introduced what is known as free primary education. Since then, primary school enrolment rates have increased as much as 84 percent in some regions; a great improvement for the country as a whole. Although primary education may now be free in Kenya, families are still responsible for providing the children with the necessary equipment to attend these primary schools. The reality is that barriers remain in Kenya that reinforces male privilege. A lack of girls’ education in Kenya is one of these barriers. In regions that experience high poverty rates and low levels of gender equality, as little as 19 percent of the girls in the region are enrolled in local primary schools. In others, as few as 1 in 15 girls are enrolled in primary school. There is an obvious gender gap when it comes to girls’ education in Kenya. The education of girls not only helps them achieve their individual potential, but also helps to break intergenerational cycles of poverty and disadvantage. When a girl stays in school, she increases her income earning potential and her future is immediately brighter. Education empowers her to build a better life for herself, contributing to the health, safety and prosperity of her family and community. In fact, a one percentage point increase in female education rates raises the average GDP for her country by 0.3 percentage points. Studies have shown the positive impact that education of girls has on their overall health and wellbeing.

Goal: Retaining and reinstating needy girls from marginalized communities in schools across the vast Laikipia West Sub-County.

Educational support for girls from pastoral communities: Many girls in pastoral communities’ face barriers to education due to cultural norms, poverty, and early marriages. The Soma Mwana Project provides scholarships, school supplies, and advocacy to ensure these girls remain in school and complete their education.

Mentorship and life skills training for teenage mothers: Teenage mothers often struggle with stigma and limited opportunities for personal growth. Through mentorship programs and life skills training, the project helps them rebuild their confidence, acquire essential skills, and reintegrate into the education system or vocational training.

Provision of sanitary towels: Lack of access to sanitary products leads to school absenteeism and poor performance among girls. The project provides sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene education to ensure girls can attend school comfortably and with dignity.

Psycho-social support: Marginalized girls, especially survivors of abuse or those facing emotional distress, receive counselling and psychosocial support. This helps them cope with challenges, build resilience, and focus on their education and personal development.