WOUNDED HEALERS INTERNATIONAL

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Ten goats in exchange for my innocence- Angela’s story

I am Angela*, 15 years old, a scholar at Wounded Healers. I am in Form two now, but my classmates are in Form three. I was made pregnant by a 25-year-old man during the holiday. I then reported to Form 1, but in June 2020, I asked permission to go home from the principal. No one had noticed. The principal was shocked and gave me a letter to take to my father, which I did. My father went to see the man’s parents, and the man agreed to marry me, but my father refused. Later the man’s parents agreed, through the intervention of village elders, to pay for one of $300 and ten goats. My father did the negotiations without involving me. After I gave birth, the man refused to take care of the baby. The main reason was that he had not married me, but my parent stayed with my son.

I lost my studies for the year 2021. When I returned, the principal said nothing to me, only that I would repeat. Imagine being in Form one when my classmates are in Form two. I hate it. It is disturbing me psychologically. I cannot concentrate. Reporting on time was a big problem. I had a considerable fee balance since the principal said I should pay fees for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022 to prove to the school that I was committed to attending school, which my parent could not pay. I want to study but hate being in this school because of the stigma and discrimination.

Most teachers and the pupils keep asking me questions concerning my problems and treat me very differently. Most school people think I am the only person with a child. The baby issue disturbs me a lot; he has no good food and clothes; most of the time, I cannot talk to other students because they abuse me and call me names like “kiji mama(old woman), maziwa ya matiti inanuka”(my breast milk smelling). Others call me “parent,” but what parent am I when I cannot provide for my child? I fear to announce anything in class; even when I lose my things, the whole class shouts at me, calling me names; it is frustrating.

I have been working hard and always share with Wounded Healers counselors what I go through; they encourage me to continue working hard. I want to finish my education, get a leadership position, and fight early marriages. I also want my child to have a better life than I did; I don’t want her to be married off or get pregnant when young. Wounded Healers center is the only space where I can be myself; they allow me to work on my school work as they look after the baby. I believe I will have a better life in the future.

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Empowering young women to be self reliant

Mwangaza women self Help group

Imagine if women had equal opportunities for success? Imagine if all women are empowered? Imagine if all women are set free from jails of cultures and traditions? Imagine if all women believed in themselves? This World would be a better place, but we have a long way to achieve this; the good news is it is achievable; exponential growth is seen when women are empowered.

Our shelter also offers case management, counseling, and support groups to young women who are not requesting shelter but still seeking pathways out of the commercial sex industry or continued support in their trauma recovery.

Today we launched the Elevate program for 18 young women in our community. These women are dynamic, industrious, young, innovative, and holding on to hope, but all are still stuck in the history of oppression. We locked our gates at our shelter for them to have a space to just be themselves, cared for their babies as they danced, and allowed them to dream for at least 3 hours without being coerced; the result was very moving. These few women opened up, cried, laughed, and most of all, we devised a plan! Together we will become a beautiful story. Elevate program will empower women with economic skills, Digital skills, Women’s rights, and how to be self-reliable.


Elevate program aims to improve women’s economic and health conditions. We work together to give them the skills they need to look after themselves, live independently, and work, while still benefitting from being part of a support group. In addition, the program will equip them with the knowledge and awareness to care for their physical and mental health and develop conversational skills such as nutrition awareness and looking after their own homes.
The program also set them on the road to finding a vocation and a job. Our team has developed excellent relationships with prominent local businesses which can offer training programs and, subsequently, jobs to these young women.

Women writing their business ideas

Stories of these women are painful; some are living in modern slavery; they came to the city in search of green pastures and ended up as domestic workers, “I came to work as a house girl in 2016, my employer husband started forcing me to sex, I had to accept so I could keep my job, later I felt so bad, and I decided to tell her wife, they kicked me out. I could not return to my village; the employer was there, and she told everybody that I was a husband snatcher, but nobody believed me. I have been in the city since then, I found a boyfriend who I have been living with, and I have two children, he says I am a burden with my children, he calls me all kinds of names and sometimes slaps me, but I don’t want to report or leave him because I don’t have anywhere to go. I am 24 years; this is not the life I dreamt of. I want to learn and start a small business selling chicken .”

Patriarchy accords men the right to institute practices and codes that, as a priority, benefits them. The analysis must be made against the background of the male demand and “rights.” More women than men live in poverty. Women hardly have any money at their discretion; therefore totally dependent on their husbands or family members to fulfill their petty needs. Economic disparities persist partly because much of the unpaid work within families and communities falls on the shoulders of women and because they face discrimination in the economic sphere.

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End Sexual violence- Motorcycle taxi riders against violence

Boda Boda (Motorcycle Taxis) operators can play a critical role in addressing social, cultural, and gender norms that propagate harmful practices such as sexual violence, child and forced marriages, and FGM. In addition, they are in a unique position to provide support to victims who have been affected by these practices through their day-to-day interactions with clients and knowledge of the community terrains.

Rape culture is a culture in which sexual violence is treated as the norm and victims are blamed for their own assaults.

Boda Boda riders

“Sixteen Boda Boda riders have been arrested and five motorcycles impounded over the sexual assault of a female motorist along Nairobi’s Wangari Maathai road last Friday 4th, Kenyan police say”. This was the latest news of sexual assaults committed by Boda Boda riders in Kenya.

This news and many other reports of riders who rape clients made Mr. John, the chairman of Mwihoko Boda Boda rider, come to wounded Healers in Kenya requesting education on sexual violence for him and his association of more than 200 riders. He said that he would like his association to join the fight to break the culture and social norms that lead to sexual violence and know what he can do if any of his riders commit the crime.

Boda-Boda (motorcycle taxi) hosts millions of young people in Kenya. However, with very few women having the courage to venture into the industry, it remains a male-dominated sector.

Led by Program manager Josephine, Wounded Healers educated 60 riders about sexual violence, cultures, and social norms that fuel it and what they can do in case they come across a victim. Together with the upcoming Member of County Assembly and the Mwihoko riders association, Wounded Healers will support girls to access sexual and reproductive services, advocating against all forms of sexual violence and other harmful practices such as rape culture at the community level. In addition, wounded Healers will provide free mental health support to all riders whenever they need it to take their business forward.

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I Will Rise Again – Tiana Story

“The sex work business was never easy because men and police harassed me.”

“ I grew up in the streets of Nairobi after we could not afford rent in our Mathare slum house. My father left us when I was young. My mother was hooked on drugs for us and my brother or me. She introduced me to drugs at a young age and forced me to go and beg in the streets. I was too young to understand the risks of using drugs.
My mother had multiple men who slept with her for food, drugs, and money. She treated me as her bait to get anything she wanted when she was sick or drunk. So I was introduced to some of her men to earn money in exchange for sex. 
As the days went by, I was addicted to drugs like my mother. Then, one day I was gang-raped by street boys while drunk. The feeling of shame overwhelmed me, but I could not do anything but be silent because of their insults.
When I reached eleven years old, my mother became insane and started acting like a mad person. My brother was hit by a car in the city and died. The street families began insulting my mother, and I was always embarrassed whenever I saw her. I decided to go and create a new Life. I met my street friend Stellar who introduced me to her job. She was a sex worker and a pickpocketer.
She introduced me to her clients, and we shared the amount I was paid. Stellar taught me about using contraceptives not getting pregnant when I started my periods. I started earning money to cater to my basic needs. 
The sex work business was never easy because men and police harassed me. One day while at work, I met a very social client. I loved the way we interacted and exchanged contacts.
He insisted that I meet him at a private place the next day, and I accepted. When he came to our meeting point, I  started feeling uncomfortable, but he assured me everything was alright. A few minutes later, two huge men appeared and blindfolded me. They threatened me not to scream or else they will kill me. I was afraid of them, so I did as they told me.
I was taken into a room and locked inside. They told me that I would be recorded having sex with different men, and if I resisted, they would kill me. I was locked inside the room for two months, and other men could come every day. They did not even check if I had any infections. After a few weeks, I started feeling different. Finally, they noticed and confirmed that I was pregnant. One of them proposed that I aborted the baby and brought me some pills. A few hours after taking them, I started bleeding heavily, and they started arguing.
I was taken to the hospital and left there. After a lot of confusion, a doctor approached me, and I told him everything. I was treated and admitted to the hospital. Unfortunately, my baby died, and I was infected with HIV. I also had infections of STDs.
I feel like I am a dead person. My whole life, I have been living like a forbidden person. I am under medication, and investigations are still going on. At night I usually have nightmares and stress. I am not sure if I will live to see another day every time I close my eyes.”

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International Day of Girl in Kasarani

Girls can be Leaders. Girls can be engineers. Girls can start and own businesses. Girls can be policymakers and change the message around them from being victims and vulnerable to powerful agents of change; it is essential to support their work and leadership.

This year’s International Day of The Girl, themed  “Digital generation. Our generation,” acknowledges the growing digital world and how a digital gap can also widen the gender gap. At, Wounded Healers, the fight against Sexual Violence never ends. Every other day is just an opportunity to continue advocating for girls’ equal rights, ending Violence and prejudice against them. In addition, there is the need to embrace the professional growth of girls and drop the stereotypical belief that women only belong in the kitchen and not in cooperate world.

Following this year’s theme, “Digital generation. Our generation,” focuses on bridging the digital divide. According to the United Nations, even in the post-COVID-19 world that saw businesses, education, and even parts of healthcare services moving online, “2.2 billion people below the age of 25 still do not have Internet access at home.” The report further noted that girls are more likely to be cut off, pointing to a gender divide within the digital range. It was also stated that girls are less likely than boys to “use and own devices.

More than 100 marchers, including girls, the Nairobi county government, Law enforces, Parents, and teachers marched holding placards and banners that read ” Girls can be leaders, Educate Girls, Stop Raping us” as they demanded equal opportunities in the digital generation.

“Endless possibility for girls means ending sexual violence now.” Wounded Healers Executive Director, Eunice Nuna. “let’s stop the clock on violence and ensure all girls can realize their potential. Equal Education opportunities are a must.”

“We must empower these girls and share all these stories,” she said. “It is also unfortunate that we know girls who were abused and denied opportunities, and they have to put their pain out on display for us to be taken seriously. So what we’re trying to do on this girl’s day is make sure we all lift our voices in solidarity with each other to make sure the people in power hear our message.”

Wounded Healers will continue providing a safe space for girls and support services that make healing possible, education, empowerment, and the opportunity to truly break the cycle of sexual violence. We, Will, also partner with other organizations to provide medical and vocational services to provide healing for the future and a solid foundation to build a healthy, safe, and fulfilling life for themselves.