I CHOOSE TO KNOW MY RIGHTS

Project Title: I CHOOSE TO KNOW MY RIGHTS: Promoting Civic awareness among Adolescents Girls & Boys in Primary and Secondary schools

Location: larger Uasin Gishu District

Province: Rift Valley Kenya

County: Uasin Gishu Country

Implementing Group: Grassroots Initiative group

Starting Date: when approved

Duration: 6 Weeks ( 2 Months)

Contact Person: Elphas Bengo Project Coordinator/Journalist

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +254 710 621 318

Project Cost: USD 6,982

Grantee: Unrestricted

Introduction

This activity provides a chance for young people to become more aware of their civic and human rights in rural Kenya. The majority of them have limited information about the present situation of civic and human rights issues facing the country. They have no interest and if they do, know little or nothing about parliament, democracy, human rights, sexual reproductive rights, civil society and government policy.

They do not know how to participate in activities that promote social bonding and citizenship. They have little knowledge about their rights. They are living traditionally under the harsh cultural values. Grassroots Initiative proposes to empower these young people on democracy, human rights, civil society, government, citizenship in a very simple and soluble setting. Then distribute self guide handbooks among these groups. As well Grassroots Initiative in partnership with Professional Consultants have been holding meetings with appropriate stakeholders including Human Rights Organizations like (Centre Against Torture-Eldoret) Lawyers with various firms, Counselors, Journalists, Training Consultants and other peace loving Kenyans. We have already assessed the positive impact that this program will have on our young Kenyans especially those still in school in rebuilding the future image and politics of this country.

Statement of the Purpose or needs assessment

The advancement of human history has been largely achieved through collective citizen based actions. To bring about positive social change by dismantling debilitating social evils of injustices, inequality, marginalization, human rights violations, discrimination requires collective effort of ordinary citizens.

All this begins with enlightment (Civic Education) through which people are concscientized about their condition and not through positive activism, they can improve that condition and live better lives. One based in universality and fundamental values of justice, democracy (participation), human rights and human security and freedom.

As a country Kenya suffers from a long history of fragile democracy struggling with lots of civil, political and social economic ills. Almost absolute power and resources are but in the hands of a small elite political class. Citizen participation is bedeviled with ignorance, disease and poverty. These disempower citizens as they become prone and easily vulnerable to petty bribery and other ‘opium’ including manipulations that quickly kill their desire for better sustainable lives.

The young people especially of adolescents age are a particularly vulnerable. They are almost a no direction group in the midst of the hawk-like struggle antagonist power and domination in this deeply patriarchal society.

The other challenging ill of the Kenyan society is its being fragmentalized along tribal lines. Instead of forming itself into a nation that would offer formidable competition in the global village economically, it is shrinking into smaller cocoons. Regional and continental integration (for Kenyan Communities) will only make tangible progress if and when countries become strong nations driven by a common purpose and vision.

Our civic education training program will therefore target these issues of abuse and nationhood building. Our social activism/ education efforts are aimed at building capacities of adolescents in primary and secondary schools for fuller and effective participation in the national responsibility and in social reforms using nonviolent strategies.

Project Goals:

• Dissemination of information on democratic paths for development of cultural and social values for our children who are to become leaders of this wonderful nation in the future.
• To make young people aware of their civil and human rights so that they can be able to understand national and international values.
• Make young people Recognize all international conventions.
• To provide civic education materials to these young groups in schools

Objectives

• Socio-economy development
• Gender recognition and equality
• Cultural reconciliation
• Elimination of Illiteracy
• Development of Civil Society at a tender age
• To establish public awareness of social and civic rights in schools
• To publish related topics in a very simple languages for young people to understand

Beneficiaries: Direct beneficiaries: 20 Primary and 10 secondary schools in the larger Uasin Gishu County, in Kenya.

Indirect beneficiaries: Communities and Schools that are living in project area

Activities:

• Provision of materials, and transportation.
• Recruitment of qualified persons.
• Classification of interested primary and secondary school learning institutions.
• Workshops will be conducted regarding civic education and human rights and the experts will explain about the present political situation of the country.
• Monthly monitoring and preparing activity progress report.
• Publication of a civic education curriculum and other Handbooks
• Distribution of certificates.

Sustainability:

The main goal of this project is to improve the Civic, Human Rights & Democracy for young people in primary and secondary level through establishing a capacity building training program. We would like to mention that Grassroots Initiative consists of experienced and professional citizens interested to have a civic education awareness program in project areas.

Implementation plan:

• We will select suitable place for the workshop that will have a good location to be easily accessible to schools and neighboring schools.
• Providing materials for the workshop.
• Providing the transportation.
• Preparing and booking venues for civic education program (15 places)
• Recruiting experts (to provide training materials for civic education program)
• Recruiting of qualified persons.
• Making announcement for admission.
• Giving admission to the young people and organizing the classes.
• Direct beneficiaries 20 primary schools and 10 secondary schools in the larger Uasin Gishu County of Kenya

6. Monitoring and Evaluation:

• In partnership with AWDF Grassroots Initiative will advice, evaluate and monitor the operating workshop in the project area to determine how the organization fit into the overall system.
• The main office of Grassroots Initiative and AWDF will also supervise the function of the workshop and will ensure that the institutions function in an efficient and effective manner on daily basis.
• All activities for implementation of the project are responsibility of Grassroots Initiative as an implementing organization.
• Grassroots Initiative will also provide progressive and financial reports to the donor on the agreed time.
• The local community will actively participate and support Grassroots Initiative and donor in successful implementation.

7. Expected Result:

• Increased trust and build confidence in the country among young people in the project area.
• Schools trained in civic education to participate in community development and nurturing activities.
• Increased democratic culture
• Decreased discrimination between young people from different social and economic backgrounds.
• Increased awareness of the girl child rights in the highly cultured society

Risks:

i. The stability of the country as a whole may be not considered risk for the project.

ii. Members of Grassroots Initiative people are agreed and support the civic education program.

iii. Instability of Kenya currency will affect the project and probably in this case the

cost of the project will go up.

Affirmation :

• Schools will support the program
• Young People in and out of schools are interested to know their rights
• There is no discrimination among young people, it is always enacted by the elder groups.