Envisioning a World Free of Gender-Based Violence
EmpowerVan Kenya
Context
Kakuma Refugee Camp is a large, long-established refugee settlement in northwestern Kenya, near the border with South Sudan.
Known for being one of the most multinational refugee settlements globally, it mainly hosts people coming from South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Ethiopia and more.
Life in Kakuma can be challenging, for a multitude of reasons, starting with the extremely hot and dry weather, limited opportunities, as well as insecurities such as a lack of access to safety, healthcare and protection. Gender-based violence is a daily reality for women and girls living there, whom are already being at heightened risk due to displacement. While globally one in three women experience GBV, rates in humanitarian settings rise to around 70%.
In Kakuma, r*pe is the most frequently reported form of sexual assault, and the issue has become so common that many women no longer see it as a societal problem, but just a part of life in the camp. Survival sex, as well as forced and early marriages, are also widespread coping mechanisms in a place where choices are scarce and within some communities, female genital mutilation remains a persistent problem.
EmpowerVan’s work in Kakuma seeks to shift this reality by creating safe spaces, supporting healing and resilience, and helping women reclaim dignity in an environment where protection is urgently needed.
Kenya Project Timeline
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We will travel to Kakuma Refugee Camp and facilitate four 8h empowerment self-defense workshops for women and girls. In addition, we will facilitate Focus Group Discussions (FDG) with men from the host-community, in order to understand where they stand on SGBV issues.
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With both the male and female community-members from our focus group discussions and workshops, we will evaluate how their learned skills integrate in their life in the camp, as well as see how relevant the subjects were. Based on their feedback, we will co-create a violence prevention project that is targeted to the needs of the host-community.
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We will travel to Kakuma to facilitate a training of trainers for 20 women from the host community to become Empowerment Self-Defense Instructors. We will also engage 20 men and train them as Male Agents of Change (MAC’s) to become feminist allies, supporting the fight against GBV.
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We will build a gym in Kakuma refugee camp, that is reserved for it’s female community members. This will enable the women living in the camp to have a safe space and train in a dedicated environment.
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In order to foster continuous learning our 20 female and 20 male instructors will follow a 12-Month Mentorship program.
Through our partner organizations and 3-monthly visits to the site, we will remain in close contact with the trainers, and ensure successful program implementation.
Implementing Partner Organisation
United Safe Environment Creators (USEC)
USEC is a refugee-led, non-profit community-based organization founded in 2015 in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, and dedicated to empowering refugees and marginalized groups through education, protection, livelihood development, and environmental sustainability. Registered under the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Services, USEC works to create safe, inclusive, and resilient communities by promoting access to quality education, strengthening child protection systems, supporting women and youth with entrepreneurship and vocational skills, and advancing environmental conservation. As an active member of the UNHCR EHAGL Regional Community-Based Protection Network and a partner in family reunification efforts through FRUN, USEC combines community-driven solutions, compassion, and collaborative action to ensure dignity, safety, and long-term resilience for displaced populations.