In the words of Paul Ereng: "I supported my daughter and made sure she went back to school. I challenge others to do the same."

In the last year, Paul Ereng has become a representative of the Citizen Voice for Action (CVA) initiative, supported by the partnership between UN Women and World Vision. He helps amplify the voice of his community and acts as an ally in reporting gender-based violence and advocating for women’s rights.

I decided to join [CVA] because the community does not understand what priorities and what services they should expect from government, such as education health services. I interact with the community through  neighbourhood watch schemes, the Council of Elders, and public barazas [community dialogues], including any kind of government function. I use these platforms to promote protection issues and the rights of women and girls.

I’ve been aware of GBV issues for so many years, since I was a small boy. The community has been practicing all kinds of retrogressive cultures that affect the lives of women and girls. When I hear a girl has been circumcised or defiled, it pains me so much. Speaking to community elders is me with resistance. I was once told, “how can you campaign against child marriage when your own mother was married as a child.” Many do not see child marriage as a bad thing.

When I try to sensitize people to protection issues, the community does not see it as a big issue because poverty levels are so high. When I champion for the household to stop child marriage, for them it is just a mechanism to receive income [in the form of a dowry payment]. 

No matter what situation life puts you in, you must always support your child. One of my daughters recently became pregnant and was forced to drop out of school. I supported her and made sure she went back to school. She passed her exams and now she wants to pursue a career in nursing. I took the situation positively. I challenge other people to do the same.

Community capacity building is empowering communities to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) in Marsabit County. Supported by the Government of Finland, the project has trained over 200 community members to lead on issues of protection in the counties of Marsabit, Kitui, Kwale and Turkana. These activists have mobilised to submitted petitions to government to increase service provision for SGBV response such as rescue centres and shelters.