Humanity and Gender

A two year programme in Kenya January 2006 - December 2007

Feminenza's innovative programme of mentoring, education, development and change support to NGOs in Kenya was launched on 10th January 2006 at an International Conference held in the United Nations Headquarters, Nairobi.

These NGOs mainly address the challenging issues of HIV/AIDS, female genital mutilation and oppression of women in certain sectors of society, and have a sound track record for being effective and innovative. Some, such as The Tasaru Girls' Refuge Centre and Movement of Men against Aids in Kenya (MMAAK), work almost exclusively in rural areas where morbidity and mortality in adolescent and young adult males/females is pronounced. Others have become skilled in orientating specific strata of society. Together they recognise that assistance is needed in evolving rural and urban attitudes beyond traditional perceptions of gender. Feminenza has been approached to provide know how and content to assist with the next few years of their efforts.

The core purpose of Feminenza is to champion the development of women in ways that recognise the unique wisdom inherent to the feminine gender. Feminenza has a track record of hosting seminars and delivering workshops with women in many countries that promote increased confidence and self-esteem based on new perceptions of the value of the feminine gender. In recent years, the workshops have included both men and women, and have focused increasingly on building the mutuality between the genders and learning to value each other in new regenerative ways.

The two-year Programme

This Programme is designed to raise the self-esteem and confidence of those being helped by the community groups by complementing their current activities with several new educational programmes based on the work of Feminenza. There are three distinct phases to the project.

Phase One: Needs Assessment

In 2004/5 Feminenza held meetings with Kenyan and international NGOs, hosted discussions and held one workshop for young people of both genders. The Humanity and Gender programme has arisen from these meetings, together with a clear perception from those concerned of the benefits of a longer-term partnership.

Phase Two: Testing the Options, Attitudes and Strategies

A Conference will be hosted in Nairobi entitled: "Humanity and Gender: A Gathering of Vision in a Time of Change" for Kenyan and international NGOs. Follow this link to find our more about the Conference itself.

Phase Three: Mentoring and fieldworker support

A two year Programme, with 80 person days of educational effort (50 days in country), to provide close mentoring and education, supported by correspondence courses (technology is provided as a result of our Computers for Kenya project) to NGO field workers, focussing on the priorities agreed at the Conference.

Most of the effort will be centred upon Kenya, particularly in the capital city, Nairobi (to support NGO outreach workers in Kenya and the Great Lakes Region, namely Congo, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda). A girls’ rescue centre in Narok (a town in the far south, close to the Masai Mara) will also receive particular attention. Here, girls who have escaped FGM and/or early forced marriage may, with our support access an improved programme of transitional support as they seek a new identity from puberty into womanhood.

Funding - Autumn 2005 - end of 2007

The programme is estimated to cost £195k (€281k), of which £5k (€7k) will be funded from existing Feminenza core funds. Feminenza is in the process of designing fundraising events to take place from October 2005 in Holland, Germany, Denmark, England, Canada and the USA.

Early pledges from Feminenza’s direct donors suggest that an additional £125k (€183k) can be secured in the event of a shortfall.

New donors are being invited to assist in our aim to find at least £65k (€91k) with a stretch target of £190K (€274k).

For more information on funding and sponsorship, please email our Conference Facilitation team at or follow this link for practical ways in which you can help by direct donation and sponsorship or fundraising.

Follow this link to a summary of donations and sponsorship to date.

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in the encouragement of every woman's future,
working towards a greater mutuality between the genders