In their most recent weekly Wednesday class, our trainees with KEVTC gathered to discuss the topic “Gender Inequality and Stereotyping in Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR)”. During the class, the facilitator shared stories of young women who had overcome societal stereotypes and fought for their rights.
The trainees told their own stories of how gender stereotypes affected their lives. Many spoke of the pressure to marry young or prioritise household duties over education.
Amongst the participants was a 19-year-old Aliness. Inspired by her classmates’ stories, Aliness found her voice. She shared her own experience of being discouraged from pursuing her dreams.
Aliness is a bright girl with dreams of becoming a Fashion Designer. However, she often felt overshadowed by the expectations placed on her as a girl in her community, where economic activity primarily revolves around agriculture. When she expressed an interest in sewing, she was met with disparagement; Aliness told her classmates how fashion and dressmaking were perceived in her community as subjects too difficult for girls, because they require creativity and critical thinking.
Undaunted by others’ opinions, Aliness still yearned to study tailoring. But without any means to support herself through formal education, she couldn’t see any way to pursue her goal. She could only envisage a future of subsistence farming and market gardening.
Aliness heard about our vocational training project with KEVTC, where she could learn tailoring for free and receive her own sewing machine to support her training. She joined our tailoring course in the spring of this year.
Aliness’s training includes technical instruction (from fabric selection and material properties to garment alteration and sewing techniques), essential business skills, (from record keeping and strategic financial planning to customer service and marketing). In addition, the SHRH sessions equip Aliness and her fellow trainees with a comprehensive understanding of their rights as individuals, healthy attitudes to others and forming relationships, and responsible sexual behaviour, ultimately contributing to their overall well-being and the promotion of sexual and reproductive health rights in communities.
After the SRHR class, Aliness decided to take action. She organised a meeting for young adolescent girls at her local church, and invited her classmates to facilitate with her. They inspired other young girls and discussed gender inequality and stereotyping. The church leadership were equally motivated and proposed a community initiative to support girls’ education. Aliness’s initiative sparked a change in her community—a shift towards valuing girls’ education and challenging harmful stereotypes.
Meanwhile, Aliness is well on her way to becoming a successful tailor. She dreams of owning her own tailoring shop, where she can apply her skills and creativity to earn a sustainable income. Aliness said, “When I complete the training I want to open a shop, I want to be a boss lady!!! Working for myself and not for someone else. I want to use the profits from my business to rewrite my grade 9 examinations and resume formal schooling. Later I plan to venture into another course that will interest me”.
Aliness’s story has become a beacon of hope in her community, inspiring many other girls to believe in their potential and fight against gender inequality. Through knowledge and courage, Aliness has transformed not only her life but also the narrative of what it means to be a girl in her community.
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October 2024
