WHAT WE DO
Support our WorkADVOCACY
We advocate for the rights of girls and women in Northern Kenya, specifically on the topics of gender based violence (GBV) and female genital mutilation (FGM). We partner with other local organizations like World Vision Kenya to run anti FGM campaigns. We have also implemented an Alternative right of Passage for pastoral women & girls in Samburu County. We accomplished this by training girls in school through World Vision Kenya on these human rights issues and provided them with necessary knowledge and life skills to reduce their vulnerability as victims of retrogressive traditions.
Grassroots Legal Empowerment
Law is supposed to be one of the most powerful tools for advancing justice for pastoralist communities. Especially women and children who are its most vulnerable members. However, from our experience as human rights defenders we have witnessed the government of Kenya be unable to protect pastoralist communities in Samburu and its neighbouring counties.
That’s why we have partnered with FIDA Kenya thanks to the assistance of Alice Maraga to train paralegals in basic law and skills like mediation, organization, education and advocacy. They form a dynamic, creative frontline support system that squeeze justice out of a broken system. Paralegals track data on the process and results of every case. Together with the communities we serve, we strive to translate the lessons from our experience into positive, large-scale changes to both laws and systems alike.
We started an education campaign called “Let all girls Learn” to emphasize the importance of girl child education in a community where girls are married off as early as 9 years old. But we don’t just educate the girls; we include the boys, men, and elders of the community as well so they can all understand their role in girl empowerment.
We educate the boys and men of Samburu to teach them the importance of their role in empowering the women and girls in their community. We want to help them understand how their contribution can create both a safe and conducive environment for women to achieve their goals.
In addition to this, we believe that educating elders as custodians of Samburu traditions is an important aspect of increasing girl child education. We hope that these can become new traditions that are passed on within a community.
EDUCATION
HEALTH
The effects of female genital mutilation have lead to health complications, and high mortality rates of women in Samburu pastoralist communities. Despite intensive Anti-FGM sensitization by both civil society organizations and government boards alike, this retrogressive culture still exists and continues to impact the health of girls and women in Northern Kenya to this day.
This is why we’ve partnered with Safe Hands Healthcare Inc. to host healthcare worker training to support women during the delivery process.
Samburu county has one of the largest forests in Kenya, known as The Kirisia Forest. LUCEP has trained women and the community on the importance of both forest and wildlife conservation. This is because the community around Lulu and The Kirisia Forest totally depends on the forest for both pastures and water for their livestock.
Our organization also trains women on alternative ways of farming. Before we began working in Lulu, the community’s only source of livelihood was livestock keeping. However, due to conflicts amongst pastoral communities and cattle rustling in northern Kenya, livestock keeping became risky. That’s why we introduced small scale crop farming as a way of resolving these conflicts, and reducing poverty in the region.
Lastly, we trained the community on conflict resolution in order to influence harmony and coexistence between these pastoral communities, their livestock, and the surrounding wildlife.
THE WATER PROJECT
Through well wishers Cheryl and her friends from the USA, Lulu Community Empowerment has constructed a borehole and a solar irrigation project for the women of Lorok-lolmongo village (a Lulu sub location). Thanks to this project, women of the community now sell vegetables to the near by feeder school and Lulu community members.
ENVIRONMENT
