Maasai Girls take self-defense as protection against sexual abuse and early marriage

Kilgoris, Kenya – Kilgoris, Kenya (AP) – “I’m worth the defense!” A group of girls spotting as everybody occupies a combat attitude.

They will practice combat techniques. And no, they are not part of the martial arts club. They are Maasai girls living in the internat school in Transara in the west Kenyawhich doubles as a rescue center for teenagers who escaped early marriage and Women Chainting.

“Let’s learn how to protect ourselves, how to protect our bodies,” said Grace Musheni, 14, who lives and studying in the Enkakena Center for Excellence since 2023. years.

The center was founded in 2009. Kakenya Ntaiya, Maasai woman who was exposed to genital cutting. Does not only offer safe shelter for girls at risk of early marriage: also provides free secondary education as a stimulus for parents to allow their daughters to stay at school, instead of being in school Cutting rituals It is still common for Maasai girls between the ages of 8 and 17.

Once a girl is circumcised, he is considered adults and mature for marriage, which means a sudden end of childhood and education for many.

“Most children’s marriages are caused by poverty in families,” Musheni explains. “Because of this poverty, you can get a parent can allow your daughter to marry the old man – because the family can pay.”

While Ntaiya couldn’t escape her to convince her despair, she assured her father to let her continue their education, and now holding dr. Sc. In education from the University of Pittsburgh and multiple awards for its work.

“I am a user of proper education and I really wanted to show my community as important to strengthen women and girls,” she says.

Although the Kenyan law prohibits mutilation and marriage under 18, both continue to practice, especially in rural areas where education levels remain low. 2022. Kenya Demographic and Health Survey found that 56.3% of women without education did not pass the genital mutilation, compared to 5.9% of women who studied last high school.

An education of girls seemingly has an impact on Gender-based violence And you, with 34% of the Kenyan’s respondents, saying that victims of physical violence, a figure that falls at 23% for women with education.

But that is still alarmingly high. So, at the top of the provision of education, the Enkakena Center partners with which it is worth defending to teach compatible self-defense skills. It is not so much so that they can physically fight potential abusers – although they could – but teaches them to be assertive in all areas of their lives.

“We train them with the basic principles of assertiveness and boundary settings, which include verbal and physical techniques,” says Amelia Awuor from the defense. “These skills are confident to speak against violations or fight against physical threats.”

Training gave 14-year-old Rahab Leishoi to speak for other girls. During the recent visit to his older sister, she learned that girls in the village were supposed to be circumcised, including old childhood. “I told her about FLM hazards And to come with me to my home so I wouldn’t avoid (it), “says Lepishoi.

She followed the steps of her educators, who visit remote communities in Transmur every year to raise awareness of the mutilation of genitals, early marriage and the importance of education. “Now that I go to place, I apply that skill of assertiveness and confidence. I’m educating my friends, so he will meet the boy, he will be safe and say what they think,” Leisshoi says.

Self-defense classes also offer some protection against sexual abuse, which can end up catching many in violent marriages. “When a girl reports his parents to be abused, it is common for parents to force a girl to marry a man abused,” Musheni said.

Cleanliness Risanoi, 15, has been in school for five years. Her mother is a widow and raised five children alone, but cultural pressures remain from her community. “My family is still very traditional,” she says. “When a girl is growing up, she is expected to marry and can’t choose who get married.”

Her solution? Continue to study. One day he wants to be a lawyer.

Musheni, meanwhile, dreams of a career as a software engineer. He wants to return here and use the technology to raise his community. “Girls can achieve great things,” she says. “I want to inspire others to persecute his dreams.”

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