Girls Power Punch
A project supported by Boxgirls Kenya
Boxgirls Kenya's main objective is to foster the development of a safe environment for marginalised and socially excluded young women and girls. The NGO was founded in 2008, a period during which an increasing number of women & girls became victims of sexual abuse and trauma in many disadvantaged communities.
The Girls Power Punch Wellness initiative uses sport, particularly boxing, to improve the mental health of girls.
Context
The Population Council’s 2020 report on the impact of COVID-19 in Kenya indicates that a significant proportion of teenagers reported experiencing depressive symptoms, including stress during the pandemic. Almost half of teenagers in urban areas (Kisumu 47%, Nairobi 46%) and one third in rural areas (Kilifi 34%) showed symptoms associated with depression.
Loss of employment and income, and stress from restricted movement, increased intra-household violence, with 2% of girls surveyed reporting sexual violence. The proportion of teenagers who had experienced physical violence was 39% for girls and 52% for boys.
In this context, Boxgirls Kenya uses sport to provide support to these young people.
Goals
- Raise awareness of mental health issues on an ongoing basis
- Reduce the stigma associated with mental illness
- Promote help-seeking behaviours and emotional well-being practices
- Improve self-defence skills through boxing
- Building safe communities for girls and women
Activities
- Monthly training of 20-30 trainers to acquire the skills to effectively deliver sessions
- Design and development of short videos in the form of electronic material presenting self-defence and mental wellbeing techniques,
- Organisation of challenge and discussion sessions by the girls on mental wellbeing and fitness
- Initiation of follow-up support for 20 mini wellness and sport projects run by girls in their communities within their community
- Weekly coordination by coaches in the different communities
Impact
- 30 coaches have access to information and tools, enabling them to effectively implement community projects through sport
- Girls in charge of mini-projects will benefit from 480 coaching sessions, these projects will use sport to promote well-being in the community
- 20 mini-projects will be implemented
Photo credit: Boxgirls Kenya
Location
Kenya
Project led by
Boxgirls Kenya
Start date
Date to be defined
Project status
Project already funded
Sustainable development goals
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