Page 27 - Aidlink AR 2021

James Ewoton, now a trained community facilitator, leads community conversations in which he discusses the social challenges facing his community. These community conversations focus on key issues such as the enrolment and retention of girls and out of school children, the high prevalence of teenage pregnancies and the right of children with disabilities to an inclusive education.
For many years, James never questioned traditional community practices that excluded girls from education. This changed following his participation in trainings on child rights and child protection conducted by Girl Child Network in his community in October 2021.
“The training built my capacity further and gave me the courage to move from household-to-household sensitising people, and I am happy that now many people in my community know about girl child education and rights of children, especially those with disabilities, to education. To date, I have supported 10 girls who were out of school and marked for marriage to re-enrol”.
In his role of community facilitator, James regularly speaks to community members about child rights. He describes his response to opposition in the community:
“Most of my peers opposed my actions, they rehashed the culture to me and reminded me of how poor I will be if I let all my children go to school because my daughter will give me no dowry and my sons will not be able to look after my animals. I used the knowledge that I got from Girl Child Network and continuously emphasised the rights of a child to education and the benefits that comes with education”.
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I live in a community where many believe education is only for the boy child. And if all should have a right to go to school, then only one girl in a family will be allowed to do so. The others are forced to remain at home because they will be expected to bring wealth to the family through marriage. And it doesn’t matter how old the girl child is.
James Ewoton, Community Facilitator
Community Facilitator James Ariong Ekodan from Nayanaekaton Public Primary School, Turkana East, Turkana, Kenya.
Photo credit GCN
CASE STUDY
Male Champion of Child Rights