Polycom Girls

Polycom Girls aims to empower young women in Kenya through access to education, sports activities and sanitation. Hence, they are able to manage their lives positively and develop a voice to influence policy and decision-makers on issues that affect the lives of girls. Working with over 50 schools to reach out to adolescent girls and 5 organised groups to reach out to girls who are not in school. Polycom’s work is summarised under one word “G-PENDE” (which means to love yourself). It is about promoting self-worthiness and appreciation among girls. The programmes have recently been extended to include out-of-school girls and young women aged 16 to 25 years. Every year, Polycom recruits fresh school leavers as volunteers (mentors) who are trained in psycho-social support to carry out school counselling sessions and oversee the G-Pende safe space sessions. Polycom was started in response to the sexual violence and exploitation faced by young girls in Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi. There was a particular case when a 39-year-old man had a sexual relationship with an 11-year-old girl that spurred the organisation’s founder, Jane Anyango, into action. She wanted to help girls to understand that they need to take care of their bodies until they are ready. She started by educating girls to understand themselves and make informed decisions concerning their lives, particularly their bodies. The organization was later registered as Polycom Development Project (PDP).