SCHOOL SCREENING SESSION AT MAKUENI GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL

Makueni Girls High School is a Girls boarding school, located in Wote location, Makueni County. The schools' population is about 750 girls. Project Malala Kenya was privileged to screen "He Named Me Malala" to the students and the reception was totally overwhelming.


Malala team left Nairobi at 6:00 for Makueni county. We arrived at Makueni girls at 9:48 am. The principal of Makueni Girls Mrs Hombe accorded us a warm reception as they were looking forward to receiving us and finally get to watch the documentary film. Technical set up of the hall began at 10:30, screening started at 11:40 and it ended at 13:14 after which the discussion session took off. We had an audience of 750girls and 6teachers.

Makueni girls students are impressed by the courage and enthusiasm Malala had of speaking her mind. The fact that Malala was an ordinary Pakistan girl who rose against all odds to become the most influential teen world wide was a defining aspect that the students admired the most. For many students here,they have learned to appreciate the opportunity they have to pursue an education.


Challenges that came up during the discussion session as mentioned by the students were:

• Blind traditions of FGM hindering the girl child education
• Early marriages
• Child labor
• Poverty/ Lack of school fees
• Distance of school from home
• HIV and AIDS / Mortality rates in the region

Solutions to some of these issues raised came from the audience. Some of the "how's" included

• Fight against circumcision
• Making better choices that will better the students life
• Changing the girls' attitude towards education
• Evaluating when to stand firm and fight for one's right
• Advocating for  girl child education in rural areas

The session ended with the awarding with the best 3narrative from the students. These narratives were part of students participation towards the global campaign for a 12year of safe and quality education. The plan is to also instill a writing culture among the youth.


 

1st Prize was awarded to Rachael Muoka. She received a novel "Unbowed" by the legendary Wangari Mathai, a Malala t shirt and a journal.

2nd prize went to Hidel Akhonya who received a journal and a t shirt

3rd prize was awarded to Rosaline Mwikali who received a t shirt 

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What is Project Malala Kenya?

Project Malala Kenya is part of a global campaign on girl child education. The GoDown Arts Center has partnered with Malala Fund to support the call for gender equality in education.

The campaign involves a series of screenings and public discussions around "He Named Me Malala", a renowned documentary film based on the life of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel prize laureate.

Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban in Pakistan, her home country, for daring to speak out and advocate for girls to get an education. The film follows her and her family immediately after the shooting as they look back at their lives in Pakistan, and how their involvement in the campaign for girl child education started.

The screenings seek to start a discussion on education and the challenges of getting girls to go to school. Participants range from high school students to community leaders. Using Malala as an example, the project hopes to amplify these discussions and identify struggles and stories of triumph within the communities so that they ultimately stand with the girl child in pursuit of education. 

Our hope is that the film will spark dialogue and motivate different stakeholders to ensure access to free, safe and quality education for our children. The community screening sessions were done in conjunction with Kibera's shining hope for community (Shofco), Dandora's Dacasa group, Liberty Theatre Group in Githurai, and Shangilia Children Center in Kangemi.

Follow the Project with the hashtag #withMalalaKenya on Twitter and on the GoDown Arts Centre Facebook page.