Operation International Kids Train Social Workers in Kenya on Dealing with Victims of Gender Violence

Operation International Kids train social workers in Kenya on dealing with victims of gender violence

Operation International Kids, OIK, has been conducting a pioneer program in Kenya. The program is aiming at teaching the social workers in Kiera and Mathare, Kenya, on proper methods of dealing with young girls who are victims of sexual assault (we use the term “Gender Violence” instead of sexual assault.) For the past year, they have been installing smartboards in both Kibera and Mathare, Kenya, and in NJ where the team is located, and two of our adolescent psychiatrists have been working with the local social workers there to train them on handling such cases. 

Recently, OIK partnered with Shining Hope for Communities organization, SHOFCO, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shining_Hope_for_Communities to expand their reach and to create teaching tools that Shining Hope for Communities can use to train their workers in dealing with similar victims. 

A small group of OIK including personals listed below traveled recently to Kenya to work directly with and train more social workers and members of SHOFCO.

List of team members traveling

Colleen Brennan, RN, President OIK

Dr. Peter Walsh

Dr. Christopher Walsh

Nancy Winters

Sophie Winters

The population of the Mathare Slum, where @operationinternationalkids is currently on a mission, is about 350k people living in shanties made of old tin and mud. The Mathare Health Clinic sees roughly 250 - 300 patients per day... from maternal health care to pediatric and adult. You can help us ensure our mission reaches all those who need our help by donating.

Pictured here is the first group counseling session in Mathare, a collection of slums in Nairobi, Kenya with OIK. Thirty counselors gather for interactive therapy training with Dr. Peter Walsh on how to deal with the issue of gender violence with young women.
 

Nancy Winters from OIK films Kenyan actresses acting out different scenarios involving conversations about abuse. Viewing these films helps the counselors imagine different issues that may come up while working with a wide range of individuals. Twenty (20) different scenes will be filmed, including training sessions, and mock scenarios.

Dr. Peter Walsh is demonstrating therapeutic techniques in this group counseling session in Mathare, a collection of slums in Nairobi, Kenya with OIK. Thirty counselors gather for interactive therapy training on how to deal with the issue of gender violence with young women.

Pictured here is Day 4 of the group therapy training session in Kibera, Kenya with OIK. In this counseling session, the group is role-playing through therapeutic techniques on how to deal with the issue of gender violence with young women.