A Kenyan Woman’s Efforts To End Violence Against Women

Posted by Nicole Peacock / March 18, 2010

A woman and her grandchildren outside her home near Rabuor, Kenya, June 2008. [AP File Photo]

About the Author: Nicole Peacock serves as the Public Outreach Officer in the Bureau of African Affairs.

On March 9, 2010, Rebecca Lolosoli received the Vital Voices 2010 Global Leadership Award for her efforts to end violence against women in her Kenyan community. Lolosoli, a Vital Voices Global Partnership Alumna, met with representatives from the Bureau of African Affairs to discuss her work on behalf of Kenyan women.

Lolosoli's empathy for widows and children compelled her to speak out on behalf of victims of rape, forced marriage, female genital cutting, and homelessness. In the 1990s, she too became homeless. Determined… more »

Posted under: Violence

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A Simple, Practical Program That’s Changing Lives

Posted by Nicole Peacock / February 22, 2010

Girls share books during their lessons in Nairobi, Kenya, June 29, 2007. [AP Photo]

About the Author: Nicole Peacock serves as the Public Outreach Officer in the Bureau of African Affairs.

For thousands of girls across Africa, the onset of puberty means a difficult choice: risk the humiliation that comes with not having adequate hygiene supplies; or miss school each month. In this context, a program that supplies sanitary pads can make a world of difference to young women's educational success.

Working as a public affairs specialist in the Bureau of Africa Affairs at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, I heard that the lack of access to sanitary pads was a barrier to girls' education, and decided to do something about it. I created the “Once a Month” campaign, and began to solicit donations of hygiene supplies. We received contributions from a variety of donors and shipped them to the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka,… more »

Posted under: Health

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