Rebuilding After Violence: A  mothers Journey to Safety and Stability

When Kate* thinks back to the day her life changed, she remembers the fear more than anything else.

The 30-year-old mother of six from Busia had lived for years under the shadow of violence from her partner. What began as ordinary arguments slowly turned into prolonged abuse that left her feeling trapped and uncertain about the future of her children.

The violence escalated one day into a brutal attack that left Kate with serious injuries. She suffered stab wounds to the head and the back of her neck. In the chaos that followed, her partner also destroyed what little the family owned, burning their household belongings, including clothing, bedding, school uniforms, and even important documents such as academic certificates.

For Kate and her children, it felt like everything had been taken away She was  rushed to Busia County Referral Hospital by a women rights organization (WRO) helping to fight GBV, where she received immediate medical attention. The WRO also arranged for the medical bill to be settled through support from a partner NGO.

Kate remained hospitalized for several weeks as she recovered from her injuries. But when she was discharged, a difficult reality remained. She no longer had a safe place to return to.

 Together with her six children, Kate was admitted to the Busia Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre (GBVRC) shelter, where the family received temporary accommodation, counseling services, and continued medical care. For two months, the shelter became the only home she had- a place of safety as Kate began the slow process of healing from both the physical and emotional trauma.

Even in the midst of crisis, her children’s future remained a priority. Two of her children were candidates preparing to sit for their national examinations.  the  were provided with essential school items to enable them to return to school and continue their studies.

Additional support came from the Busia County Gender Affairs Directorate, which stepped in to assist the family during the reintegration period by covering two months’ rent and providing food supplies as Kate prepared to transition back into the community.

At the same time, efforts to seek justice were underway. Through coordinated action involving  legal support  from the partner women’s rights organization and police, the perpetrator was arrested and arraigned in court and  the hearing commensed.

Today, Kate is still on the journey of recovery, but she is no longer facing it in isolation. Surrounded by support and new opportunities, she is slowly rebuilding a life of safety and hope for herself and her six children. As Kate continues to rebuild her life, new opportunities are emerging. She has been enrolled as a participant in the Jasiri that is supported by Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development (CCGD) where she will receive support to strengthen her economic independence and rebuild stability for her family.

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A Centre For Policy Advocacy and Non-Discrimination

The Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development (CCGD)

From Trainee to Mentor:  Empowering the Next Generation of young women in Mandera

At 30 years old, Nasra Hussein Sheikh, a mother of four from Mandera East in Mandera County, is turning skills into opportunity not only for herself but for other young women in her community.

A few years ago, Nasra enrolled at the HACPAD Community Skilling Centre to train in beauty therapy and hairdressing. Like many young mothers, she faced the challenge of balancing family responsibilities with the desire to build a better future. Determined to improve her livelihood, she remained committed to learning and mastering the trade.

After completing her training, Nasra opened a small beauty and hairdressing salon in Mandera Township Ward. What began as a modest venture gradually grew into a trusted salon serving many women in the township. Through the business, Nasra now earns a steady income that helps her support her four children and sustain her household.

As her skills and reputation grew, Nasra was recognized as a Master Artisan. Today, she is using her experience to mentor and train other adolescent girls and young women interested in the beauty industry.

Nasra now trains participants in beauty therapy and hairdressing, offering them practical experience and guidance drawn from her own journey. For many of the young women she mentors, learning under someone who once faced similar challenges provides both inspiration and confidence.

Nasra’s journey shows how access to practical skills enabled by the CCGD run Jasiri program in Mandera county may  transform lives. By building her own livelihood and passing on her knowledge to the next generation, she is helping create new pathways for young women in Mandera to pursue economic independence and brighter futures.

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A Centre For Policy Advocacy and Non-Discrimination

The Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development (CCGD)

Childcare Opens  A New Beginning

For six years, Rosemary Ngonyo lived in silence. Behind closed doors, the young mother of two endured a cycle of violence from her husband. Like many survivors of gender-based violence, she felt trapped by fear, stigma, and economic dependence. Leaving the relationship seemed impossible.

One night changed everything. At six months pregnant, Rosemary found herself in a violent confrontation that nearly cost her life. “I remember thinking I might not survive that night,” she recalls quietly. “I kept asking myself how my life had reached this point.”

Hope came from an unexpected place when a neighbor told her about community sensitization sessions, where survivors of violence could seek help and be connected to support services through established referral pathways.

“At first I was afraid,” she says. “But when my neighbor told me there were people who could listen and help, I began to believe that maybe my life could be different.”

On 6 May, during another violent confrontation at home, Rosemary made the most difficult decision of her life. “When I saw him reach for a kitchen knife, something inside me changed,” she says. “I realized that if I stayed, I might not live to see my children grow.”

With the support of a trusted friend, Rosemary left the abusive home and reached out for help through the county GBV coordination system. Through the referral pathway, she was connected to CCGD staff who provided counseling and psychosocial support.

“At that point I was completely broken,” she says. “I had even thought about ending my life because everything felt hopeless.”

During one counseling session, Rosemary learned about Nabulu Childcare Facility that  was looking for caregivers, and the support team encouraged her to apply.

“I almost didn’t go for the interview because I was seven months pregnant,” she says with a small smile. “But they reminded me that my experience mattered.”

Rosemary had previously worked in a children’s home, and her experience and passion for caring for children impressed the panel. She was offered the job.

“That opportunity changed everything for me,” she says. “For the first time in years, I felt like someone believed in me.”

The job gave her more than an income. It restored dignity, independence, and stability. With a steady salary, Rosemary was able to pay rent, prepare for the birth of her baby, and begin rebuilding a life for herself and her children.

After giving birth, Rosemary returned to work, with her baby enrolled at the same childcare facility. “Knowing my child is safe while I work gives me peace,” she says. “Without childcare, I would have had to choose between earning a living and caring for my baby.”

Today, Rosemary continues to receive psychosocial support as part of staff services facilitated by Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development (CCGD) that runs the childcare facility.

What once felt like an impossible future now carries hope and possibility.

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A Centre For Policy Advocacy and Non-Discrimination

The Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development (CCGD)

Strengthening GBV Response in Baringo and Samburu Counties

Two Women Rights Organizations (WROs), The Baringo Women and Youth Group and Naitutum Ngai CBO will work in partnership with CCGD to deepen advocacy and implementation of initiatives aimed at preventing and responding to gender-based violence, particularly affecting adolescent girls and young women. Through this partnership, the two organizations will strengthen community activism against GBV while improving response systems at county-level. Their work will focus on mobilizing local leaders and community members, responding to GBV emergencies, supporting case management, and enabling survivors to access clinical and psychosocial services. A key priority will be making referral pathways functional and responsive so that survivors are not left navigating complex systems alone.

Beyond emergency response, the partnership places strong emphasis on economic empowerment. Survivors and at-risk young women will be supported to access skilling opportunities and financial inclusion pathways that enhance their participation in the local economy. By linking protection services with livelihood support, the initiative addresses one of the root drivers of GBV, economic dependence. It will also amplify the visibility, voice, and agency of young women in advocacy spaces. By strengthening their participation in anti GBV and gender equality efforts, the programme ensures that young women are not only beneficiaries of services but active leaders shaping change in their communities. CCGD invests in strong grassroots partnership with WROs to empower local women actors to lead prevention, protection, and gender equitable transformative change.

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The Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development (CCGD)