Despite the importance of education, millions of children, especially girls in Sub-Saharan Africa, are out of school due to pregnancy. Kenya's National Guidelines for School Re-entry aim to address this issue. However, their effectiveness in supporting pregnant girls and lactating mothers is questionable. This brief examines the challenges, analyzes guideline alignment, and proposes recommendations for inclusive re-entry.
What will it take to build a movement for girls’ education that is anchored in community organising and action?
This keynote address was delivered by Dr Sara Ruto on the second day of the 3-day regional conference organised by Jaslika in partnership with RELI Africa convened under the theme “From data and commitment to action: Creating a regional movement for girls’ education”. Dr Sara Ruto is a leading African educationist and passionate girls’ education advocate, currently with Echidna Giving, a philanthropic organisation.
Creating impact at the local level for girls: Learning from girls’ education interventions in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
The Jaslika Director, Sheila Wamahiu was privileged to deliver this talk at the launch of the research report on “Creating impact at the local level for girls: Learning from girls’ education interventions in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda”. The Chief Justice and the President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, Hon Martha Koome represented by Hon Njoki Ndungu, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Kenya, launched the report at a dinner event on 17 April 2024. The launch was the highlight of the 3-day regional conference organized by Jaslika in partnership with RELI Africa convened under the theme “From data and commitment to action: Creating a regional movement for girls’ education”.
Hon. Njoki Ndungu Remarks During the Regional Convening on Creating Impact at the Local Level for Girls' Education in East Africa
These are the preliminary remarks made by Justice Njoki Ndungu of the Supreme Court of Kenya, before she read out the official speech made by the Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, Hon. Martha Koome at the launch of the research report on “Creating impact at the local level for girls: Learning from girls’ education interventions in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda”. Authored by Jaslika, the report launch which took place at a dinner event on 17 April 2024 in Nairobi, was the highlight of the 3-day regional conference organised by Jaslika in partnership with RELI Africa convened under the theme “From data and commitment to action: Creating a regional movement for girls’ education”.
Is our secondary school system unjust by design?
I had the privilege of representing Jaslika at the launch of USAWA Agenda's second report titled "Building Evidence for Just School Systems to Power Just and Sustainable Societies," focusing on secondary schools in Kenya. The main aims were to highlight and emphasise prevailing injustices within the education system and the progress needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all. This report holds particular significance for Jaslika, as we are dedicated to fostering mindset changes, especially in the realm of development politics.
Chief Justice Martha Koome's Speech at the Launch of the Report on “Creating impact at the local level for girls: Learning from girls’ education interventions in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda”
The Chief Justice and the President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, Hon Martha Koome launched a research report on “Creating impact at the local level for girls: Learning from girls’ education interventions in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda” that was authored by Jaslika. The launch, which took place at a dinner event on 17 April 2024 in Nairobi, was the highlight of the 3-day regional conference organised by Jaslika in partnership with RELI Africa convened under the theme “From data and commitment to action: Creating a regional movement for girls’ education”. This speech by the Chief Justice was read out on her behalf by Justice Njoki Ndungu of the Supreme Court of Kenya, who represented her at the event.
Hon. Beatrice Elachi's Opening Remarks: Regional Convening on Creating Impact at the Local Level for Girls' Education in East Africa
A 3-day regional conference was organised by Jaslika in partnership with RELI Africa between April 16 and 18, 2024 in Nairobi convened under the theme “From data and commitment to action: Creating a regional movement for girls’ education”. The gathering was honoured to have Hon. Beatrice Elachi, Member of Parliament for Dagoretti North to open the conference. Dagoretti North is one of the 11 electoral constituencies of Nairobi. The conference, which brought together over 100 participants from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, centred around the findings of a research conducted by Jaslika on “Creating impact at the local level for girls: Learning from girls’ education interventions in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda”.
Girls’ Agency in Focus: Lessons from Kenya and Uganda
A dissemination forum was convened by The Learning and Action Alliance for Girls’ Agency (LAAGA) on January 24th, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme "Centering Young People as Agents of Change: Lessons from Kenya and Uganda." This event, co-organized by Brookings Center for Universal Education and LAAGA members Christine Apiot Okudi, Joyce Kinyanjui, and Dr. Mary Otieno, brought together representatives from the civil society organisations, including Jaslika, to examine the research findings on girls’ agency in the Karamojong cluster, located alongside the Kenya-Uganda border.
Learning from School Meals' Interventions in Nairobi
School feeding programmes play a crucial role in ensuring children's well-being and academic success across the country and the world. Providing nutritious meals to students addresses not just immediate hunger, but also improves school enrollment, retention, academic performance, and to some extent, alleviates financial burdens on families.
Using Art Therapy for Mental Health Support
Mental Health is one of the thematic areas prioritised by young people in their 7-Point Agenda, an outcome of the first phase of the action research on “Intergenerational Perspectives on Building Education Better”, a Jaslika initiative. Jaslika Youth Nairobi, together with selected young people from Nyeri, identified mental health as a key issue affecting young people and children. Recognising the critical need to address this issue, Jaslika has been organising peer-to-peer learning and community intergenerational dialogues facilitated by Whole Child Development Champions(WCDC) at community levels to help shift mindset changes and foster positive changes towards mental health among children, young people and the wider community.
Jaslika's Engagement at Global Action Week for Education: Advocating for Inclusive Education Reform
Between April 25th and 26th, 2024, Jaslika actively participated in the Global Action Week for Education (GAWE) event, spearheaded by the Elimu Yetu Coalition (EYC) at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). This event, part of the Global Campaign for Education's annual initiative, spotlighted the crucial role of education in sustainable development and reinforced commitments toward achieving global education goals.
It is Time to View Migrants as an Addition and not a Societal Burden
On 1st June 2020, Jaslika hosted an expert interview on Children, Education and the Venezuelan migrant crisis which was facilitated by Dr. Sheila Wamahiu, Director of Jaslika. Our guest speaker was Dr. Pilar Aguilar, an education and emergency expert and director of the Fundación Henry Dunant, which is a foundation that dedicates its efforts to public policy and human rights.
The Problem is not the Conversation, it is the Lack of Action and Experiential Knowledge…
On 20th May 2020, Jaslika hosted an expert interview which was facilitated by Jaslika Associate and Kenyatta University don, Dr. Becky Isanda. Our expert speaker was Dr. Sheila P. Wamahiu, Director and Researcher at Jaslika, who talked on the relationship between values, education and human rights. I use the 5W’s to explain my key takeaways.
Key Takeaways from Jaslika’s Webinar on Gender-Based Violence in Crisis Situations
How to Deal With Gender-Based Violence in Crisis Situations: 9 Recommendations from Jaslika's Inaugural Webinar.
Expert Interview on Values, Education and Human Rights with Dr. Sheila P. Wamahiu
Jaslika and AEI Recommendations to the NCERC
On 12th May 2020, the Ministry of Education constituted the National Covid-19 Education Response Committee to explore the best possible strategies for the basic education sub-sector. These recommendations, presented jointly by Jaslika Consulting (henceforth referred to as Jaslika) and Access Education International (AEI), is a response to the call by the Dr. Sara Ruto chaired Committee to all stakeholders and the public submit their views on the best possible national response in line with the above Terms of Reference for the basic education sub-sector.
A Position Paper on the Values Pillar in Education Reforms in Kenya: Connecting the Dots
The Jaslika Director, Sheila Wamahiu was privileged to make both an oral and written presentation to the Ministry of Education Task Force on Enhancing Access, Relevance, Transition, Equity and Quality for Effective Curriculum Reform Implementation in Kenya. The paper below is a slightly edited version of her written submission.
Connecting the Dots: Character Formation and Value-based Education
Jaslika Director, Sheila Wamahiu, was invited to present a talk at the Value-based Education segment of the Smart Governance Conference organised by the Jesuit Hakimani Centre on 12th June, 2019. She was also invited to make a brief presentation at the closing plenary session. Her talk is presented below, slightly modified from this blog. The session on Value-based Education was moderated by Samuel Mukundi, a co-associate of Jaslika, in his capacity as a member of the Catholic Professionals Group. The recording of her talk was transcribed by Ernest Onguko.