As we mark this year’s Day of the African Child, under the theme “Planning for Children’s Rights Progress Since 2010”, we reflect not only on how far we’ve come but also on the crucial work still ahead. Since the African Union adopted this commemorative day, the continent has been urged to prioritize children’s rights. At ActionAid International Kenya (AAIK), this has translated into direct action in schools, where girls and boys are empowered to become active defenders of their rights.
In partnership with the Ministry of Education, ActionAid Kenya, through the Girl Generation -Support to the Africa Led Movement to End FGM/C Programme (TGG-ALM) has been implementing a dynamic school-based programme in Garissa and Isiolo counties aimed at empowering children, especially girls, to understand and advocate for their rights. Through Girls’ and Boys’ Forums held within primary and junior secondary schools, children engage in structured dialogue and learning sessions that foster awareness, leadership, and resilience. These sessions are guided by dedicated teachers, known as forum patrons, using a comprehensive Facilitation Manual developed by ActionAid Kenya.
This manual does more than educate. It equips. Children learn about the legal and social protections available to them, building an essential foundation of knowledge that many never had access to before. The manual guides them through sensitive but critical topics, including education, gender, power, and sexual and reproductive health. These lessons are helping girls to challenge deep-rooted norms and speak out against violence, harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), and the silencing of their voices.
Safe spaces have been created within these forums, allowing children to express themselves freely, share personal experiences, and support one another without fear of judgment, harm, or stigma. Girls are gaining not only knowledge but also the courage and confidence to lead in their schools and in their communities. They are learning where and how to report cases of violence and abuse, and most importantly, they know they have a right to be protected.
In both Garissa and Isiolo, we are already witnessing a transformation. Students who once hesitated to speak now lead discussions on child protection and uphold children’s rights. They are shaping conversations with their parents, elders, and peers, actively challenging harmful cultural norms and influencing positive change.
“It has been fulfilling to witness the increase in knowledge of participating girls and boys on issues such as FGM/C, influencing positive shifts in their beliefs, and building their agency, decision-making power, and leadership to challenge harmful practices and uphold their rights in their communities,” says Zamzam Hassan, Programme Coordinator for The Girl Generation – Support to the Africa Led Movement to End FGM/C Programme (TGG-ALM
Since 2010, Africa has made visible progress in strengthening policies and frameworks for child protection, but these gains must be matched by continued investment in localized, practical solutions. AAIK’s work in Garissa and Isiolo is a testament to what is possible when children are not only educated but also empowered to become the architects of their futures.
As we commemorate this day, we celebrate the voices of the children who are rising. They are not just learning; they are leading. And as they grow, so too does our hope for a continent where every child can thrive in dignity, safety, and equality.
Author: Zamzam Hassan, Programme Coordinator for TGG-ALM, ActionAid Kenya.
Edited by Ezra Kiriago ,Communications Coordinator ActionAid Kenya.