On Monday, March 14, Jane Anyango shared her insights as the director of the PolyCom Development Project in Kibera, Nairobi. With approximately 250,000 inhabitants, Kibera is the largest slum in Kenya, and across Sub-Saharan Africa. Jane was joined by two students who live in Kibera and volunteer for PolyCom, Mercy Kimeto and Galinah Oyombrah. In 2004, PolyCom was founded in response to a case of sexual harassment in Kibera. Jane started a campaign by going to schools and telling girls how to take care of what she calls their “private parts.” PolyCom is exclusively comprised of volunteers, who are trying to take a preventative approach to eliminate sexual violence.
More interestingly, with the help of young women and girls they started to map cases of sexual harassment in Kibera . Because a lot of the collected information is highly sensitive, they set up talking boxes in schools and community centers. By sharing their experiences the initiative hopes to encourage women and girls to start talking about their needs and give them a safe space to share their concerns. However, much of the work that PolyCom does goes unrecognized. Local practices and traditions together with abusive authorities are a daily problem that Jane and her volunteers are facing on a daily basis., Moreover, funding and government support are difficult to secure.
Over the years, PolyCom has developed several other programs on Security and Safety, Hygiene and Sanitation, Sports, and About Her, which is an educational program. Jane closed her presentation by stating that it is not only important that women can stand up for their rights, but also have the community become involved in finding solutions.