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much if they get support and are empowered . As an Association we appreciate all the challenges girls face especially teenage pregnancy , ability to afford sanitary towels , drop out rates being higher for girls when parents cannot afford to educate all their children , mental health issues among others . However our experience is that we have seen many women stand together to make these experiences bearable by assisting in various ways .”
KEWOTA
The Kenya Women Teachers Association ( KEWOTA ) is a vibrant welfare society and community for female teachers in Kenya . The Association consists of female teachers employed by the TSC , privately employed female teachers , ECDE female teachers , SNE female teachers and other women in the education sector .
The leaders are so passionate about women empowerment that some of them quit top national jobs , to advocate for female teachers and find ways to enhance better living standards for female teachers , especially those with families .
What the Association does for female teachers in Kenya Kewota was founded not only to lobby and advocate on behalf of women teachers but also to enhance better living standards for female teachers and their families . Kewota does this through : Financial empowerment , Investment opportunities , Development projects , Career and workplace advocacy , Sponsorship for both the girl child and women teachers , donations and - Training to mention just but afew .
To enhance service delivery , Kewota has established regional offices in counties across the whole country . Female teachers can contact or visit our officers to join the organization , report any career-related issues or request any of the services offered by kewota .
Unlike education unions which focus on pressuring governments , KEWOTA mainly focuses on directly impacting the lives of female teachers socially , career-wise and financially .
Benta reiterates that there has been a lot of misinformation out there about the critical role the organization plays on a daily basis . The gender gap in teacher leadership still glaringly remains and so all education stakeholders are invited to embrace this organization for the betterment of all teachers including men
Kewota being a membership driven organization has seen a lot of successes and challenges . The greatest challenge faced is in increasing membership . Out of a potential of 200,000 possible members from Tsc alone , kewota is shy of only 30,000 members . The organization is seeking for partnership with likeminded organization in terms of training on negotiation , advocacy and lobbying skills . More needs to be done on creating a powerful team of school representatives .
Kewota is keen on capacity building of county representatives as peace ambassodors , paralegal officers and mental health champions .
The greatest threat to women empowerment and development is early pregnancy for our young girls . Kewota is addressing the matter by the developing a project called THE SEMA PROJECT ( Sexuality Education and Mentorship for adolescents ). Kewota hopes that in due course , partners will come on board to support this project whose end result will be the publishing of fliers , developing trainers and creation of awareness clubs in schools .
We sum up the Benta Opanda and KEWOTA intriguing journey and wishing her all the best as she continues to steer the KEWOTA ship “ Fight for the things that you care about , but do it in a way that will lead others to join you .” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg
KEWOTA members at a past function .
EdSource Quarterly | Oct-Dec l 2021