DADAAB, KENYA – On 23 August 2025, the transformative TUSEME (“Let Us Speak Out”) Training in the Dadaab refugee camp concluded with powerful and poignant sessions led by the learners themselves. The closing activities featured impactful group work where participants dramatized the stark realities of their lives, highlighting critical issues like the prioritization of boys’ education, child marriage, and Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C).
This year’s curriculum was specifically enriched to address the acute challenges of a crisis setting. New modules on managing trauma and addressing gender-based violence (GBV), expertly facilitated by Victor Odhiambo from FAWE Kenya, provided learners with essential tools and a safe space to navigate these difficult topics.
Through courageous role-plays and short skits, the learners gave voice to struggles deeply rooted in their community’s patriarchal norms. Many reflections centered on how dowry expectations and the misguided belief that girls are better off married early continue to fuel the practice of child marriage.
The closing ceremony was graced by strong words of support from key partners. Mr. George Okello, Quality Assurance Manager at the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), commended the vital partnership with FAWE in promoting education within the camp, where LWF manages several primary schools. Mr. Dekow Issa, from the Ministry of Education in Dadaab, acknowledged the indispensable role of collaboration among civil society organizations in advancing education for all, even in the most challenging contexts.
The end of this training cycle marks more than just the completion of a programme; it signifies the strengthening of individual voices and a renewed, collective commitment to challenging harmful practices. It is a bold step toward creating a future in Dadaab where every child, regardless of gender, can claim their right to education and safety.