Page 32 - EdSource Issue No02

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much if they get support and are What the Association does for been a lot of misinformation out
empowered. As an Association we female teachers in Kenya there about the critical role the
appreciate all the challenges girls Kewota was founded not only organization plays on a daily basis.
face especially teenage pregnancy, to lobby and advocate on behalf The gender gap in teacher leadership
ability to afford sanitary towels, drop of women teachers but also to still glaringly remains and so all
out rates being higher for girls when enhance better living standards for education stakeholders are invited
parents cannot afford to educate female teachers and their families. to embrace this organization for the
all their children, mental health Kewota does this through: betterment of all teachers including
issues among others. However our Financial empowerment, Investment men
experience is that we have seen opportunities, Development
many women stand together to projects, Career and workplace Kewota being a membership
make these experiences bearable advocacy, Sponsorship for both driven organization has seen a
by assisting in various ways.” the girl child and women teachers, lot of successes and challenges.
donations and - Training to mention The greatest challenge faced is
KEWOTA just but afew. in increasing membership. Out of
The Kenya Women Teachers a potential of 200,000 possible
Association (KEWOTA) is a vibrant To enhance service delivery, Kewota members from Tsc alone, kewota
welfare society and community has established regional offices in is shy of only 30,000 members.
for female teachers in Kenya. The counties across the whole country. The organization is seeking for
Association consists of female Female teachers can contact or visit partnership with likeminded
teachers employed by the TSC, our officers to join the organization, organization in terms of training on
privately employed female teachers, report any career-related issues or negotiation, advocacy and lobbying
ECDE female teachers, SNE female request any of the services offered skills. More needs to be done on
teachers and other women in the by kewota. creating a powerful team of school
education sector. representatives.
Unlike education unions which
The leaders are so passionate about focus on pressuring governments, Kewota is keen on capacity building
women empowerment that some KEWOTA mainly focuses on directly of county representatives as peace
of them quit top national jobs, to impacting the lives of female ambassodors, paralegal officers and
advocate for female teachers and teachers socially, career-wise and mental health champions.
find ways to enhance better living financially.
standards for female teachers, The greatest threat to women
especially those with families. Benta reiterates that there has 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