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#VoiceOfFreedom: OGF Kenya & AWDF Launch Major Initiative Against GBV
The Open Gate Foundation (OGF) Kenya is honored to announce its selection for a transformative partnership with the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF). This collaboration marks the official launch of the Meru Voice of Freedom project—a multi-year intervention engineered to dismantle Gender-Based Violence (GBV), FGM, and harmful cultural practices.
Guided by the principles of AWDF’s Lemlem Strategic Framework, OGF Kenya is shifting the landscape from reactive aid to survivor-led structural transformation. Our strategy centers on building an ecosystem where safety and justice are guaranteed, not just promised.
Community Spotlight
The Power of Lived Experience: Meet the Architects of Justice
For years, we were told to be silent about our pain. Today, we are the ones rewriting the laws of our community. These are the words of Faith (name changed for privacy), a lead member of our Survivor Council in Meru.
Faith is one of the many women who will be at the forefront of the Meru Voice of Freedom project. As a survivor of Gender-Based Violence, she no longer sees herself as a victim, but as a technical expert in justice. Faith recently led a grassroots sensitization forum where she spoke to 250 young girls about their rights under the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act.
Through our partnership with AWDF, leaders like Faith are being resourced to:
- Lead Mobile Legal Aid Clinics to reach women in remote sub-counties.
- Advise local law enforcement on trauma-informed GBV response.
- Manage the new anonymous referral system to ensure no girl is left behind.
“Justice isn’t something that comes from a faraway office,” Faith explains. “It starts when a woman knows her worth and has a community that stands behind her.”
“With the support of AWDF, we are no longer just survivors; we are the architects of justice in Meru.” — Voice of Freedom Council Member
Annual Report: Executive Director’s Message
By: Evelyn Kathure, Executive Director
A New Era of Feminist Leadership and Accountability
As the Executive Director of OGF Kenya, I am proud to report that 2025/2026 has been a year of radical institutional growth. Our selection by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) for the Meru Voice of Freedom project represents more than a grant; it marks a new chapter in our journey as a women-led, survivor-centered anchor organization.
This project is the heartbeat of our mission. It represents our definitive shift toward structural transformation. By establishing survivor-led referral systems and professionalizing the response of law enforcement, we are building a Meru where justice is a fundamental right, not a distant luxury.
I wish to extend my deepest gratitude to Beatrice Boakye-Yiadom and the entire AWDF team for their unwavering commitment to openness, honesty, and integrity. Their trust-based approach to grant-making provides the oxygen that allows grassroots organizations like ours to lead with authenticity.
Open Gate Foundation Strengthens Community-Led Efforts to End FGM/C in Eastern Kenya
Date: 28 April 2026
Open Gate Foundation has intensified its comprehensive, community-led initiatives aimed at ending Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) across Meru County, Tharaka-Nithi County, and Isiolo County, regions where the practice persists in both visible and hidden forms.
Despite Kenya’s national decline in FGM/C prevalence to approximately 15%, localized disparities continue to pose serious challenges. In pastoralist and border communities such as Isiolo, mobility and cross-border dynamics complicate enforcement and protection efforts. Meanwhile, in Meru and Tharaka-Nithi, deeply rooted cultural norms and secrecy have allowed the practice to persist in less visible ways, particularly affecting adolescent girls.
Through its integrated program model, Open Gate Foundation has:
- Reached 3,500+ households through sustained community dialogue forums
- Engaged 1,200 adolescents, equipping them with knowledge on rights, health, and protection
- Trained 85 community champions, including elders, teachers, and youth leaders
- Strengthened survivor-led advocacy networks to drive peer-to-peer change
The Foundation’s approach combines education, dialogue, and local leadership to shift social norms from within communities rather than imposing external solutions. By promoting alternative rites of passage and fostering intergenerational conversations, the initiative is helping communities reimagine traditions in ways that protect the dignity and future of girls.
Executive Director’s Quote:
Ending FGM/C requires more than policy—it demands trust, dialogue, and community ownership. What we are seeing in Meru, Tharaka-Nithi, and Isiolo is that when communities are engaged respectfully and consistently, they begin to challenge harmful norms from within. Our role is to support that transformation by amplifying local voices, especially those of women and survivors, and ensuring they have the tools and platforms to lead change. Sustainable impact comes when communities themselves become the champions of protecting their daughters.
— Evelyn , Executive Director, Open Gate Foundation
Open Gate Foundation Reaches Over 10,000 People Through Anti-FGM Campaign in Eastern Kenya
Date: 15 March 2026
In March 2026, Open Gate Foundation implemented a far-reaching, multi-channel awareness campaign across Meru County, Tharaka-Nithi County, and Isiolo County, targeting communities where harmful practices continue to affect girls and young women.
The campaign was designed to address not only awareness gaps but also the underlying beliefs that sustain FGM/C. Through a combination of school outreach, community forums, and media engagement, the initiative reached:
- 10,000+ individuals across rural and peri-urban areas
- 25 schools, where structured sessions engaged students and teachers
- 300+ parents, elders, and opinion leaders through dialogue platforms
Special focus was placed on Isiolo-Meru, where cross-border movement increases vulnerability, as well as Meru and Tharaka-Nithi, where hidden practices require discreet but persistent engagement.
The campaign emphasized the importance of collective responsibility, encouraging men, boys, and community leaders to take active roles in protecting girls and challenging harmful traditions. It also created safe spaces for open discussion, allowing communities to confront sensitive issues in constructive ways.
Executive Director’s Quote:
Awareness alone is not enough—we must create spaces where communities can openly question and rethink long-standing beliefs. What we are witnessing is a gradual but powerful shift: parents, elders, and young people beginning to speak out and take responsibility for change. This campaign is not just about information; it is about sparking conversations that lead to action and ultimately to the protection of every girl at risk.
-County Coordinator, Meru County Government
Expanded Program & Advocacy Story
Open Gate Foundation Expands Survivor-Led Advocacy and Safe Spaces in Meru
Date: 10 February 2026
Open Gate Foundation has significantly expanded its survivor-led advocacy programs across Meru County, Tharaka-Nithi County, and Isiolo County, reinforcing the role of lived experience in driving sustainable social change.
Recognizing that survivors hold unique credibility and influence within their communities, the Foundation has supported:
- 50+ survivor advocates to lead awareness and mentorship sessions
- Establishment of 18 safe spaces for girls and young women
- Facilitation of community dialogue forums addressing stigma, protection, and reporting
These initiatives are particularly critical in areas like Isiolo, where mobility and informal practices increase risk, and in Meru and Tharaka-Nithi, where cases are often underreported.
By centering survivors as leaders rather than passive beneficiaries, the program is shifting perceptions and fostering empathy within communities. Survivors are not only sharing their stories but also guiding prevention efforts, mentoring younger girls, and advocating for stronger protection systems.
Executive Director’s Quote:
“Survivors carry stories that statistics alone cannot tell. When they step forward as advocates, they humanize the issue and challenge communities to confront the real impact of FGM/C. We are committed to ensuring that survivors are supported, protected, and empowered to lead. Their courage is transforming communities and creating pathways for lasting change”.
— Executive Director, Open Gate Foundation
Expanded Commemoration & Strategy Story
Title:
Open Gate Foundation Reaffirms Commitment to Ending FGM/C on International Day of Zero Tolerance
Date: 6 February 2026
On the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, Open Gate Foundation reaffirmed its long-term commitment to eliminating FGM/C across Meru County, Tharaka-Nithi County, and Isiolo County, where the organization continues to implement targeted, community-driven interventions.
While Kenya has made notable progress over the past decades, the persistence of FGM/C in specific regions highlights the need for sustained and localized strategies. Isiolo County faces unique challenges linked to cross-border practices and pastoralist mobility, while Meru and Tharaka-Nithi require continuous engagement to address culturally embedded norms.
As part of its 2025–2026 strategy, Open Gate Foundation aims to:
- Reach 15,000 direct beneficiaries across the three counties
- Expand community-based programs and partnerships
- Strengthen collaboration with local leaders, schools, and institutions
- Enhance protection mechanisms and reporting pathways for at-risk girls
The Foundation emphasizes that ending FGM/C is not a short-term effort but a long-term commitment requiring coordination across communities, institutions, and generations.
“This day serves as both a reminder and a call to action. Progress is possible, but it is not guaranteed unless we remain committed and consistent in our efforts. Ending FGM/C requires us to work across generations, cultures, and systems. At Open Gate Foundation, we are dedicated to walking this journey with communities—ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to grow up safe, healthy, and free to realize her full potential.”
— Executive Director, Mwendwa CBO
Impact Story: Meru Voice of Freedom
Tigania East Women Rise: Transforming 17 Villages through Grassroots Leadership to End FGM/C
Organization Name: Open Gate Foundation (OGF) Funded by #awdf
Project Title: Meru Voice of Freedom County: Meru (Tigania East – 17 Villages) Organizational Level: Anchor Grantee (Funded by AWDF) Reporting Period: Y4-Q1
Summary
In the heart of Tigania East, a movement is unfolding. What began as a collective of women across 17 villages has grown into a powerful front against Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C). Guided by the “Meru Voice of Freedom” project, these women are proving that when those most affected by harmful traditions are placed at the center of the solution, sustainable change is not just possible—it is inevitable.
Context
In Tigania East, despite strong national laws, FGM/C has often persisted under a veil of secrecy. Historically, anti-FGM programs in Meru County faced hurdles because women—the primary custodians of community health and household dynamics—were often sidelined in favor of male-dominated traditional gatekeepers. This exclusion left a gap in reaching the “hidden” spaces where cultural norms are passed down.
The Solution: Women-Centered Programming
Aligned with the feminist principles of our partner, AWDF, the Open Gate Foundation (OGF) launched the Meru Voice of Freedom project. We moved away from top-down lecturing and instead focused on Movement Building.
We identified and mobilized the most consistent women’s groups across 17 targeted villages in Tigania East. OGF conducted intensive two-day capacity-building workshops for group leaders, focusing on:
- Human rights-based advocacy.
- Feminist leadership models.
- Strategic action planning for Community Freedom Movements.
The goal was simple: Turn existing Chamas (women’s groups) into frontline protection units.
Evidence of Change: The Tigania East Model
The results from the 17 villages have been transformative. Upon returning to their villages, leaders disseminated their training, leading to several key breakthroughs:
- Structural Strengthening: Groups that were previously informal or dormant renewed their legal registrations to gain formal recognition and better manage their group funds.
- The Homestead Dialogue Initiative: Moving beyond public forums, the women launched a door-to-door awareness campaign. By entering the private spaces of the Meru household, they recruited 130 new members per group, building a dense network of “Freedom Champions.”
- Winning Over the Men: While there was initial resistance, the women used collaborative diplomacy. By engaging local clergy and showing the broader benefits of organized women’s groups (such as improved family health and economic stability), they secured male allyship. In a significant shift, several men in Tigania East have begun contributing to their wives’ membership fees to support the movement.
- Intergenerational Bonding: To protect the next generation, the groups partnered with local Community Health Promoters. They integrated FGM/C awareness into school programs through “Mother-Daughter Mentorship” sessions and sports, breaking the cycle of silence around reproductive health.
Impact Metrics since June 2024:
- 170 Villages actively mobilized.
- 400+ Households reached per village through targeted visits.
- 100+ Girls in primary schools provided with sanitary packs and mentorship.
Voices from the Field
“I see a new Meru rising. Our daughters are no longer hidden in fear during the holidays. They are being mentored by their mothers to be the leaders of tomorrow. As a leader in this community, I stand with these women.” — Local Clergy, Tigania East
“We used to fear the long December holidays because that is when the ‘cutting’ happens. But through the Meru Voice of Freedom and our mothers’ groups, we feel safe. They promised to protect us, and now I know I can finish my education without fear.” — 12-year-old Student, Tigania East Primary School
Lessons Learnt
The “Meru Voice of Freedom” project confirms that the most effective advocates are those within the community. When messaging comes from a neighbor, a mother, or a peer, it bypasses cultural defense mechanisms. By equipping 17 villages with the tools to innovate their own outreach, OGF has created a blueprint for ending FGM/C that is rooted in Meru culture but guided by universal human rights.
Written By: Elosy Kinya – Programs Officer, Open Gate Foundation (OGF)
Survivor& communities’ stories
Impact Story: The Ngiine-Gankere Multi-Sectoral Alliance
Title: From Silence to Solidarity: How Ngiine and Gankere Formed a Multi-Sectoral Shield Against FGM/C
Organization Name: Open Gate Foundation (OGF)
Project Title: Meru Voice of Freedom
Location: Ngiine & Gankere Sub-locations, Imenti North
County: Meru
Organisational Level: Funded by AWDF
Summary
In the Ngiine and Gankere sub-locations of Imenti, the “Meru Voice of Freedom” project has achieved a historic milestone. By uniting 63 women’s groups, Boda Boda riders, Njuri Ncheke elders, and the entire local justice system, the community has moved beyond awareness to active, coordinated enforcement. This story showcases the power of a “Whole-of-Community” approach to protecting the rights of girls.
Context
Historically, efforts to end FGM/C in Imenti North were fragmented. While women’s groups worked on the ground, they often lacked the direct support of local law enforcement or the cultural backing of the Supreme Council of Meru Elders (Njuri Ncheke). In Gankere, secrecy and a lack of reporting pathways allowed the practice to persist in the shadows, far from the eyes of the Administrative Police or the
Department of Prosecution.
The Solution: The Integrated Protection Model
The Open Gate Foundation (OGF), supported by AWDF, realized that a feminist movement needs institutional allies. We facilitated a high-level community dialogue in Ngiine that brought together an unprecedented coalition:
63 Vibrant Women’s Groups: The eyes and ears of the village.
Boda Boda Riders: Serving as safe transport and rapid-response reporters.
Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders: Providing the cultural mandate and “Traditional Law” support.
The Rapid Response Network: Boda Boda riders, once seen as bystanders, are now trained to recognize and report the transport of girls for “ceremonies” to the local Police Post and the Gender Desk.
The Njuri Ncheke Declaration: Representation from the elders has signaled to the community that FGM/C is no longer a “protected” tradition, but a violation of the Meru community’s future dignity.
Direct Prosecution Linkages: Having the Department of Prosecution and the OCS present at village forums has demystified the law. Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs now feel empowered to act, knowing they have the full backing of the Gender Police Department.
The Justice System: Including the local OCS (Station Commander), Gender Police Department, Administrative Police, and the Department of Prosecution.
Spiritual Leaders: Local pastors providing moral and ethical guidance.
Evidence of Change: A Shield of Solidarity
The Gankere sub-location witnessed a dramatic shift when these groups moved from dialogue to action
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