The Binti pamoja Center
The Binti Pamoja (Daughters United in Swahili) Center is a reproductive health and women’s rights program for teenage girls in the Kibera slum of Nairobi Kenya, and a program of Carolina for Kibera (CFK). All CFK programs, including Binti Pamoja, are managed by Kenyans with support from U.S.-based volunteers.

Emily Verellen and Karen Austrian founded The Binti Pamoja Center and incorporated it into Carolina for Kibera in 2002 after studying in Kenya in college and recognizing the need for such a program in Kibera. After returning home, the powerful experiences they both had in Kenya left them with a desire to return to Nairobi to implement an innovative program specifically targeting young women.

Themed photography and reflective writing assignments were the initial activities that Karen and Emily used to engage the young women of the Binti Pamoja Center. Photography was an important tool for fostering discussion because, while describing their images, the young women were able to talk about otherwise taboo subjects. Today, Binti Pamoja uses drama, writing, peer-led small group discussions and photography to explore the critical issues that 13-18 year old young women face in Kibera. Challenges addressed include: HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, lack of reproductive health care and information, unintended early pregnancy, violence against women, prostitution, female circumcision, sexual abuse, unequal access to education and stifling domestic responsibilities. In addition, the Center hosts monthly speakers and field trips, a community drama group, a participant-driven newsletter, community service projects, family events, an extensive HIV/AIDS peer education program and other interactive activities.

Caroline Sakwa, a young Kenyan woman, assumed leadership of Binti Pamoja in 2004 and is successfully managing the Center, leading new program developments and mentoring the 60 members.

The Binti Pamoja Center has created a safe space for teenage girls to harness their energy, sense of hope and mutual understanding to proactively affect change in their community. And it’s working. The young women of The Binti Pamoja Center have become proud leaders in their community in the fight against HIV/AIDS, violence against women and unequal access to education, and they have learned how to take control over their reproductive health. They have become the leaders they were seeking.

Binti Pamoja Program Coordinator: Carolina Sakwa
Binti Pamoja Co-Founders: Emily Verellen and Karen Austrian

For more information about the program, please visit the Binti Pamoja website.