In Harm’s Way: Get Involved
Every year, at least 2,600 women die from unsafe abortion in Kenya, 21,000 more women are hospitalized annually with complications from incomplete and unsafe abortion, whether spontaneous or induced. As grim as these numbers are, they do not capture the number of women killed or disabled by unsafe abortions who never visit a health facility or whose cause of death is not recorded. These incidents are entirely — and easily — preventable, yet the Kenyan government has done little to address the problem. But there’s a way we can address the problem, and all it takes is starting a conversation. Share our Kenya Video >, Update Your Facebook Status >, Tweet Three Times about Kenya >, Tell Your Friends about our Kenya Report >, Resources &, Volunteer Opportunities >, |
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| Share Our Kenya VideoShare our video on your website or blog by simply grabbing the embed code on the Vimeo website, or post the video to your FaceBook or MySpace page using this link: http://vimeo.com/9892391 Note: Just scroll over the video and look for the “embed” button on the right side of the frame. Return to top |
| Update Your Facebook StatusGet the word out about Kenya by posting one of our Facebook status updates: Watch the Center for Reproductive Rights new video on abortion in Kenya, and get a conversation started on how to change the odds. http://vimeo.com/9892391 Did you know that more than 2,600 Kenyan women die from unsafe abortions every year or that another 21k are hospitalized? http://bit.ly/kenyafacts “They mostly have foreign things inserted. Metal wires, knitting needles…Some drink detergent.” A Kenyan nurse-midwife on methods women use to terminate unwanted pregnancies because of Kenya’s restrictive abortion ban. http://bit.ly/kenyafacts Fact: With few exceptions, helping a woman in Kenya procure an abortion, providing the abortion, or giving her drugs or poison to terminate a pregnancy is a felony and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. http://bit.ly/kenyafacts A 2009 report estimated that 12,660 girls were sexually abused by their teachers in Kenya between 2003 and 2007. This doesn’t account for the 90% of cases that are never reported. http://bit.ly/kenyafacts In Kenya, 37.7% of girls have begun child-bearing by the age of 18, 13% of secondary students had experienced their first pregnancy by age 14. http://bit.ly/kenyafacts In Kenya, failing to provide women with anesthesia or pain meds before they undergo an abortion is not uncommon. http://bit.ly/kenyafacts Return to top |
Tweet Three Times about KenyaGet the facts out about Kenya to the Twitterverse by using one of our Tweets or creating your own. Make sure to include #kenya after your Tweets! No one talks about the thousands of Kenyan wmn who die from unsafe abortion. U can. Watch vdo. Start a convo http://bit.ly/kenyafacts #kenya Every year more than 2,600 Kenyan women die from unsafe abortions, another 21k r hospitalized. Get the facts http://bit.ly/kenyafacts #kenya Pipes. Knitting needles. Pens. Bleach. Methods used when women r unable 2 safely terminate pregnancy in Kenya http://bit.ly/kenyafacts #kenya W/ few exceptions, providing an abortion in Kenya is a felony &, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. http://bit.ly/kenyafacts #kenya In 2008, 900 million condoms in Kenya lay unused in gov’t stores due 2 lack of funds 4 distribution. http://bit.ly/kenyafacts #kenya In Kenya, an estimated 5.5 million girls between the ages of 15 &, 19 give birth annually http://bit.ly/kenyafacts #kenya In Kenya, 13,000 girls leave school every year due to pregnancy. http://bit.ly/kenyafacts #kenya Return to top |
Ask Your Friends to Talk About KenyaHelp us spread the word about Kenya’s restrictive abortion law by asking your friends and family to join the conversation. Click here to send them an email >, Return to top |
Resources
Caroline for Kiberia (CFK)
CFK is a nonprofit charitable organization whose mission is to provide community based sports programs, girl centers, and medical clinics to help empower young women, improve basic health care and spur economic development. Location: Carolina for Kibera (CFK) | The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Campus Box 5145 | Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Opportunities: Volunteer with CFK at your university by conducting independent research projects, volunteer work in Kiberia or joining their internship program.
Project Education, Inc.
A non-profit, grass roots organization dedicated to increasing the availability of education to impoverished students through parent participation and community development in Kenya.
Location: PEI United States Office 4475 E. 18th Crest | Bellingham, WA 98226 Opportunities: Volunteer, donate or sponsor.
Coalition on Violence Against Women – Kenya (COVAW)
Advocates against gender based violence and recently launched a campaign for more comprehensive reproductive health care services. Location: Haven Court Block B, Suite 7 Waiyaki Way (Opp. Lion’s Place) P O Box 10658-00100 Nairobi, Kenya Opportunities: Community advocacy as well as regional and international advocacy
American Women’s Association of Kenya (AWA)
The AWA assists women’s groups and self-help programs and supports education in general. Opportunities: Volunteer at a Women’s Center teaching English to deprived young women, working with visually impaired students as local primary school.
Hope to Shine
The organization’s mission is to combat human rights abuses and poverty by establishing a Kiberia School for Girls and Shining Hope Community Center to provide educational and economic development support to the community. Opportunities: Sponsor a student at the Kiberia School for Girls and/or teach classes at the school or community center. Facebook: The Kibera School for Girls
Project C.U.R.E
The organization’s mission is to build sustainable healthcare infrastructures by providing medical equipment to a wide array of countries in need, including Kenya. Opportunities: Volunteer opportunities are available both locally, within the United States, and internationally, at Kenya and other nations.
The Maasai Girls Education Fund (MGEF)
The goal is to improve the literacy, health, and economic well-being of Maasai women in Kenya through education. Opportunities: Donate
The East African Center for the Empowerment of Women and Children (EAC)
A non-profit organization that helps communities achieve empowerment by increasing literacy for women and children, improving health status, and eradicating poverty. Location: New York, Seattle and Kenya Opportunities: Contribute and/or intern at one of the East African Centers in New York, Seattle or Kenya.
