Sponsored Arts for Education (SAFE)

Working with Kenya's indigenous Samburu people to reduce HIV and FGM and build environmental resilience.

The Westgate Conservancy in Kenya’s Samburu County is home to approximately 10,000 indigenous, pastoralist Samburu people. Whilst community conservancies can bring health and educational infrastructure, these are often at odds with the traditional Samburu way of life, making HIV control and treatment challenging in this context.

Severe drought in Samburu has increased the poverty and hardships faced by families. Girls and women are particularly affected, with rising rates of school dropouts, early marriage and Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), a traditional rite of passage in preparation for marriage.

With Egmont’ support, Sponsored Arts for Education (SAFE) has been working in Westgate Conservancy since 2016 using traditional Samburu theatre, dance and workshops to raise awareness on HIV, FGM/C and the environment. This has increased uptake of HIV services, reduced FGM/C, and encouraged land conservation.

In their current Egmont-supported project, SAFE are building on these successes by engaging emerging leaders, who have been a part of SAFE’s work, to act as role models in their communities and create sustainable village-level support structures. SAFE’s performances and workshop will continue to spark dialogue on HIV, FGM/C and the environment.

To further SAFE’s work to end FGM/C, Egmont is additionally supporting a tour of SAFE’s feature film which addresses issues around FGM and girls’ rights and education. The film is being screened across six Kenyan counties which are home to practising communities.