Storytelling For Change

Kisumu County in Kenya is predominantly settled by the Luo Community, one of the African Communities whose culture place a woman in the role of family maker, a culture that holds the preposition that a woman’s place is kitchen and that has no freedom to put her opinion across in times of decision making. The Kenyan Government has set policies and practices seeking to increase the representation of women under the Two-Thirds Gender Principle which aims at giving women voice to champion for issues affecting them. These policies are still stuck in the National Assembly as the Legislature is still reluctant to pass it so as it becomes a law.
Gender Based Violence is still at large in parts of Kisumu and the world. Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV), Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Early Marriages, Wife Inheritance and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) - These HORRIFIC issues are still in practice in Kisumu, and we want to cast a light on them in relation with SDGs: SDG 5 - Sustainable Development Goal 5 concerns gender equality - "Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls and SDG 10 - "Reduce inequality within and among countries" It’s time that women be appreciated and treated equally. Especially during the pandemic, domestic violence against women has increased manifold worldwide.
With our project, Storytelling For Change "Stories of Kisumu “we envision to foster effective collaborations in building a platform for creative Change Makers across Kisumu to find an authentic platform of creating their own unique voice. Using tools such as Diversity, Creativity and storytelling for change to especially highlight the voices of vulnerable women through performances in spoken word and theater to create dialogue with the communities and duty bearers to enact laws on women and girls empowerment in achieving the said SDGS.

The project will entail Community Dialogue Sessions Enhancing use of Community Participatory Educational Theatre(CPET) to Mentor Young Girls and Women on Effective Referral pathways and a Short Film Production for Social Media Campaign on Sexual Gender Based Violance Messaging to Communities.

1. Community Dialogue Sessions-1500$
2. Short Film Production-1000$
3. Administration-500$

Total-3000$

 Amazon Theatrix Ensemble (A.T.E) is a community Youth-Led Organization for Awareness Creation and advocacy to Communities through Performing arts and media on matters relating to Community Development and Empowerment. We employ performing arts(Spoken Word and Theater) in championing for the voices of Communities in relation to Social Issues such as, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Sexual Gender Based Violence, Climate Change,Democrarcy and Governace,Peace and Security, Mental Health and Child Protection

 A.T.E prioritized arts as a social tool for advocacy embracing it as a professional platform where members could earn a living as they focus on communal sensitization and enabling through performance in the quest of building their self-Esteem and socio-economic gain

 A.T.E envisions a society that is informed offering a platform for Artists to relay messages to the community revolving around Social Behavior Change as we believe that performing arts is a powerful tool for activism as it houses components of both Educating and Informing influencing mindset on how people view things triggering dialogue at the grassroot level for change and development towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals

MISSION

 To Develop Programs that Uses Performing Arts and Media as main tool For Development among youths in Addressing Health, Democracy and Governance,Paece and Security, Climate Change, Women and Girls Empowerment

VISION

 The Arts and Media are Unique Means To Educate,Stimulate Tolerance, Raise Awareness, Foster Holistic Growth and Social Intergration.A well Expressed Creativity among Youths Empowers Strong Personality Coming Back to the society

Amazon Theatrix Ensemble (A.T.E) since inception has Leveraged on Performing Arts and Media on various projects implementations like;

• “Storytelling for Change”-Stories of Kisumu Partnering with Lighthouse with support from Melton Foundation on Sexual Gender Based Violance(SGBV)
• “Am not Yet Ripe”-Sexual and Gender Based Violence sensitization to Adolescents and young Girls through Mentorship on Effective Referral pathways-KMET
• ‘Niskize Sikupenda Kwangu-Highlighting Mental health among women and girls for effective referrals-Lead Organization
• Teen Bash Festival-Amplifying the voices of girls through talent development and cultivation on Sexual Reproductive Health (SRHR)-Afya Halisi,Liverpool,Wofak)
• “Youth Voices In Action”-Alternative Peaceful Resolution n Process in Addressing Domestic and Gender Based Violence.(Global Youth mobilization)
• “Tuimarike Wanadada”-Comprehensive Sexuality Education to Adolescents through the Use of Participatory Educational Theatre (PET) in Creating dialogue on SRHR-Akina Mama Wa Afrika
• Safe Pair Of Hands(SPOH)-Water Safety,Sanitation,Personal Hygiene and Menstrual Hygiene -Kisumu Urban Apostolate Program(KUAP)
• Youth Baton-Clean Energy, Afforestation, sanitation and Waste Management-Umande Trust
• Global Perspectives Lab (GPL) Series of Events-Amplifying Voices of Women and Girls living along the shores of Lake Victoria on effects of Climate Change in Relation to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, Sexual Gender Based Violance (SGBV)-CIVICUS
• Youth Voices In Spaces-Employing the use Of Performing Arts to Sensitize Young People on Democracy and Governance Process (Engage in Public Participation to hold the Duty Bearers Accountable in the Budget Making Process)-Kisumu Progressive Youth
• Y-ACT-Advocacy on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights to Young Women and Girls (Amref)
• Kisumu Integrated Family Health Project-Using Participatory Educational Theatre in Sensitizing Community on Maternal Child Health, Family Planning and Nutrition. (Care Kenya, Family Health Options Kenya and Recross)
• Future Fab-Creating Awareness to Adolescents Girls on Contraceptives through Organizing Of Small Events, Parents Meet Ups and Mentorship Session (Marie Stopes)
• Nitambue Nifaulu-Mentoring Orphans and Vulnerable Children on Sexual Reproductive Health, Life Skills and HIV/AIDS(ICS-AFRICA)
• “Together We Can”-Behavior Change Intervention as remedy in Preventing the spread of Covid-19 by Use of Methodological Theatre-African Culture Fund

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES AND CONTACTS

• Twitter: @AmazonTheatrix

   Istangram: amazon_theatrix

   Facebook: Amazon Theatrix Ensemble (A.T.E)

   Web: www.amazontheatrix.org

   YouTube: Amazon Theatrix Ensemble

   0701739992/0781408127

   amazontheatrixensemble@gmail.com