Lighting the Path for Women and Girls ～Partnering with Panasonic to Eliminate Gender based Violence ～
Day：2024.11.26
event ｜
Solar Lantern Donation Ceremony in Orinie Village, Kajiado County, Kenya
November 19, 2024 - The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in collaboration with Panasonic Holding Corporation (Panasonic HD), has provided 100 environmentally friendly solar lanterns to women and girls living in non-electrified areas of Kenya. The lanterns will enable women and girls who have been forced to live without lights to safely travel and carry out their activities. The lanterns will also enable women and girls to study and engage in economic and social activities at night, thus expanding their hopes and possibilities for the future. At the donation ceremony, Panasonic HD donated solar lanterns to the village of Orinie, where GBV Elimination project of JICA supports, in the presence of Kajiado County government and JICA officials. We believe that the lights will bring women and girls confidence and hope and empower them to speak out and act proactively in their communities to fight against gender-based violence (GBV).
Located in the southwestern part of Kenya, the village of Orinie in Kajiado County is characterized by vast grasslands and dry land and is home to many Maasai people. The area is also known for its strong traditional customs and culture based on patriarchy, and many of the women and girls living in the village face serious challenges such as domestic violence, sexual violence by their husbands and families, and child marriage. With limited opportunities for education and economic independence, women routinely experience violence from men who have power and control in the home and community. The incidence of sexual violence in the community is also serious.
In response to this situation, JICA has been working with the government of Kajiado County since 2023 to prevent and respond to GBV. In the village of Orinie, many women and girls are unable to speak out about their experiences of GBV. This “culture of silence” makes it difficult to address the issue and provide support for survivors. For this reason, we are providing support to help women to increase their confidence, strengthen their knowledge and networks, and become economically empowered. We are also working to increase male engagement to address GBV, and to strengthen support systems in the village.
School for adult women (Literacy classes)
Peer counselling activities through sport
The provision of solar lanterns in partnership with Panasonic HD was part of this project activity. Women and girls in Orinie village living in areas without electricity will have access to the light provided by the solar lanterns, which will enable them to study and engage in economic and social activities at night. The women are expected to enhance their confidence and capacity and further strengthen their awareness and actions to confront GBV.
In addition to around 100 women from the village, the chair of the National Gender Equality Commission (NGEC), the counterpart organization for the JICA project, and government officials from the Kajiado County attended the ceremony. They emphasized the benefits and expectations of the solar lanterns for the local community.
Women receiving solar lanterns from Mr. Thomas O. Koyier (left) of NGEC and Ms. Makiko Kubota (right) of JICA.
Mr. Naoyuki Tada from the Panasonic Group delivered a powerful message to the women gathered at the village church, ‘I hope that this light will brighten the future of girls and women.’ ‘These solar lanterns will brighten our lives and raise our lives to the next level,’ a female leader from the village of Orinie expressed her gratitude.
Mr. Naoyuki Tada (Panasonic Group) saying “I hope that this light will brighten the future of women and girls.”
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to JICA and Panasonic for recognizing that we are also valuable.”
‘With this light, I can study at home, ‘I can do more activities at night’, the women who received the solar lanterns in their hands beamed with joy. One woman who started writing songs to eliminate GBV in her village with the support of JICA project happily shared her dream, ‘With light at night, I can make more songs to call for the elimination of GBV.’
The women singing “We are grateful to JICA for taking our hands and empowering us” (at the donation ceremony).
Women reading their literacy class notebook under the light at night.
The provision of solar lanterns is a significant contribution to lighting up the future of women and girls and making their communities safer. JICA will continue to promote international cooperation for the prevention and elimination of GBV, collaborating with various partners and learning from each other, to realize society in which many women and girls around the world can live with dignity, safety, and security, with hope for themselves and their future.
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