Milka Gakuru, a village elder in Mathare, Nairobi City County, is a sexual Gender-Based Violence survivor who is using her story and experience to shape her community.

She was married at 17 and could not understand what to do in the marriage or what was expected of her since she was still a minor.

Milka experienced a deeply unsettling combination of emotional, physical, and psychological challenges. Her feelings reflect a struggle between trying to adapt to an imposed reality and yearning for the innocence and freedom of a life she was prematurely pulled away from.

"My world felt like a puzzle with missing pieces. The walls of my new life press in—heavy with expectations I could not name, let alone fulfill. I was a child wearing a costume too big, stumbling through a role I never auditioned for.

Confusion clouded my mind as I wondered what I had done to deserve this. Fear wrapped around me like a cold, unrelenting shadow, whispering uncertainties I Could not escape. I yearned for the familiar warmth of my childhood—my friends, games, dreams—now distant, like a fading melody I could barely remember.

Loneliness gripped my heart, and shame lingered, planted by a world that told me I was now a "woman," though I felt nothing close to it. Inside, I fought a silent storm that churned with sadness, anger, and an ache for freedom—a storm no one seemed to see.

I could not say no to these difficulties since I had no power over them.

At this moment, I experienced SGBV and GBV; I could not report to anyone since it was normalized that a man had power over a woman and the wife could not go against her husband in the Matrimonial home.

I also witnessed other women going through the same and thought I could help.

I used to assist some with food, taking those badly battered to the local dispensaries and giving money to others who needed to go to their ancestral homes. I used the money I got from my small business and hustles in the community.

To me, I had "learned" to cope with the abuse and also how to go about it without being hurt physically.

All this was still normal to my community members, so I intensified the messaging.

I used to attend local baraza's and talk about normalized SGBV and GBV issues in the community.

The chief was happy with my work and gave me more meeting opportunities.

At this point, I was linked to a training by MIDRIFT HURINET.

I had not heard of the organization but was informed I was selected because of my community work.

At the training, I learned about place-based leadership development.

It is a leadership approach that empowers leaders to address challenges and leverage opportunities within a specific

geographic or community context. It emphasizes developing leadership capacities responsive to a place's unique social, cultural, economic, and environmental dynamics.

The unique features of PBLD make it especially effective in addressing complex, place-specific challenges.

It empowers communities to take charge of their destiny, creating leaders who are capable and deeply committed to the well-being of their people and their environment. By focusing on place, PBLD turns leadership into a transformative force tailored to the needs of a specific context.

I experienced profound shifts in mindset and perspective, enabling me to approach leadership and community challenges holistically, inclusively, and more impactfully.

I was able to value the power of diverse perspectives and actively seek to build coalitions across sectors and community groups, view challenges as opportunities to innovate, and community assets as the foundation for growth; I have become a champion of equity, ensuring all community members have a role in shaping decisions and outcomes, recognize the ripple effects of decisions and aim for solutions that address root causes

rather than symptoms and become more aware of my biases, leadership style & areas for growth, allowing me to lead with humility & authenticity.

As part of our community activity under the Place-Based Leadership Development, we focused on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), which often involves a repeated cycle of abuse, including tension-building, acute incidents of violence, and periods of reconciliation or calm; the abuser seeks to dominate and maintain control over their partner and can occur in any socioeconomic, cultural, or demographic group, though specific

factors may increase vulnerability.

We went to the Mathare community and had a conversation with them based on the local contextualized scenarios, helping them understand IPV and how it manifested.

In our intervention, we focused on sensitivity, safety, and awareness of available resources leveraging on individuals such as Imams & Chiefs, community, and institutional levels, and they aim to support the victim, address the perpetrator's behavior, and prevent further harm.

We did this by Providing Emotional Support through listening without judgment, validating their feelings, and letting them

know the abuse is not their fault; community campaigns and educational programs to address IPV, reduce stigma, promote healthy relationships, and Promote gender equality & address cultural practices or norms that perpetuate IPV.

Some of the outcomes were that survivors regained control over their lives by accessing resources such as counseling, legal support, and financial assistance. Empowerment programs help them rebuild confidence and make informed decisions about their future. Public interventions raise awareness about IPV, challenge harmful norms, and reduce stigma.

This leads to a more supportive community for survivors, making it easier for them to seek help without fear of judgment.

The community also noted that Effective intervention in IPV scenarios can create ripple effects that benefit not only the survivors but also their families, communities, and society.

By providing immediate safety, legal protection, mental health support, and opportunities for empowerment, our IPV interventions offered survivors the chance to rebuild their lives free from abuse.

Long-term outcomes include healthier relationships, greater societal awareness, and reduced future violence.

Through the Place-Based Development Programme (PBLD), I have experienced significant changes in my mindset, skills, behaviors, and perspective.

I am now more confident in my abilities to lead and take initiative in community matters.

I have a strong sense of my value and capacity to create positive change and develop enhanced problem-solving skills, enabling me to approach challenges with a strategic and collaborative mindset.

I have also deepened my relationships within the community, fostering unity and collaboration among diverse groups. I have learned to communicate effectively with various stakeholders, including residents, authorities, and organizations, tailoring their messages to be clear, persuasive, and inclusive.

Having engaged deeply with local issues, I developed a stronger sense of empathy and inclusivity, making decisions that account for the diverse needs and backgrounds within the community."

By

Jacob Karani