The PONA Initiative

11/08/2025

As The PONA Initiative, we proudly joined at Karima Ground, Muyeye – Malindi for a 6-team Football Tournament with a purpose – kicking out GBV! 💪⚽

Our adolescent girls took to the pitch with skill, courage, and determination, proving that sports can break barriers and inspire change.

From roaring cheers to thrilling goals, we sparked vital conversations on GBV prevention, celebrated young talent, and strengthened community unity.
Grateful to all the Partners who made this day possible.
Together, we showed that football is more than a game – it’s a tool for social change.

08/08/2025

Join us this Friday, 9th August at Karima Ground, Muyeye – Malindi for an action-packed Football Tournament hosted by She Rise under Akili Dada and ForumCiv 💪✨

🔥 6 Exciting Teams will battle it out on the pitch in a thrilling competition full of energy, skill, and community spirit.
🏆 Prizes to be won – for the champions, outstanding players, and even the loudest cheer squad!

This is more than just football – our goal is to raise awareness and stand together against Gender-Based Violence. Together, we can and create a safer community for all.
💜

📅 Date: 9th August 2025
📍 Venue: Karima Ground, Muyeye – Malindi
⏰ Time: Kick-off at 9:00 AM

Bring your friends, family, and your loudest cheers! Let’s celebrate talent, teamwork, and the fight for a GBV-free society. 💪⚽ The PONA Initiative She Foward Coast Cbo Hope 4 Women Center

28/07/2025

Over the weekend, our Executive Director at the PONA Initiative had the honour of facilitating a powerful “Know Your Rights” session with amazing young women and girls in Majivuni, Malindi Sub-County under the Project in partnership with AkiliDada and ForumCiv.

The session focused on:
🔹 Breaking down myths vs truths about girls’ and women’s rights
🔹 Engaging in outdoor group discussions on everyday violations and how to speak up
🔹 Understanding how knowing our rights helps us fight Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
It was truly inspiring to witness the courage, curiosity, and strength of these girls. Many shared their personal stories, dreams, and the challenges they face in their homes and communities.

One thing was clear: When girls know their rights, they are more confident, more vocal, and more empowered to protect themselves and support one another.

We are proud to walk alongside these future leaders as they rise to claim their space in society.
💜 To the girls of Majivuni: Your voice matters. Your rights matter. You matter.
Shout out to Akili Dada for making this happen! Eunice GM Hope 4 Women Center She Foward Coast Cbo

13/06/2025

As The PONA Initiative, we were honored to be part of the Hamasisha Dada project implemented by Akili Dada in partnership with ForumCiv —a timely and transformative space for young women leaders across the coastal region.

We proudly participated in the SGBV Legal and Policy Framework Sensitization Meeting held in Mombasa County, where we had the opportunity to deepen our understanding and amplify our voice in the fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
The forum offered us a powerful platform to learn, reflect, and advocate for inclusive and survivor-centered SGBV policies. Through eye-opening sessions on Community Buy-in Legal Frameworks on SGBV in Kenya, we gained critical insights into how legal and policy tools shape the national and county-level response to GBV. This knowledge has strengthened our resolve to champion transformative advocacy within our community.
The meeting objectives were:
✅ To understand the legal frameworks governing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Kenya.
✅ To increase platforms for young women advocates to engage directly with County leadership on issues of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
✅ To equip stakeholders with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively prevent, respond to, and advocate against SGBV—while promoting access to justice and protection for survivors.

We believe that lasting change begins with empowered, informed voices working together for justice and dignity. Let's keep building collective action and synergy across the region.
Kudos to Akili Dada and ForumCiv for leading such impactful and inclusive advocacy spaces!

10/06/2025

The PONA Initiative was among 30 influential community gatekeepers who participated in a full-day engagement in Kilifi County, held under the SheRise Project by Hamasisha Dada, a young women's initiative under Akili Dada. The session focused on enhancing awareness and strengthening community-based responses to gender-based violence (GBV).

Gatekeepers—including religious leaders, teachers, local elders, boda boda riders, chiefs, and wazee wa kaya—hold immense influence in either perpetuating or challenging harmful norms.
As frontline actors in conflict resolution and community reporting systems, empowering them with the right knowledge, values, and tools is critical to building a more responsive and compassionate GBV prevention ecosystem.
This interactive session blended participatory facilitation, legal literacy, and values-based dialogues, creating a powerful platform for shifting mindsets and co-developing localized action plans for safer, more inclusive communities.

Key objectives included:

Enhancing understanding of GBV and its impact on women and girls

Equipping gatekeepers to act as informed first responders and allies

Fostering collective accountability in creating protective environments for all.
This joint effort with the PONA Initiative underscores the power of collaborative, community-led approaches in the fight against GBV. Change starts with those closest to the community—and we’re proud to be part of the movement.

06/06/2025

The PONA Initiative Marked the World Environment Day2025 with Fruit Tree Planting for a Sustainable Future In celebration of World Environment Day, the PONA Initiative took a meaningful step towards environmental conservation by planting trees—not just any trees, but fruit-bearing trees that provi...

05/06/2025

World Environment Day 2025 – Together We Can

This year’s World Environment Day celebrations in Malindi were more than a one-day event — they were a movement!

We were proud to join hands with key partners including ForumCiv, Akili Dada, Kwacha Afrika, Haki Africa, Kilifi Citizens Forum, and Manyatta Africa, alongside local government, civil society, youth, schools, and communities to drive collective environmental action under the global theme:
“Together we can .”
Our activities were preceded by an inspiring learning experience at Eco World in Watamu, where we explored the 7 Rs of plastic usage — a critical reminder of how we can all contribute to reducing plastic pollution:

♻️ Rethink – Challenge the necessity of plastic in our daily lives
♻️ Refuse – Say no to single-use plastics
♻️ Reduce – Cut down on unnecessary plastic consumption
♻️ Reuse – Give plastics a second life through creative repurposing
♻️ Repair – Fix items instead of replacing them
♻️ Recycle – Sort and process plastics into reusable materials
♻️ Rot – Compost organic waste to reduce overall garbage
This awareness session not only deepened our understanding of sustainable waste management but also inspired many of us to take bold steps toward circular economy solutions right here in Kilifi County.

From recycling education and clean-up activities to tree planting and youth-led forums, the Malindi event echoed one strong message:
Plastic pollution is not someone else’s problem. It’s ours to solve — together.
Together, we can and will .

31/05/2025

In Malindi, we met with the PONA Initiative, a safe and nurturing space dedicated to helping girls heal, grow, and rebuild after experiences of violence and trauma. Their psychosocial support and empowerment programs are life-changing for young survivors. ...

29/05/2025

Commemorating Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025: Together for a

This Menstrual Hygiene Day, The PONA Initiative in collaboration with Hope 4 Women Center proudly engaged adolescent girls from Airport Primary School in a powerful and transformative session on menstrual health and hygiene.

Under this year’s theme, "Together for a ," we created a safe, supportive space where girls could learn, ask questions, and break free from the silence and shame that too often surrounds menstruation.
We talked openly about menstrual health, distributed dignity kits, and empowered the girls with knowledge — because when girls understand their bodies, they’re more confident, stay in school longer, and are better able to reach their full potential.

It’s time to end period stigma and challenge the myths that hold girls back. Menstruation is natural — not something to hide or be ashamed of. Every girl deserves to menstruate with dignity.

We are proud to be part of a movement that’s working together — across sectors, ages, and communities — to create a future where no girl is left behind because of her period.

Special thanks to our partners, teachers, and the amazing girls of Airport Primary School for making this day so impactful.

13/05/2025

At The PONA Initiative, we're thrilled to see young women rolling up their sleeves and engaging in agricultural activities this rain season. From preparing seedbeds to planting and nurturing crops, these young changemakers are not only feeding their communities but also transforming agriculture into a viable and dignified career path.

But beyond the soil and seeds, mentorship and training in agribusiness have been the true game changers. Through hands-on guidance and skill-building workshops, these young women are gaining the confidence and knowledge to make informed decisions, access markets, and scale their agribusiness ventures sustainably.

When young women are empowered with the right tools, support, and opportunities, they don’t just grow crops — they grow communities.

Let’s continue investing in mentorship and training to unlock the full potential of young women in agriculture.

10/03/2025

The PONA Initiative was well represented at the for the International women's Day..It was Insightful.
Empower women... Accelerate Action💪💪

08/03/2025