The KISH Clubs

INFORMATION ABOUT THE KISH CLUBS

Back ground

Makerere University, School of Women and Gender Studies in collaboration with School of Psychology and School of Computing and Informatics Technology and Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Kyambogo University received a grant to implement “A whole University Approach” to address Sexual Harassment (SH) in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Uganda. The project involves an action research with multiple interventions including evidence generation on the prevalence, experiences and response to sexual harassment in HEIs, sensitization/awareness creation and capacity building of female students to prevent and respondent to SH.  Evidence from the baseline survey indicates that in-spite of existence of sexual harassment policy and establishment of response mechanisms to address the problem, the vice remain widespread affecting students and staff productivity and welfare especially female students. This is compounded by the fact that the female students lack the knowledge and skills to prevent and respond to the vice. In this regard, female students’ clubs known as “KISH Clubs” have been established to build the capacity of female students to respond to the vice.

Objectives of KISH Clubs

• To increase female students’ understanding of sexual harassment and its manifestations (types and forms), hot sports and response mechanism
• To build female students’ life skills to enable them prevent sexual harassment and live a productive life
• To offer female students a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences and build their social capital

Structure of the KISH clubs

Clubs have been established at the Halls of residence for easy coordination with each club comprising of twenty-five members. The target group for the Clubs are female students in the first year of education at Makerere University.  Each club is led by a Coach (KISH Club Coach) assisted by a club leader and secretary. The club Coaches report to the Principal Investigator (PI) of the project. Clubs will meet on a weekly basis on an agreed day, time and place.

Role of the Club members

1. Participate in club activities such as sports, debates, exchange visits, group discussions, reaching out to the rest of the university community especially the girls in their first year of study.
2. Attend all training sessions.
3. Become change agents/female voice in and outside the university on issues of sexual harassment.

Role of Club Coaches

1. Train and mentor the KISH club members on prevention and response strategies and mechanism of SH using the developed training manual.
2. Equip KISH Club members with life skills for prevention and response to SH and other forms of gender-based violence for productive lives.
3. Coordinate Club activities and provide weekly and monthly reports to the PI on the progress of the Club activities.