Parents begin adopting positive parenting practices after life skills sessions in Habaswein.

Community leaders in Wajir South once viewed life skills education as unnecessary and even discouraged conversations around child behavior and school participation. Many cultural norms made it difficult for teachers and parents to talk openly about the challenges children faced, and this contributed to poor attendance and low support for learning at home. Through VCI’s sensitization meetings and ongoing mentorship sessions, local religious and cultural leaders were trained on life skills and values education. They learned how to model positive behavior, support children’s learning, and encourage families to prioritize education. The change has been noticeable in multiple villages, with leaders now speaking positively during community forums, supporting parents to engage with schools, and encouraging children to stay in class. One leader said, “Before these sessions, I didn’t think life skills had a place in our culture, but now I tell parents to guide their children and keep them in school.”