2020 has been described as one of the most challenging years in recent times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While many people’s livelihoods were affected, the over 70,000 adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) enrolled in the DREAMS project at LVCT Health had to stay at home in an effort to observe the Ministry of Health COVID-19 prevention safety measures.

These measures, while necessary in the effort towards mitigating the spread of COVID-19, increased the vulnerability of these girls towards violence, unwanted pregnancies and other ills. Some of the girls are orphans, while others come from unstable homes, which meant that they preferred to be at school.

It was on this premise that the DREAMS team had to come up with innovative ways of keeping these girls engaged during this uncertain period.

Discussions and meetings were held with relevant stakeholders and donors to front possible interventions. It was finally agreed that some funding would be channeled to purchase books which would be kept in the safe spaces and which the girls could access and use to revise; an option that would also keep them constructively busy.

This move was greatly welcome by the girls.  Reading during the pandemic has contributed towards keeping them constructively occupied and reduced their chances of experiencing violence.