Change the Game Academy in collaboration with the Kenya Community Development Foundation has so far trained over 80 organizations in Mobilising Support in four phases since 2015 and this was the fourth class to graduate. After undergoing a six-month training, the participants graduated after a two-day meeting where they shared their experiences and the way forward regarding the whole training.

It was also an opportunity for them to increase understanding on key elements of running their Mobilising Support initiatives while actualizing their action plans. It also served as a refresher and reminder to the organizations that lobbying and advocacy is not a one-off activity and even after the graduation they have to continue championing their causes.

“Our problem solving was mostly not reliant on the MS approach. After the initial training, we went back and analysed our activities and realized we were rushing to solve problems and not really making any headway,” said Francis Nzai from Teachers for Teachers organisation.

Due to the low transition rates of students from primary to secondary schools in Kwale County, Teachers for teachers CBO had to identify their stakeholders and beneficiaries. They convinced their board on why they should take the Mobilising Support action and held meetings with their mentors as they were working on their action plan. “We did a research and conducted a stakeholders meeting as well as developed an action plan around the high number of child abuse cases around Lungalunga sub-county,” said Francis.

Willem Malaba, one of the graduates said that Kidscare Kenya intends to incorporate MS in all its work. “Mobilising Support needs to be taught as much as possible in our organisations. MS is not a short term goal,” he added.

Kidscare Kenya, the organisation he works in, works with children with disabilities to amplify their voices. Through their work, they hope to address the various challenges that the children face which include stigmatization, social exclusion, lack of access to basic education and challenges of wrong documentation which denies them services like the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Kidscare Kenya realized that the lack of awareness on prevention and lack of therapy facilities contributed to the worsening of the situation for these children. Therefore, they sought to address it. They also noted that education policies did not adequately cater for children with disabilities. Since participating in the MS course, they have hosted a walk to raise awareness, bringing seven different organisations, some of whom are also participants in the CtGA course, to help them with organizing the walk. This contributed to greater awareness amongst the locals and helped in reducing stigmatization especially in Lungalunga sub-county where they work. They have also embarked on building six special school units to cater for the education needs of children with cerebral palsy. In this they are working hand in hand with the government to provide teachers for their school.

Their tactic has been to bring in as many organisations as possible to help them in their cause. They understand that Mobilising Support is a big project and are taking it step by step. “Our coach has led us well and we have learnt a lot from the MS course,” says Willem.

The course has enabled many organisations in the country to acquire knowledge and skills in how to conduct lobbying and advocacy. Most organisations aim at building mutual understanding, respect and collaboration between their stakeholders.

“Getting a solution from both ends is important as we aim for a win-win situation. We should support and complement each other as CSOs and government, says Ali Mwaziro, Director at Kidscare Kenya.