Learning Objectives #

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Apply personal strategies to protect themselves online.
• Demonstrate safe and supportive bystander actions.
• Build resilience through self-awareness, positive self-image, and self-esteem.
• Strengthen sisterhood solidarity through peer-to-peer support systems.

Facilitator Introduction #

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Prevention means protecting yourself before harm happens. Coping means learning how to stay strong and heal when harm has already occurred. We will learn how to be safe online, how to help others when we see them being hurt, and how to build inner strength. Finally, we will see how sisterhood and peer support make us stronger together.

Personal Strategies for Digital Protection #

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1. Strong Passwords #

• Mix numbers, symbols, and letters.
• Avoid names, birthdays, and “12345.”

2. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) #

• Example: Facebook, Twitter, or other social media platforms verification code.
• Using a third-party application, e.g, Google Authenticator, to set up 2FA authentication

3. Think Before You Post #

• “Would I be okay if this went public?”

4. Limit Oversharing #

• Don’t post your school, home address, or live locations.

5. Block & Report #

• Use platform features to stop abuse.

6. Save Evidence #

• Screenshots can be used when reporting. Before doing anything, take as many screenshots as possible of the incident

Kenyan Example: A Kisii schoolgirl avoids sharing her location on TikTok, preventing strangers from finding her after class.

Bystander Intervention (Acting Safely and Supportively) #

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• Why Bystanders Matter: Silence encourages abusers.
• The 3 D’s Approach:
  • Direct: Safely confront — “Stop, that’s not okay.”
  • Distract: Change the subject or pull the victim away.
  • Delegate: Tell a teacher, parent, or authority.
• Golden Rule: Never put yourself in danger.

Kenyan Example: A student sees her classmate being mocked in a WhatsApp group. Instead of joining in, she reports the group to the class teacher and checks on her friend privately.

Building Resilience Systems (Self-image, Self-esteem, and Ideal Self) #

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• Self-image: How you see yourself.
• Self-esteem: How much you value yourself.
• Ideal self: Who you want to become.
• Building resilience means:
  • Accepting mistakes → “I am learning.”
  • Celebrating small wins → “I did my best in exams.”
  • Practising affirmations → “I am worthy, I am enough.”
  • Staying active → sports, arts, music for stress relief.

Kenyan Example: A boy mocked online for his accent joins the drama club, builds confidence on stage, and redefines his self-worth.

Peer-to-Peer Support and Sisterhood Solidarity #

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• Why peer support matters: Friends understand you better, especially teens.
• Ways to support peers:
  • Listen without judgment.
  • Don’t share their secrets.
  • Stand with them publicly (refuse to forward harmful content).
  • Check in often: “Are you okay today?”
• Sisterhood Solidarity:
  • We rise together.
  • No girl stands alone in the face of TFGBV.
  • “My sister’s pain is my pain.”

Activities #

Activity 1: Digital Protection Checklist (20 min) #

• Instructions: In groups, participants create a poster: “Top 5 Tips for Online Safety.”
• Examples include: strong passwords, 2FA, blocking abusers, not oversharing, and saving evidence.
• Debrief: Ask groups to present. Reinforce that these are practical tools that they must use daily.

Activity 2: Bystander Role-play (10 min) #

• Scenario: A girl is being mocked in a WhatsApp group for her hairstyle.
• Groups role-play:
  • Direct response -> Someone says, “That’s not funny. Stop.”
  • Distract -> Someone changes the topic.
  • Delegate -> Someone tells a teacher.
• Debrief Questions:
  • Which method felt easiest? Hardest?
  • How can we be safe while helping others?

Activity 3: Strength Shield (Resilience Exercise) (15 min) #

• Instructions: Each participant draws a shield with 4 sections:
  • My strengths (e.g., kind, hardworking).
  • My proudest moment.
  • People who support me.
  • My dreams.
• Debrief: Participants (volunteers) share -> highlight that resilience is about knowing and loving yourself.

Activity 4: Sisterhood Commitment (20 min) #

• Instructions: Form circles. Each participant tells the person next to them: “I’ve got your back.”
• Write a group pledge: “We will not laugh at, share, or ignore TFGBV. We will always support each other.”
• Debrief: Ask how it felt to both give and receive support.

Facilitator Notes #

• Keep examples relevant: use WhatsApp, TikTok, Facebook  – platforms teens actually use.
• Normalize both boys and girls being affected.
• Emphasize confidentiality: participants may reveal personal experiences.
• If strong emotions arise, pause for a grounding exercise (e.g., breathing together).

Key Takeaways #

• Protect yourself online – prevention is better than a cure.
• Silence makes bullies stronger – bystanders can break the cycle.
• Resilience means loving who you are and who you want to become.
• In sisterhood, no one fights alone.

Memorable Quotes for Participants #

• “Don’t post anything today that could hurt you tomorrow.”
• “Your voice as a bystander can be the shield that saves a friend.”
• “You are enough. Just as you are.”
• “When sisters stand together, no one falls alone.”