AID grant no. 623-0266-G-00-5141-00 to the Federation of Women Lawyers for a program to protect women"s rights by providing legal awareness to communities in Taita Taveta Districts

In furtherance of its ongoing legal aid program, FIDA will develop a manual to train its women clients in how to handle their own cases in court, and will conduct legal aid clinics in poor sections both within and outside of Nairobi to introduce women to this training. FIDA will also upgrade its existing counseling service for women victims of violence, which is run by volunteers, by retaining a qualified counselor/clinical psychologist to help clients overcome their emotional trauma and form support groups where they can meet, share experiences, and encourage one another. Finally, FIDA will establish a small library of resource materials for use by its clients. FIDA will expand its existing legal awareness program in Taita Taveta, located on the coast about 275 km from Nairobi, by implementing paralegal training through 6-day residential workshops in Voi, Taveta, Wundanyi, and Mwatate; a total of 60 paralegals will be trained. Trainees will be equipped with basic legal skills, enabling them to give other members of the community legal advice and assistance as well as referral services. Trainees will also be provided with basic legal materials and information for dissemination to the community. FIDA will involve the communities in selecting both the topics and training approach of the workshops, and will employ participatory training methods such as group, work, and plenary discussions, debates, mock trials, and quizzes of the legal topics covered.