Nairobi, Nov. 27 -- The women danced. About 500 of them had gathered at Koyaro Hall in the Ayani area of Kibra, Nairobi County. They wiggled and jumped as fitness instructor Dickens Omondi encouraged them to "remain on the right track".

No, this was not a gym or fitness class. These women were shaking off fear and timidity. By the end of the 15-minute session, it was believed, they had mustered a significant measure of confidence and self-esteem.

And these were not just ordinary women. A majority of them were survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). They converged on Friday, the day the world officially kicked off 16 Days of Activism against GBV.

Their meeting was facilitated by the Forum for African Women Educationalists-Kenya (Fawe ...