Educating street children in the Mathare slums

Dear MCFp Friend

For many women in Kenya, knowledge and a clear understanding of their rights is yet to be encompassed in their everyday lives. Kenya presents a favorable policy and legal context for advancing the well-being and position of women and girls. That notwithstanding, human rights violations abound in marginalized communities.

Meet Rose, a teenage mother of 14 years – a survivor of rape - whose child of 1 year recently died from Epilepsy and a current beneficiary of our teenage mothers program. While Rose maybe going through grief she is still confident that she will make it in life regardless of her current situation. Rose is confident that she wants to advocate for girls' rights. She believes such efforts will make a difference in the lives of Kenyans, especially women and girls.

“I grew up in the informal settlements of Mathare in Nairobi, where there is a lot of injustices, human rights violations, and normalization of violence against children, girls and women. My vulnerability, owing to my community, is high, and it multiplies itself in many ways; I have been raped, given birth at 13 years, dropped out of school at grade 6, suffered from depression, seen my child die in my hands among other issues, however, I do want to see social change. I hope that people will hear the struggles of women and girls one day, protect them, and respect them. My dream remains to create employment opportunities for everyone especially women because if my mum had been self-sufficient financially I would not be where am! I will fight for gender equality, abolish tribalism and fight against all forms of gender-based violence more so rape.” Says Rose.

Girls have the right to lead safe, educated, and healthy lives. Unfortunately, unlike Rose who has a chance of pursuing her dream through MCFp teenage mother’s program or those that are under our school sponsorship, most children and especially girls in Kenya and globally do not get such chances despite their desire to pursue their dreams, they are faced with numerous obstacles that see them fall behind. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to push an estimated 20 million girls out of school!

Rose’s advice to girls like her is to be brave, accept themselves for who they are and live their lives how best they know despite all the peer pressure that they face from their peers to live a certain lifestyle.

Dear Friend, would you like to join the movement that is inspiring such girls like Rose and those street children in the sponsorship program?

Jot down a letter encouraging them to explore their skills, define their values, and chart their paths.

Your voice and donations can help us inspire the next generation of leaders.

 Asante.