Gender Equality Kenya Project #19783

Empower and Educate WISER girls in rural Kenya

by WISER International

Empower and Educate WISER girls in rural Kenya

Project Report | Sep 22, 2023
WISER REPORT - SEPTEMBER 2023

By Grace Murika | Country Manager - WISER Kenya

In Kenya, retention of girls through both Primary and Secondary school remains a major challenge. In Muhuru Bay, where WISER is located, only 7% of girls successfully complete secondary school. In this regard, WISER is proud to have 10 classes of girls with 100% graduation rate, creating the largest cohort of high school educated women in this region. For thirteen years, WISER has maintained a 0% drop-out rate a major achievement especially when we had many girls drop out of school during and after the COVID 19 pandemic. WISER model of giving a supportive environment for young mothers to pursue their education has ensured that the 3% of young mothers are able to pursue their dreams and eventually transition to institutions of higher learning.

WISER goal of being a centre of excellence within Muhuru Bay, has led to continuous investment in the quality of education offered with a major focus on STEM, which aligns with the government strategy, the Vision 2030. On 8^th September we had one of our girls, Faith Francis emerge top in Computer Studies on the SWIBAS Bench Mark exams, a key statement and inspiration that girls can excel even in areas that were previously viewed as male dominated. Our girl led SRHR program has ensured that youth within Muhuru bay are equipped with health education that enables them make informed decisions leading to a decrease in teenage pregnancies and HIV infections. The provision of sanitary pads, Psychosocial support and other material needs for the girls have contributed to their well-being and stability.

WISER partnership and collaboration with government, local and international institutions have been instrumental in building our girls agency and ensuring that we have a cohort of leaders who are well equipped to transform their communities. During the months of May and June, WISER hosted a group of students from Duke University for learning and experience sharing. On August 31^st, WISER bade goodbye to the 1^st Principal of WISER girls, Madam Dorcas Oyugi after her retirement. Madam Dorcas has left a legacy that will be continued through the Deputy Principal who has taken over the leadership. WISER is therefore planning to have a fundraiser in the 4^th Quarter in honor of Madam Dorcas.

Your support has been instrumental in being able to keep WISER girls in school and actualize our believe that when girls thrive, we thrive! Thank you for all your support.

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This is WISER website where you can get up to date information

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May 26, 2023
WISER Continues to Empower Muhuru Bay, Kenya Girls

By Grace Murika | WISER Kenya Country Manager

The year 2023 started off as an important milestone for Kenya with the first cohort of pupils to adopt a new curriculum, the Competency-Based Curriculum entering Junior Secondary School. The new curriculum aims at learners constructing their own knowledge and skills through exposure to challenging situations and experience. It is learner-centered and adaptive to the changing needs of students by encouraging innovativeness and creativity. Learners explore and find solutions in classrooms that are connected to real-life situations. The government original plan was to have the Junior Secondary School which comprises of Grade 7, 8 and 9 hosted in secondary schools. However, a presidential working group on Education that was set up last September recommended that the Junior Secondary School to be domiciled in Primary School.

WISER had planned to enroll two cohorts of girls in January 2023, Grade 7 and Form 1. With the change of government policy, WISER continued with the old 8-4-4 system and admitted 57 new girls to the school. These are girls who come from low-income families who cannot manage to cater for the school fees for these girls. WISER has enhanced its efforts of offering quality education for these girls through a team of well-trained teachers, provision of education materials, sanitary pads, food, medical care, and psycho-social support. WISER has further built a system of partnership and collaboration that provides the girls with an opportunity to build their agency through exchange programs for learning and experience sharing. In February and March, WISER hosted a team of students from Switzerland and US respectively for the exchange and learning program.

WISER is considered a hub of excellence within Muhuru Bay, Migori County, Kenya. An assessment conducted by the Ministry of Education rated WISER highly and recommended the school among the few secondary schools that have the mandate to host the Junior Secondary School due to its state of art amenities and emphasis on STEM Education. The support that WISER has continued to receive from GlobalGiving and other donors has ensured that WISER is able to retain this high standard and 100% of the girls are retained in the school through their 4 years of learning. In January, we received the KCSE results of the girls who sat for their exams in December 2023. 100% of these girls will be transitioning to university and tertiary institutions later this year. With the challenges that many schools are facing ranging from incomplete classrooms, lack of laboratories and learning materials, the support that WISER receives cannot be underestimated. Our girls are assured of a conducive and safe environment, have access to well trained teachers and are provided with holistic interventions that contribute immensely towards their well-being.

Thank you for all your support.

http://wisergirls.org

Links:

WISER International website

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Dec 27, 2022
Wrapping up 2022 with gratitude and the 12 days of WISER

By Michelle Gherardi | Acting Executive Director

Principal and students in front of new library

Join WISER International, our staff, board members, and (especially!) the students, as we celebrate the astounding accomplishments of 2022!

On the first day of WISER we celebrate the 56 girls who graduated from WISER Secondary School in the spring.

One the second day of WISER we are so proud that 61.4% of WISER student's qualified for university in the spring national exam. That's 3.5 times higher than the national average.

One the third day of WISER we celebrate that we doubled the access to clean water for the greater Muhuru Bay community.

On the fourth day of WISER we celebrate that we built a library and multi-use community space.

On the fifth day of WISER we celebrate that we built four new classrooms.

On the sixth day of WISER we celebrate that we built two new volunteer houses.

On the seventh day of WISER we celebrate that we built seven new teacher and staff houses.

On the eighth day of WISER we celebrate that we built one new dormitory that will sleep 120 students.

On the ninth day of WISER we celebrate all of our new buildings meeting the ADA/KDA standards for accessibility, including the newly built restroom block.

On the tenth day of WISER we celebrate the 60 new girls who will start at WISER in January 2023!

On the eleventh day of WISER we celebrate that of the 60 new girls, seven new Ogiek students will start at WISER, increasing the total number of these indigenous students to 17. All of which have individual donor sponsors for their school fees.

On the twelfth day of WISER we celebrate the relaunching of our website, designed, and programmed by Kenyan women! We continue to engage female business consultants to help us with our virtual and social media presence, and fundraising campaigns.

None of this would have been possible without YOU! From all of us at WISER, thank you for your donations and ongoing commitment to our students.

Wishing you all happy holidays and a prosperous new year!

WISER Team in front of volunteer houses

Country Mgr Grace giving career guidance to form 4

New teacher and staff houses

New dormitory will sleep 120 students

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