By Alison Drain | Executive Director
WISER International is a nonprofit 501c3 community development organization that supports education, health, and economic development activities in Muhuru Bay, Kenya with the main focus of empowering girls. Our flagship program is a secondary boarding school for girls.
Why WISER?
WISER’s mission is to empower girls through health and education.
Before WISER, only one girl from Muhuru Bay in 30 years attended a university. Now, 85% of WISER alumni attend higher education and many have the opportunity to study in STEM fields. WISER is committed to high quality STEM education for girls and our students outcompete boys.
WISER takes a holistic approach to the boarding school environment. Unlike other schools in the area, WISER provides everything a girl needs to be successful including – clothes, books, safe housing, female role models, leadership training, healthy food, mosquito nets, HIV education, and essential medicine. The program includes psychological support and counseling, as one third of our students are orphans. In addition, sexual abuse is common in the Kenya education system and many students have histories of trauma. Teachers, staff, and administration live on campus with the girls, providing them with guidance and support throughout the year.
WISER has also implemented community health programs including – information about sexual and reproductive health, HIV testing and counseling, sanitary pad provision to over 400 girls, sustainable gardening, and clean drinking water for 5,000 people.
WISER girls have all the tools to become empowered and successful global citizens.
What Is Happening Now?
The WISER boarding school is under construction to double WISER’s enrollment from 120 to 240 and provide — a new science lab, more student and teacher housing, and an event hall to host community events.
WISER is also expanding its Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs and planning additional outreach into the community.
WISER’s Impact
85% of all WISER girls attend college or university.
WISER has had three graduating classes since opening its doors in 2010.
30% of the WISER girls are orphans.
Unlike the 70% attrition due to pregnancy in neighboring schools, the WISER secondary school has had zero attrition.
Despite taking low performing students, the WISER secondary school is ranked in the top 5% of private secondary schools in Kenya.
In 2016, the first class of WISER girls will be graduating from a university.
Meet Carol
Carol was fearful she would never go to school due to the death of her father and her mother’s long-term sickness. WISER has made her hopeful again.
“I want to go out and get a job, a successful one, and bring my siblings back to school,” she said.
Meet Christine
Christine is a member of WISER’s second graduating class.Currently a student at Kenyatta University, Christine is the first member of her entire family to attend a university.
She hopes to one day become a teacher.
Thank You Donors!
On behalf of the WISER Internatiaonl board of directors, we would like to thank you for your loyalty to the WISER girls. Because of your donations, girls have access to everything they need to succeed. Their success is your success! Thank you!
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