MVET Institute is empowering vulnerable girls and women in Samburu County, Kenya, through education and sustainable economic opportunities. Many Samburu girls are at risk of dropping out of school due to poverty and early marriage. Our project keeps girls in school by providing access to education, mentorship, and a safe learning environment. At the same time, we economically empower women through greenhouse farming, kitchen gardens, table banking, financial literacy training, & improved housing
In this community, women shoulder immense responsibilities: building homes from mud and wood, caring for children alone, and walking long distances across dangerous terrains to fetch water. Early and forced marriages remain common, with many girls being married off to older men in exchange for livestock dowries. As a result, women and girls are trapped in cycles of poverty, abuse, and voicelessness. For decades, Samburu women have endured deep social inequality, depression, and exclusion.
In 2022, following community outreach by UCESCO-Africa, a group of local women came together to form a self-help collective. Their vision was clear: to build a supportive network that enables women to earn a living, educate their daughters. The EmpowerHer Initiative was born out of this reality, a collective effort by local women, supported by UCESCO- Africa, to reclaim their voices, gain economic independence, and foster social harmony in a region long deprived of both peace and opportunity
In just 3 years, the EmpowerHer Africa Samburu Chapter has transformed from a local idea into a movement that continues to inspire change across the region. Through collaboration with UCESCO-Africa, the program has achieved measurable milestones: Over 126 women have completed training in tailoring, beadwork, crocheting, and traditional crafts. Many now run small businesses that provide for their families.The project has also rescued 24 girls from early marriages, providing them with scholarships
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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