By Emma Wen | Annual Fund Officer
As part of our holistic model, Kakenya's Dream attends to our students’ physical, mental, academic, and psychosocial needs, believing that a girl’s whole self must be empowered for lasting change. Last fall, our staff conducted a mental health awareness campaign for students at our boarding schools. Our in-house school counselor carried out mental health screenings while staff at our adjacent health clinic provided ongoing therapy for students interested in these services. Our integration of mental health education and resources is rare among similar rural schools and is one of the differentiating factors that help our students thrive.
The final term for the 2024 Kenyan school year ran from August to October. In November, our sixth and twelfth grade students sat for their standardized national exams, which assess their cumulative primary and secondary school knowledge, respectively. To celebrate the girls’ hard work throughout the year, we held prayer days before the exams, bringing parents and teachers together on campus. In a community where less than two out of three girls finish primary school and educating girls is not seen as a priority, these events encourage families to invest in their daughters’ education and relay the significance of academic milestones. By integrating families and parents into our education programming, we shift social norms to value girls’ education and solidify community buy-in for our work. As a result of our multifaceted approach, 100% of our students complete their primary and secondary education!
Alongside their academics, the girls held student government elections for the 2025 school year. These extracurricular activities serve as important avenues for girls to exercise agency and leadership, both of which are critical skills needed to empower students and prepare them inside and outside the classroom. After the 2024 school year concluded, all students attended a one-week holiday training and mentorship program organized by grade level in November. The training sessions focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and mental health, while the mentorship component provided career guidance. Where we work, information on sexual and reproductive health is regarded as taboo and, when available, is distorted or inaccurate. The stigma and lack of resources contribute to higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancy, and other adverse health outcomes. These holiday trainings ensure students learn comprehensive SRHR education and have the chance to further develop their self-advocacy skills.
Thank you to the GlobalGiving community for your ongoing support and belief in the power of an educated girl! Together, we look forward to bringing life-changing education and opportunity to more vulnerable girls in 2025.
By Emma Wen | Annual Fund Officer
By Emma Wen | Annual Fund Officer
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser