Protect and Empower Rural Kenyan Girls

    An important element of Kenya Keys’ Girl Empowerment Program is providing sponsorships to girls who otherwise would never get an education, and are threatened with being sold into marriage or worse. The need is tremendous, and though we can’t help everyone, every one we do help has a story. Here Rinda shares one of those stories:

    There is no more beautiful moment possible than awarding a sponsorship to a girl who treasures an education above all else.  In recent months Kenya Keys has been able to bless many girls with sponsorships, but the power of this gift is best understood through the story of one girl.
 
    Esther, age 20, is a sophomore (Form 2) in high school.  Her age alone reflects the severe difficulty she has experienced getting this far in school.  She was born to illiterate parents who have struggled with the challenges of abject poverty in rural Kenya.  Esther is one of seven children, which has made it near impossible for her to get through school, despite her bright mind and deep love of learning.  But her determination has carried her beyond all odds.  She became the top girl in her primary school, despite having to often miss school to work for the family.  Much to her dismay, she also had to remain out of school for two years after finishing primary school (8th grade).  But in 2016 the principal of the high school allowed her to return to school in hopes her parents could come up with the fees.  Esther has lived with the constant threat of being kicked out of school because of lack of payment.  She was only allowed to remain because of her high marks and work ethic.
 
    Last June, her principal approached Kenya Keys pleading that we find a sponsor for this outstanding girl.  It was the happiest day of Esther’s life when she was told that she had been accepted as a Kenya Keys student.  Her entire life was to change!  She was assured that if she maintained her grades and her contribution as a leader  she would not only be able to get through high school, but college as well.  Such a gift was beyond her wildest dreams!  She had always hoped to become a doctor, but had never dared to hold on to the dream of even finishing her education.
 
    That’s what Kenya Keys does – makes dreams come true for girls like Esther.  The girls provide the desire, the motivation and the commitment and Kenya Keys provides the key to unlock their potential. 

   Thank you for being part of this great program, for making it possible for Kenya Keys to open the doors for these girls, and for letting them dare to dream.  

Links:

• For more inspiring stories, visit our Blog

You, who have generously supported Kenya Keys’ girl empowerment projects, are no strangers to the enormous challenges faced by girls in Kenya. And you’ve probably heard about the widespread drought and famine in eastern Africa. Famines are hard on everyone, but they too often have particularly devastating consequences for girls. 

The desperation of their circumstances often drives fathers to sell their daughters into early marriage to purchase much-needed food for their families. Girls with no access to assistance, may feel that prostitution is the only way to provide food for themselves. And even the lucky girls who escape these challenges still find it even more difficult than usual to stay in school because lack of food and water places an added burden on girls to complete household tasks.

Over the last several months, we have learned of a considerable increase in the number of girls in primary school (yes, as young as that) sold into marriage or becoming pregnant. Fortunately, the girls in Kenya don’t have to face these challenges alone. 

Thanks to your generous support, our Kenya Keys team is well-equipped to provide needed resources to help the girls overcome their challenges. A team of interns from the U.S., led by Directors Rinda and Brent Hayes, just arrived in Kenya. They will be meeting with our Usalama (safety) team and with the SOS (Save Our Sisters) girls group leaders to assess girls needs, schedule girl empowerment conferences and mentoring events, distribute sanitary kits to the girls, and identify additional female role models who can help girls stay in school and realize their potential.

Significantly, two of the original founders of the SOS group, who are currently attending college through Kenya Keys’ sponsorships, are coming back to the village to inspire the girls and reignite their passion for education and girls programs. Caroline and Lydia are eager to work with girls to help them find solutions to the problems they face. Who better than these bright and capable women who are clear examples of what girls are capable of, to mentor the village girls to raise their sights and pursue their dreams? 

With the funding you have provided, the vision of strong female role models who understand the challenges girls face, and their own determination to create a bright future, our girls have everything they need to overcome their challenges and change the world around them. 

Links:

• Watch Lydia and Caroline ignite girls enthusiasm and confidence