Protect and Empower Rural Kenyan Girls

It is almost 80 degrees outside late at night in the village of Taru, Kenya. All is quiet with the exception of an occasional bleat of a goat or crowing of a confused rooster. But inside is a different story. It is much hotter here, with the air stagnant and the added body heat of hundreds of teenage girls!

We are in the Taru Girls Secondary School dormitory where the excitement is at an all-time high. Whispers and giggles surround us as we go from room to room, barely able to squeeze our way through the crowded maze of bunk beds and trunks. Over 200 girls are crammed into the dorm, built three years ago by the Kenyan government to house only eighty.

The girls, each joyful and proud to be accepted into secondary school, came to Taru Girls school with their simple green and white uniforms and, for those fortunate enough, one trunk with all of their belongings. At only 15 years old, this is the first time for most of them to be out of their villages and away from their families.

These 9th-grade girls are crowded into the small dormitory with the upper class girls. Additional bunk beds have been moved into every space possible, including the hallways. The girls have to sleep two to a small bed, with their trunks piled high in a corner or perched on the end of their beds, as there is little room on the floor. With no space for desks or tables, their school papers are kept under their mattresses.

So why are these girls so happy? What is the excitement that can be felt just by walking into the crowded rooms? Kenya Keys’ leaders have just brought them great news: the new dormitory being built next door to theirs will be finished soon! As they peer out their small windows, they can see the white brick foundation, and marvel at how big it looks. Each day, on their way to classes, they watch the progress, filled with anticipation of having their own bed to sleep in and space to study.

As Kenya Keys delves further into ways we can support and empower girls in rural Kenya, the importance of dormitories has become paramount. The barriers to an education for girls here are many and burdensome. Most girls are given extensive responsibilities at home, including childcare, farming and fetching firewood and water. This, combined with the challenges of menstruation, makes it difficult for girls to study or stay in school. Life is hard in rural Kenya, food is scarce and hunger is common. As girls become teenagers, they may be encouraged to earn money providing favors for passing truckers, or be given away in early marriage to meet the financial needs of the family. Even the act of going to school carries extreme risks for girls. Abuse, rape and animal attacks are too common as girls walk miles to school each day. It is heartbreaking – but it doesn’t have to be this way!

Living in a dormitory at school assures that these young girls will be able to attend classes every day, have a safe place to study and sleep each night, and be fed three meals every day. Each dorm has a matron to support these young girls as they go through all the transitions experienced during this time in their lives. At the new Taru Girls dormitory the girls will be provided the essential support, advice and encouragement to work hard, achieve their potential and pursue their goals.

This dormitory is more than just a building – it is a refuge, a support system and an empowering place from which to dream big and plan for the future. And soon it will be home to these amazing, deserving girls. Now that is something to giggle about!

The building of the Taru Girls dormitory was made possible through your donations to our Girl Empowerment fund and private donations. It is our goal to also provide bunk beds for each girl and sufficient bathroom facilities. Your donations are appreciated and will help assure the continued achievements of these girls.