Support Pastoralist Girl Mentorship in Rural Kenya

Pastoralist Girls Mentorship Program – Progress Report

We are pleased to share the progress made during the first quarter of 2026 through the Pastoralist Girls Mentorship Program. With the support of our partners and donors, we continued to invest in girls' education, protection, skills development, and advocacy for children's rights across Marsabit County.

Expanding Access to Education

Education remains at the heart of our intervention. During the reporting period, six vulnerable girls received direct sponsorship support through the provision of school fees, enabling them to remain in school and continue pursuing their education without interruption.

In addition, through our innovative Food for Fees initiative, 184 girls benefited from school fee waivers valued at KES 3,680,000. This intervention continues to provide a practical solution for families facing economic hardship, ensuring that girls are not forced to drop out of school due to the inability to pay fees. By reducing financial barriers, more girls are staying in school, improving attendance and strengthening their prospects for a better future.

Building Skills and Strengthening Protection

To strengthen community-led efforts to protect girls and women, we trained 40 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Champions drawn from different villages. The champions are now better equipped to identify, prevent, and respond to cases of gender-based violence while promoting positive social norms within their communities.

We also supported 23 girls through the TVET Mashinani initiative, providing them with technical and vocational skills training. The training is helping young women acquire practical skills that enhance their employability, reduce vulnerability, and promote economic self-reliance. Through these opportunities, the girls are gaining confidence and building pathways toward sustainable livelihoods.

Advocacy and Community Engagement

Advocacy remains a critical pillar of the program as we work to address harmful practices and champion children's rights.

During the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), we collaborated with the county government and other stakeholders to raise awareness on the fight against FGM. The event provided an important platform for engaging communities, reinforcing the message that every girl has the right to live free from harmful practices and to realize her full potential.

We also participated in the launch of the Day of the African Child 2026 commemorations in partnership with the National Council for Children's Services, the Children's Department, and other stakeholders. The event was held at SKM Primary School in Marsabit and focused on the theme of ensuring universal access to water and sanitation services.

The public event brought together more than 2500 participants, including children, community members, government representatives, and development partners. A key highlight was the submission of a children's petition calling on government institutions to strengthen measures that ensure accessible water and sanitation services for all children in Kenya and across Africa. The event amplified children's voices and demonstrated the importance of collective action in advancing their rights and well-being.

Looking Ahead

As we move into the next quarter, we remain committed to empowering pastoralist girls through education, mentorship, skills development, and advocacy. We are grateful to all our supporters whose contributions continue to create opportunities for vulnerable girls and help build safer, more inclusive communities where every girl can thrive.