We are sending marginalized rural girls from Kisumu Kenya to high school and eventually to University. These girls have been studying at Akili Preparatory School for girls since 2012 and are now transitioning to high school in July 2021. We believe that by giving them scholarships to access quality high school education, we are empowering them to achieve their dreams and lift themselves and their families out of poverty.
Approximately 85% of primary school age children in western Kenya are enrolled in school but only about 1/3rd of them finish school. Drop out rates are typically higher for rural girls who experience challenges of early sexual debut and marriages, transactional sex for lifts to school, food and sanitary products as well as gender based violence at home. Inhibitory costs of purchasing school supplies, books, uniforms and exam fees deter parents from taking their children to school.
The Akili Girls Scholarship Fund seeks to eliminate these barriers and keep girls in school to improve their agency and empower them to achieve their full potential. We will provide these girls with all they need to thrive including school tuition fees, mentorship, sanitary pads, school uniforms, supporting school lunch programs and giving girls bicycles to cycle to school.
We believe that Education is the only way out of poverty for these marginalized rural girls and a platform they will use to create community led change once they graduate. Our goal is to improve girls' agency through life skills mentorship, leadership skills training, guidance and counseling . We look forward to an empowered community of girls and women with the agency to realize their dreams and support not only themselves but also their families and community at large.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
