Equip rural Kenyan girls to GET UP out of poverty

Recently, as the annual GET UP retreat for secondary school girls came to a close, 16 year old Regina complained, “Did it have to end so soon?” Her question was echoed by many of the 75 girls attending the event, for whom the yearly get-away is a rare opportunity to leave responsibilities behind and have time for themselves.

During the weekend, the girls attended seminars on self-care, study skills and life skills. They participated in group and individual counseling sessions, and participated in discussions on topics ranging from teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases to children’s rights.

However, as valuable as the formal program for the retreat was, most of the girls left feeling as Regina did: the best part of the weekend was the opportunity to be a part of a community of girls with similar life experiences. Each of the girls who participate in GET UP has an individual story of loss and hardship, and those difficult life experiences often leave the adolescent girls feeling isolated. The retreat weekend is an opportunity for the girls to support and console one another, and to realize that they are not alone.

Your support for GET UP makes events like the annual retreat possible. On behalf of Regina and the other girls, we thank you!

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• Global Interfaith Partnership
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Caroline's parents died when she was young.  She and her younger siblings moved in with their grandmother, but the grandmother's own frail health meant Caroline had a lot of responsibility taking care of the family.  In spite of these challenges, Caroline was the top performing student of her class throughout primary school. With tuition support from the Umoja Project, she was able to go to high school, and again she excelled.  However, in her third year, she disappeared from school one day.  After weeks of trying to trace her, the Umoja Project staff found her staying with a distant relative with her newborn son.  She was ashamed of the circumstances that led to her pregnancy and assumed she would not be able to complete her schooling.

To Caroline's surprise, Umoja Project staff and school teachers worked together to make sure Caroline could resume her education.  A relative provides care for baby Charles while Caroline studies.  Back in school, Caroline quickly resumed her position at the top of her class, and has held onto it ever since. Caroline is currently in her last year of high school and is expected to perform exceedingly well, perhaps even setting a school record for her score on the national exam she will take in November!

Caroline is a soft spoken leader who presents herself with confidence. Her big, warm smile is accompanied by dimples. She says she loves her dimples, which is a small glimpse into the self-acceptance and courage of this young woman.

GET UP is critical for girls like, giving them confidence and the opportunity to see beyond challenges they currently face. Teachers, guardians and former Umoja students lead sessions on a variety of topics such as coping with emotions, legal rights and reproductive health. The attention given to the girls and the unique struggles they face gives a message to Caroline and her friends that they matter. Knowing they matter inspires them to speak up in class, to value themselves and to dream. 

Your support for young girls like Caroline equips them with the information and the confidence needed to overcome challenges they face due to their vulnerability.  We thank you for your support!

Links:

• Global Interfaith Partnership