1000 Kibera slum girls empowered to excel

20 year old Rita Waeni was found dead and her body dismembered, her social media conversation with  the alleged purpetrator indicated that she was innocently lured into the trap, at some point she asked the alleged perpetrator if he wanted to kill her, she later died. 5 other young women had been killed within 2 months and Kenyan women were very angry.

Polycom was among the organizations which came together to organize the big March calling upon the Kenyan authorities to protect women and the government to declare femicide a disaster.

Polycom used our unrestricted fund from GlobalGiving to factilitate 200 young women and 50 young men to participate in the march.

We also supported 4 girls to get back to school in January, we are keen on ensuring that the girls do not lack their toiletries as they go to school. This is the only unrestircted source of funding supporting out girls, their famillies and the entire community in unplanned emergencies.

Links:

• BBC NEWS ON THE NAIROBI MARCH

Kenyan school calendar has 3 holidays, April, August and December when schools are closed for the end year, and children move to the next classes come January. 3rd academic term of 2023 started in September with every child is expected to pay all their pending fee balance before being admitted back to school, incase cannot clear the balance then they are not allowed in the school compound.

In September Polycom had 4 girls who could not be allowed back to school, all of them were from boarding schools and were very sad being at home while other students were in school and studying. 2 of them being students in their last year in high school would come to Polycom offces everyday to find a friend to talk to. They had no idea where to get the money, this thought this was the end of thier education.

Polycom through GlobalGiving's unrestricted funds managed to clear fee arrears of the girls who managed to get back to school in the 2nd week of the term. "I will one day give back to Polycom,," Stacy affirmed as she picked her school fees slip. For another girl Rose, even after the school fees her family could not afford any shopping for her, she had only one bar soap and and tissue for her shopping, no body oil, bathing soap, shoe polish, sanitary towels which are necesities for every student, but was still glad that she had her school fees. These are some challenges that limit unpriviledged girls from performing well in school. They are more worried about their poverty status than the education project.

We did it for the girls because of your generous contributions.. We love you and wish you the best as you continue to support our girls.