Educate girls and fight poverty in Kenya

Thank you for supporting Women's Global Education Project and our Sisters to School program in Kenya! Your support helps WGEP provide critical scholarships to hundreds of girls in rural Kenya, girls who otherwise would not have the chance to go to school.

One of these scholars is 19-year-old Elosy who graduated high school last year. Elosy was a WGEP scholar for 4 years during high school, participated in our after-school Molding Clubs from grades 5 through 8, and went through our ARP program to counter FGM/C when she was 14. As a scholar, Elosy received support in the form of school fees, monthly toiletry supplies, tutoring, mentoring and lodging. During our most recent field trip to Kenya, we met with Elosy and learned more about her experience as a WGEP scholar:

Education is important because it gives you more opportunities for a better life and it gives you the power to transform your community. I am so thankful for this gift you have given me. It’s rare that someone can give you something that no one can take away from you. I will be attending Kirinyaga University in the fall, working towards a bachelor's degree in Commerce. With an education, I can go anywhere and I want to make a change wherever I go.

Thank you for supporting WGEP scholars like Elosy!

Links:

• WGEP website
• WGEP Facebook page

WGEP employs a holistic and comprehensive approach to dismantling the barriers that limit girls' access to education. In addition to our scholarship program for primary, secondary and university students, we also provide complementary interventions including tutoring, mentoring, health workshops and community outreach. One of our most impactful community outreach programs is our Women's Literacy program.

Each year, over 400 women in Kenya participate in WGEP's Women's Literacy classes. Women join these classes in order to gain reading, writing and numeracy skills to help their daughters with their homework in addition to improving their own lot in life. With these skills, mothers become mentors for their daughters and demonstrate the importance of education and literacy.

Women in our literacy classes have also noted an increased sense of independence as a result of their participation in these classes. As Tabitha notes,

I can now go to the market and sell my goods alone. I used to ask my neightbor to go with me because I was afraid people would take advantage of my inability to read and count by underpaying me.

Women are also gaining confidence in public speaking. From Lucy:

Before the class, I could not speak in front of many people. Now I feel comfortable sharing my views at large community meetings.

In addition to teaching women basic literacy and numeracy skills, our Women's Literacy classes are improving women's confidence and increasing their independence. As a result, women are more active in public life and their voices are being heard.

Thank you for supporting WGEP programs like Women's Literacy!

Links:

• WGEP website
• WGEP Facebook page