Educate girls and fight poverty in Kenya

Earlier this month, nearly 300 adolescent girls from rural Tharaka, Kenya graduated Women's Global Education Project's Alternative Rite of Passage program. The December 7th ceremony joyously welcomed the young women into adulthood safely—without undergoing traditional female genital mutilation (FGM). The graduates performed beautiful songs, dances, speeches, and skits to the delight of their proud families, friends, government leaders and teachers. In fact, over 600 people attended the ceremony, danced, and celebrated the girls’ decision not to undergo FGM!

The ceremony was the culmination of a whole week of thorough workshops. The daily classes covered every crucial reproductive health topic from STIs to pregnancy; every interpersonal issue from dating to consent; every aspect of female empowerment from self esteem to career advice; and everything in between!

“Some of the girls were so shy when they arrived, they barely spoke the first day of classes. But then we talked about building self esteem and confidence. They started opening up. By the end, they were raising their hands during lessons on the dangers of female genital mutilation, and even following me out of class to ask more questions about their reproductive health!” - Kellen, ARP trainer and host school director

Traditionally, when a rural Kenyan girl is around 12 years old, she is forced to face the knife and therefore be seen in the eyes of her community as a woman, ready for marriage and childbearing. She drops out of school and starts a family. Her path is decided for her. But the Alternative Rite of Passage program gives this girl a new option. By avoiding the harmful tradition, she is able to stay in school -- and decide, for herself, her own future.