Education Kenya Project #7044

Educate girls and fight poverty in Kenya

by Women's Global Education Project

Educate girls and fight poverty in Kenya

Project Report | May 24, 2012
WGEP visits Kenya program

By Amy Maglio | Founder and Executive Director

Women's Global Education Project recently visited our Kenya project in rural Tharaka, and returned with a renewed belief in the power of education to change lives!

"The trip was exciting, fun, hot, exhausting, exhilarating, inspiring, and humbling," says WGEP Executive Director Amy Maglio. "More than anything, it reinforced for us the impact--and great need--for our project and for what we are doing in the Tharaka region of Kenya."

Amy visited Tharaka last February with WGEP Board President Joan Sherman and WGEP Intern (and current Kenya Peace Corps Volunteer) Hayley Webster.

Amy reports on some of the highlights of the trip:

10 days in Tharaka, Kenya. "We met with our amazing staff, Aniceta and Rael, went to classes with our scholars, participated in after-school tutoring, joined Boys and Girls Molding Club sessions, sat with scholar moms in their adult literacy class, spoke at community meetings--basically talked to everyone we could about girls and education!"

Saw the difference that education can make in the lives of girls in Kenya and their families. "We heard directly from our scholars' families about how our programs help them overcome the challenges they face in educating their girls. We also saw how the lack of access to education can severely limit opportunities--and therefore just how important our work is in this region."

Witnessed the impact of our work on the broader community. "There is more support for women and girls in the villages where we work. More families are sending their girls to school, there are more women in leadership roles, and it is slowly becoming the norm for girls and their families to refuse genital cutting!"

Saw the effects of the East Africa drought and famine. "Rains finally came in January, which helped alleviate the immediate problems in Tharaka--hopefully they will keep coming. Many thanks to everyone who helped us send food aid over to our scholars and families--it really helped them over the hump until the rains came."

Getting to know our amazing scholars and graduates. "Our scholars and grads are truly inspiring! Many of them have overcome huge challenges and barriers to go to school and succeed academically. WGEP is proud to be helping them achieve their dreams of becoming teachers, doctors, midwives, lawyers, engineers, pilots, and someday, perhaps even president of Kenya!"

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