With our partner organization, the Indigenous Information Network, MADRE supports the Nanyori Shelter Network, a group of six shelters that feed and care for hundreds of girls who have escaped forced early marriage and FGM. Grateful Kenyan mothers have named these school shelters the "Nanyori" Network, which means "You Are Loved." The shelters also serve as boarding schools, providing girls from Indigenous communities in rural Kenya with a safe and protected environment to pursue their educati
For Kenyans living in extreme poverty, a girl's dowry is an important source of income, and many parents turn to child marriage, which traditionally involves female genital mutilation, as a means of economic survival. These young girls face a multitude of health risks, both psychological and physical, which deprive them of the chance to create income, receive an education or become fully engaged members of society.
Young girls are provided with a safe haven from forced early marriage and FGM. Girls and families are educated on their human rights through trainings facilitated by the shelter network. Girls build their confidence through support networks and new friendships. Girls receive guidance and psychosocial support through peer-counseling sessions and begin to heal from emotional trauma. Girls are given the skills and education to play an active role in obtaining employment and tackling povert
Investing in adolescent education for girls plays a direct role in breaking the cycle of poverty across generations, and is vital in the protection of girls' emotional and social development while providing them with opportunities for the future. Additionally, the clean water tanks at the Kilgoris Girls' School reduce the time and risk of collecting water, and allow these girls more time to focus on their education.
