Kenya

Jackline // 16 years old

"I as Jackline, I join this institution in 2010 when Josephine Kulea came and rescued me in my village (lovuko) with other girls. I was then rescued while I was already marriage and unfortunately had one kid, but then it was hard for me to adopt the life without my kid near me. I was taken to St. Clare Girls Center and that is where I started my education and took long for me to catch up with other pupils because by then I was already older than the ones I was sharing the same class with."

Nairboi

My first night in Rwanda, I met a professor from Nevada that was traveling to Kenya with three of his students through a grant from the UN. They came to help with programming and public health services for a camp for an organization called the Samburu Girls Foundation. They needed extra support running the workshops and helping the girls, so after learning about the organization and the women who run it, it seemed like too amazing of an opportunity to pass up. Plot twist (again): I canceled my plans to Uganda and booked a flight to Nairobi, Kenya.

The Samburu Girls Foundation has rescued over 200 girls from child marriage, female genital mutiliation (FGM) and beading (practice where girls aged 8-12 are sold/engaged to older men for sexual purposes only). Once rescued, the girls get matched with sponsors to fund their education. At the camp, I got to experience Kenyan culture and the people in ways I never expected to. I got to learn about the stories of the girls, help digitize the stories to help the girls find sponsors, teach workshops, eat traditional meals with the staff, and play with the girls. The stories of these girls speak for themselves -- they're very emotional and often tough to fathom. The organization is in the process of reworking their website to feature the girls' stories, but I featured a few below if you're interested in really understanding the circumstances that these girls are rescued from. These young women are some of the most resilient people I have ever met in my life, and I feel pretty damn lucky to have been opened up to their lives. Please reach out to me if you're interested in learning more about how to sponsor a girl's education and opportunity!

Website: http://www.samburugirls.foundation/

Ann // 17 years old

"What has brought me to Samburu Girls Foundation is that when I finished my exam of Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, my brother told my mother that the girl must get married because there is no fee to high school. I was to be given an old man who is about 60 years old and my mother did not have an authority to refuse. She just called my headteacher and informed about the story. I planned to run out of home but my headteacher called me at school and told me do not discourage because I got a school for you. I just only told my mother and she find me transport to Maralal where I known my mum Josephine Kulea. My mum rescued me from early marriage. The old man prepared for a wedding but it failed. That is how I join Samburu Girls Foundation."

Jackline Lekionbo // 16 years old

Regina // 16 years old

"My parents died when I was in primary. I was brought up with my grandmother who is now very old. I finished my KCPE and I managed to get 311 marks. When it was time to go to secondary I was not able to pay my school fees because my grandmother didn’t work or none of my family members want to pay for me. So I stay at home but in God grace my elder sister who had finished her secondary school because she was sponsored by Samburu Girls Foundation told me that you would go to secondary because foundation which sponsors me is ready to sponsor you too and I was glad. That is what brought me to this foundation and to be here. I thank God."

Maureen // 17 years old

"My father and my mother died when I was in class five. They left me with my brother and my sister. I was the one to take care of them. In class six I dropped out of school to take care of them. I worked as house help but I decided again to back to school. After class eight I got 315 but at that time I didn’t have school fees to go to high school. I stayed for two month without going to school then decided to repeat class eight and at that time after my class eight I got 290 but still I didn’t have school fees and I was going work as a house help. So one day the man that I was working for decided to marry me since I wanted to continue with school. I ran to one of my neighbor since she knows mum Josephine Kulea. She called her and told her my story and then mum takes me to high school. I thank God and mum Kulea. Now I am working hard so that I will help two of my siblings and other children that passing the situation that I pass."

Nancy // 16 years old

"I came to Samburu Girls Foundation to learn new things like education from people who have experience more than me. Another thing is for mentorship, for career guidance, and also to see mum Kulea and mum Wanjiru, Naibash and uncle Samuel and all other people who are supporting us as Samburu girls in terms of education, and any other important things. What brought me to Samburu girls is my parents did not have money to take me to school and because I did well in my KCPE my teachers decided to get me a sponsor who can help me in my education and finally God gave me Kulea Klhom am proud of her, thank you very much."

Madinah // 17 years old

"We are a family of six children. My father passed away when I was one year old. I am the fourth child of my family. When I finished my primary education, my parents did not have money to take me to school so that I get to proceed with my education. So they decided to marry me off to another old man, but they didn’t tell me. It was a secret to them, so they told me to go pay a visit to my elder sister. When I was at the bus stop I saw a man by the name Joseph who was standing next to me. I was shocked since he even knew my name. He called me by my name and asked me about the story, but I didn’t have a hint, so he told me everything but I did not believe him. When I arrived at my sisters I forced her to tell me the truth and finally she told me, and they even had the dowry for me. So I was to relax during that holiday and then by January I was to get married. The man I was to marry is someone I cannot forget my whole life. Then I was taken by that man named Joseph Wandereva, and he introduced me to mum Wanjiru Wahome then I was taken by Samburu Girls Foundation, and now I am still in school and I am really glad for that change. Thank you so much Samburu Girls Foundation. If I was not rescued I could have had three children by now if I am not mistaken."

Jackline Kuya // 17 years old

"My story is that my father who was working as a butcher lost his job and he was the breadwinner of the family. My mother was working in a certain hotel, but she could not be able to support us. We lack food, and also some basic needs. When I finished my class, I had no money to go to school. I stayed out of school for two weeks before mum Kulea decided to help me. Now I am in school and being supported by mum Kulea."