Empower Her, Empower our Society

Girls sharing knowledge...

The International Women's Day that was celebrated early this month and it provided a platform for many stakeholders to opine on the suffering of women today and celebrate the successes the fight for gender equality has brought so far. However, much is yet to be done as our women have not yet been freed from the yokes of culturally institutionalized servitude.
One of the basic issues that indeed need much attention is the intellectual empowerment of our girls. A better and improved education system that would incorporate fairness. It is true that our girls are tirelessly fighting for their rights and it is high time the society came out strongly to help them in this fight.
I am writing this with the girl child living in the slums of Kibera in my mind.
A look at the school attendance in Kibera and there is a clear indication of massive dropouts reported, especially in high school. Even among the dropouts, girls are more than boys and when this happens, girls resort to getting married at an early age or engage in activities that are, in most cases, limited to utilizing what they readily have (their bodies) definitely ruining their future. Boys on the other hand have a wide range of options as most activities that require no skills are more often masculine in nature.
Revising our education syllabus to include instilling basic skills would help in giving girls more option. It is only through education that our girls will not be submissive to culturally dictated aspects that undermine their empowerment.
At the Children of Kibera Foundation we stand with the girls in their quest for a better future.

• 15- the total number of students who have graduated in high school through the CoKF Scholarship Program
• EIGHT of them are girls
• THREE are currently studying at United States International University (Nairobi), Kenyatta University and Stanstead College (Canada)
• FIVE are awaiting admissions to university

 WE EDUCATE KIBERA'S FUTURE. Help us in giving the girls a reason to feel as special members of our society as they truly are.
 

Schools have to lead the way to providing protective and productive assets to girls- 

Sajeda Amin, Population Council