HITAJI Girls' Education Fund

Make a difference by donating to HITAJI Development Initiative (HDI) girls' and women education in Migori County, Kenya.

I.  Many girls who are unable to continue with school end up on the streets where they become victims of HIV/AIDS, unwed mothers or risk being trafficked. I grew up in Migori therefore l know what it means to go hungry, walk for distances looking for food, water and above all, l know what it means to be discriminated against as a girl. I was fortunate to receive education because my father was a big believer in educating girls. This is not the case in many families, which will educate a boy first with any little money they can spare.

Empower a girl through education and you will change the world around her. Education is the key that opens many doors of opportunities!

66 million girls world wide do not have the chance to go to school. Girls from poor families in Migori County and in Kenya as a country, are faced with many challenges due to the complex social, political, traditional, and economical factors. Everything from marriage practices to disease, poverty, and seasonal labor requirements contribute to this catastrophe, which threatens the well-being of Hitaji sponsored girls. 

Why does it matter? Because today’s girls are tomorrow’s wives, mothers, caregivers, entrepreneurs, and leaders.  Because women are the key to ending the cycle of poverty. Because girls’ education leads to:

1. Higher Incomes: When girls learn to read, write, and do math, they’re more likely to enter the workforce and earn more when they do—up to 25 percent more.
2. Delayed Marriage and Fewer Children: When girls attend school, they delay marriage and children by several years.
3. Girls not in school typically marry early—often as young as 13–and begin having children. Staying in school through high school gives girls more choices.
4. Healthier Families: Educated girls grow up to have healthier children. Educated girls have fewer children and are better equipped to care for their children and families.
5. Reduced HIV/AIDS Risk: Studies show that girls who attend school are three times less likely to become HIV-positive.
6. Less Poverty: An educated girl, on average, spends 90 percent of her income on her family. She sends her own girls to school and contributes to her community.

We have several girls from very poor families who have applied for help but Hitaji is unable to meet all their financial needs for education. HDI is committed to providing educational scholarships and stipends to girls so that they could not only go to school but also stay in school. Beginning February 2014, HDI was able to partially sponsor 5 girls (Michele, Beryl, Millicent, Jennifal and Timoline) to secondary schools. They completed secondary school in November 2017. However, there is still greater need to send them to university and to assist a new cohort starting in January 2018 for another four years and beyond.  These girls are in need of school fees. The focus of the fund is on immediate, concrete, educational support.

$500 is the average amount of school fees for one girl for one school year
$25 is sufficient to provide a complete school uniform for 1 girl for one year
The cost includes two pairs of skirts, blouses, socks, sweaters, a tie, and a pair of shoes.
$25 is sufficient for all text books for 1 girl for a full year
Most schools require students to bring textbooks to school from a list provided by the schools
$150 is sufficient for all personal needs including sanitary care for 1 girl per year

Hitaji girls cannot afford proper school uniform, underwear, sanitary pads or clothes, and have no funds for books, pencils, and paper.

With financial support from donors like you we can help these girls get an education!. Any amount you can give will go a long way!

Note: HITAJI will send the funds directly to the school accounts where the girls attend school for and notification sent to you as the sponsor

II. The primary aim of the Women's  education program is to empower the women through income-generating projects, education and skill-training. The women have no access to finance from banking institutions therefore they are relying on micro-credit from Hitaji to start or finance their small businesses. HDI is providing finance and small business management courses to assist them. Funding will enable them to start their own business, generate an income and provide for their children and families. Educating and investing in young women in Migori County can break the cycle of poverty and disease plaguing their families. Hitaji is assisting in any area including counseling, skill-training and campaign/education development. We are also providing the women and girls with support services, and vocational training so they will gain the skills necessary to be able to generate their own income.

Please donate now to support these women and girls in order to better their lives and of their families.  Together we can change lives!

Thank you so very much!

Sincerely,

Asenath Dande, HDI Founder and CEO
www.hitajinitiative.org