Girls Raising Hands

GIRLS RAISING HANDS, Urban Promise International

Did you know 23% of school-age girls in Kenya drop out of school? Some drop out because they have no money to pay for health needs like sanitary pads, money for tuition or uniforms, forced marriage, FGM-female genital mutilation, and even parental drug abuse. They miss class, then get behind and won’t participate. So they won’t raise their hands in class. Some of the girls are so desperate, they have admitted to selling their bodies to pay for school or other necessities.

We need to stop this cycle, so I am raising my hand.

My name is Beatrice Wangai Njeru and I was once one of those girls. I too had no access to sanitary pads. I would use newspapers during my menses. I graduated from high school 4 years late – stopping to get jobs to pay for my tuition and personal needs, but I did it. I graduated from Kenyatta University and now I work for YouthPromise Kenya https://www.youthpromisekenya.org/ in Embu, Kenya. I currently have a fellowship from UrbanPromise International to study at Cairn University in New Jersey for a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. My goal is to set up a charity within YouthPromise Kenya to help as many girls as possible to stay in school in Embu.

That is why I am asking for seed money from donors like you to help get us started.

Our goal is to raise an initial $12,000 through private donations and grants. This will provide girls with a health package containing things like soap, tooth brush, underpants, sanitary pads, and funds to supplement their tuition. Additional funds will go toward the purchase of sewing machines to teach the girls to sew and computers to set up a cyber-cafe. Ultimately we will work to become more self-sustaining by selling sewing projects, renting out computer time and by writing grants.

Every girl has a right to an education and to maintain their dignity by continuing their education, regardless of the reason. We want to support our girls and keep them raising their hands.