Turning Challenges into Triumphs: How the Endelea Initiative is Empowering Girls in Kuria with Education and Support
In the community, where dreams are usually surpassed by hardships, ten girls have embarked an extraordinary journey of change, all made possible by Girls Opportunity Alliance (GOA) through Endelea Initiative for Resilience and Growth Program under Safe Engage Foundation.
The Endelea Initiative for Resilience and Growth program drew its name from the Swahili word “Endelea,” meaning “to continue”, summarized the core of the mission: to provide adolescent girls with the necessary support and hope to persevere through life's challenges and adversities.
This initiative targeted girls and teen mother aged 10 to 19 who faced significant obstacles in their lives, including financial constraints, early marriages, and teenage pregnancies. In a world where dreams are often surpassed by harsh realities, the Endelea Initiative aimed to change the narrative for these young girls, empowering them to continue with their education and pursue their aspirations.
From many applicants, these ten girls with their unique stories of struggle and dreams were chosen. The process of selection was tough and soul-searching. It started with inviting applications, then personal interviews with the girls and their parents.
Later, SEF team made home visits to verify the facts stated in the application and interviews regarding their economic condition and to ensure that those selected truly deserved this life-changing opportunity. After completing all formalities, these ten girls were finally selected for scholarships, which will cover their school fees through Forms 3 and 4 as well as necessary stationery.
This scholarship is more than just a scholarship. It is a lifeline. In a community where limited resources, the looming threat of child marriages, and female genital mutilation (FGM) frequently conspire to put out the aspirations of young girls, education stands out as a very strong vehicle for ushering in this change. With this support these girls now have an opportunity to stay in school, continue with their education and set up a future free from those very same constraints that stunted generations before them.
These girls are not only going to emergent as successful students but emerging leaders. They will be trained and given the opportunity to build their capacity with specific leadership skills like public speaking, facilitation, and advocacy. As they grow, they will learn advocacy skills and take lead to advocate against harmful social norms and for gender equality as well as become champions while taking on the role of a role model in their community.
Each of these girls carries with her the hopes of her family and community. They have their plate full with challenges threatening to derail their education - poverty, pressure into early marriage, the risk of forced FGM. But they are breaking these barriers with the support of GOA.
One of the girls, Wankuru, shared her story: "When I felt like I had to drop out of school because we couldn't raise the fees and that made me feel hopeless but now am having a scholarship. I can continue with my studies, and now am aiming to be a doctor. I seek to inspire other girls in my community to be hopeful of themselves and stay in school."
Madam Eunice, Wankuru's class teacher at Butere Girls, shared her appreciation: "I really want to appreciate SEF for taking Wankuru and paying for her school fees. She is one of the students I was really worried about because, due to school fee constraints, she might not have been able to achieve her best. I am very happy with SEF for covering her fees. I know she is an A student, and with this Endelea Initiative for Resilience and Growth Scholarship, she will have time and peace to focus on her studies and reach that grade by the end of her four years at Butere Girls. I am a happy teacher, knowing what she was going through and the support you have given her.”
The Endelea Initiative for Resilience and Growth Scholarship is more than a scholarship program. It is a program that believes in the power of educating girls to transform societies, to build stronger economies, and to create more resilient communities. When girls are educated, everyone benefits. They're less likely to marry young, more capable of making informed choices and can contribute meaningfully into discussions which affect them.
In addition to the support from the GOA Fund, SEF will train an additional 10 teenage mothers in entrepreneurial skills to help them build themselves and overcome economic dependency, which often exposes them to gender-based violence. The training aims to help these young mothers reclaim their dreams and create a better future for themselves and their children.
The program will also reach out to over 100 community members to raise awareness of girls’ rights and ensure a supportive environment for girls to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. Through this holistic approach, SEF not only educates girls, but also transforms the wider community to support the next generation of women leaders and change makers.
