Through a life changing programme on Women Leadership and Advocacy, I was privileged to train and mentor a group of girl advocates from eight (8) different counties in Kenya. These girls made several presentations to the First Lady of Kenya at the time through elaborate speeches, poems and skits. The main aim was to hold the Government accountable to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the first Lady was among the global leaders committing to close the gender equality gaps and strengthen the women empowerment agenda. The girl advocates zeroed in on SDG goal 5, Gender equality and linked this to Goal 4 on quality education. To expound this further, the girls prepared a skit that showed their different life experiences. One of the skits focused on forced attempts into early marriages to a very old man by parents due to financial challenges. In another clip, the girls brought out stories of attempted gang rapes, rejection by parents due to sudden blindness, female genital mutilation and many other stories.

As is common in most cultures in Africa, some of the girl’s parents even preferred their brothers to study and not them. They only made it because a little extra money that was located and their fathers reluctantly took them back to school! In another example, the parents of a blind girl felt that it was a waste of money to educate her, but this girl has proven them wrong. She has shown great leadership in her county by being a good example and even joining the Youth Shadow Parliament.
These stories were real, because these were indeed their own stories. Yet despite all that they had been through, these girls never gave up hope in life. They made it to tell their story. These girls chose to pursue their education despite their backgrounds. As we celebrate International Day of Education today, I would like to give it up for these girls that did not give up on their education despite every challenge.
There is another group of people that I would like to big up. It is those silent supporters that have stood with girls and boys whose parents are not able to pay for their school fees, yet the children desire to study. They do it quietly not really looking for man’s applause. I can assure you, you are making a difference. Thank you!