Ramat Girls Empowerment Initiative

Josephine was only 24 years old when we added her as a partner, but she has been head-of-household for 14 years! When she was ten-years-old, Josephine’s parents abandoned the family. Her 7 older siblings scattered to fend for themselves, so Josephine sought work to support a bedridden grandmother and two younger sisters (one was an infant). The experience was devastating, but it made her very compassionate towards others. We met her ten years earlier and have been following her ever since. We have been very impressed with her tenacity, her insistence on living with integrity even when it costs her, and her tremendous love for children who are suffering.

Josephine is in charge of the younger girls in our program. The young girls she takes in are typically severely abused, victims of repeated sexual assault, or are trying to escape forced marriages. Girls who are grades kindergarten to grade three live in a home with Josephine. Those in grade four through nine are in local boarding schools so she can periodically check in on them to ensure they are not only progressing academically, but emotionally as well.

Josephine has developed a good relationship with the Children’s Offices in Maralal (a southern hub in Samburu County) and Baragoi (a northern hub). They have far more rescued girls than we can take in, so Josephine works with the offices to select those we feel will most benefit from our program – ones who are academically motivated and willing to work hard to improve their lives.

Josephine is also in charge of our boys and girls clubs with 6th and 7th graders. The clubs utilize a curriculum we developed designed to raise up the next generation of changemakers: shifting the children from a more typical rote memorization form of learning to one involving critical thinking so they can form and express their own opinions and ideas; building their self-confidence and fostering their initiative to find answers and problem-solve; encouraging them to act individually and collectively to bring positive changes to their lives and the world around them. The topics revolve around the theme of “power” – how to grow our power and use it to benefit our communities. She runs the clubs for 750 to 1,000 students each year.

Comments we’ve received from participants are very encouraging.

Girls have told us things like:

• The club has changed my life. It showed me how important girls are in the community. I used to put myself low in the community, but now girls club has made a difference. It showed me that girls can be leaders too.

• I am enjoying every moment of being part of Girls Club. Every week I look forward to an empowering session. I am so grateful.

• This club changed me from top to bottom. During school holiday I was thinking of having FGM, but my friend told me to join girls club. The first day there we were taught the disadvantages of FGM. I thank the God Almighty for sending me to this club.

• I did not become a young woman when I started puberty. I became a young woman when I joined girls club.

Boys have told us things like:

• These meetings are really building a great man in me, and, as we continue, I see myself going far.

• Sammy told us he loved the topic on teamwork – he said used to be selfish with his things but he learned it’s good to share.

• Emanuel started school as an adult. He says he was a laughing stock but he didn’t care. His greatest struggle is raising school fees since his parents won’t support him, and he loved our topic on budgeting and savings. When he goes home on holidays, he says he is going to teach the other young men in his village.

• Joseph was very rude and disruptive initially, but he came to really love the club. Josephine says she watched him change over the course of the year from a trouble-maker to a really good student.

We are excited about the impact this young changemaker is having in Samburu County!