17/04/2024
FRIENDS CHURCH BISSIL MISSION STATION
Email: [email protected]
Cell phone +254 723 555 746
In Bissil of Kajiado County, life for impoverished Maasai girls and boys was filled with challenges such as female ge***al mutilation (FGM), forced marriages, and the pressure to join moranism. Young girls like Faith Lanoi faced the threat of being married off at a very young age without their consent, enduring physical and emotional abuse in the process. The practice of FGM was prevalent, putting their health at risk and subjecting them to lifelong trauma. Boys were expected to undergo moranism, a rite of passage that involved living in seclusion and undergoing circumcision.
Now: Thanks to the Quakerdale Foundation’s scholarships, these Maasai girls and boys from Bissil have a new chance at life. They are now able to attend secondary school, breaking free from the cycle of harmful traditions that once defined their existence. With access to education, they are empowered to pursue their dreams and build a better future for themselves and their community. The scholarships have provided them with hope, opportunities, and a sense of agency over their own lives.
Vision for the Future: The vision that God has given these young Maasai individuals is one of empowerment, equality, and prosperity. They aspire to become leaders and professionals in their community, advocating for the rights of women, boys and girls while preserving their cultural heritage in a more inclusive manner. Through Quakerdale Foundation’s generous support they aim to eradicate harmful practices like FGM and forced marriages, creating a future where every child has the freedom to choose their path in life. Their journey is not just about personal success but about uplifting their entire community towards a brighter future.
Before
From the vast lands of Bissil subcounty of Kajiado County, comes a resilient young Maasai girl by the name of Faith. Faith belongs to a traditional Maasai family that has struggled to make ends meet. Life before was filled with hardships - scarcity of food, lack of access to education, and limited opportunities for growth. Faith spent her days helping her family with household chores and looking after their livestock. Like most poor girls in African nations, the majority of Maasai women in Kenya live a life of poverty and cultural oppression. Just one generation ago, less than 20 percent of Maasai girls in Kenya enrolled in school. Today, even with free primary school education in Kenya since January 2003, only 48 percent of Maasai girls enroll in school, and only 10 percent of girls make it to secondary school. Typically, Maasai girls are circumcised between the ages of 11 to 13 and soon afterwards married to a man chosen by her father in exchange for cattle and cash. She will rise early every day to milk cows, and spend her days walking miles to water holes to launder clothes and get water, and to gather heavy loads of firewood to carry back home. If she is lucky, she will have a donkey to share her burden. Her predicament is exacerbated by increasing demand for accessible clean and safe water and basic needs. To add to the misery, incessant prolonged droughts come with increased insecurity as demand for water and food unfolds, and r**e, defilement as children desperately look for something to put on the table, early pregnancy as they go for long distances looking for water holes.
Now:
By the grace of God, the timely intervention of Quakerdale Foundation has secured her a place a boarding secondary school this year 2024. Education has opened up new horizons for Lanoi, broadening her perspective and instilling in her a sense of hope for a better future, away from the harsh cultural terrain of FGM, r**e and forced marriages. She is continuing to learn about the world beyond her village and dream of making a difference not only for herself but also for her community.
Vision for the Future:
God has planted a vision in Faith’s heart - a vision of transformation and empowerment. Faith envisions a future where every child in her village has access to quality education, where women are empowered to pursue their dreams, and where the community thrives in unity and prosperity. She dreams of becoming a teacher one day, inspiring young minds to reach their full potential and break free from the cycle of poverty.
Picture:
In the midst of the golden savannah stands Faith and her mother, adorned in vibrant Maasai attire that reflects the rich cultural heritage. Faith her eyes sparkle with determination, mirroring the fire within her soul. Despite facing adversity, Faith stands tall with unwavering faith and courage, ready to embrace the challenges that lie ahead on her journey towards realizing God’s vision for her future.
