Keeping Samburu girls in school counts for far more than getting good grades at the highly competitive and feted national examinations. To afford them residential accommodation at school significantly shields them from dangers of an early marriage, female genital mutilation and dropping out of school all closely linked to the culture of their community.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy and PA-MOJA are working together to support the construction of a girls’ dormitory at the school in 2015 to provide a safe haven against cultural malpractices highly likely to be suffered by the girls in addition to allowing them uninterrupted study time while they stay at school.
The initiative for a dormitory in 2015 is not simply about comfort and study time – it is a life changing advancement. Mary Lekolel in grade 3 l has to walk 8 kilometers from Tutu village often on an empty stomach. Boiled maize and beans offered for lunch at the school are often the only reason for her attendance, particularly during drought periods when even one meal a day is uncertain.
During dry weather Samburu families relocate to distant regions in search of livestock pasture and such a move often means the end of school for the children. With a dormitory at the school, Mary will be guarded against such adversities including the risk of exposure to dangerous wildlife on the way to school.
On the 2014 summer visit, the PA-MOJA team of volunteers were at the Ereri School in a program that has partnered the school with Como Lake School. In ensuing discussions with teachers and Ol Pejeta staff, it was unanimous that a dormitory at the school would sufficiently cater for the obvious and enormous challenges the girls face accessing an education.
Recently, intervention by Ol Pejeta staff thwarted a forced marriage attempt on a grade 5 girl at the school after she passed on a note detailing her predicament. This is the daily reality that the small children have to contend with and every effort to conserve their innocence must be aggressively pursued.
Support provided towards construction of the dormitory, estimated to cost $65,000, will enable Samburu girls to access education, remain at school and in effect give them hope for a better life in the future. In tandem they will have been rescued from life-threatening traumatic experiences linked to negative cultural practices.
Though a hefty investment is required to pull the school into full residential capacity, each small step counts towards this development.
by Moses Muthoki, Community Development Manager
Thanks Moses for posting this – I just know we can do this! Let’s get that dorm built to protect and give those girls the education they deserve! It was an amazing experience being there, sharing cultural exchanges and meeting all the students. Look forward to hearing about the progress of this most important initiative…
Thank you for writing this article, Muthoki.
It is imperative that we do all we can to ensure that children can attend school and stay in school.
PA-MOJA will continue to fundraise for this important mandate.
Thank you for sharing this information with us. Good luck with the fund raising for this new dormitory!
What a worthwhile project. I am so happy that PA-MOJA can help.
Thanks for an excellent article Moses.It will be exciting to follow the progress of of this project.All the very best to you and the staff in Kenya.Good luck to all those involved in the fund raising efforts.