Across Kenya, new curriculum requirements have made attending secondary school more demanding and costly, especially for rural Maasai families who lack access to affordable education. Secondary school graduation rates tend to be even lower for Maasai girls due to additional cultural barriers such as child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). Yet despite these challenges, our team is determined to provide pathways to education, encouraging these girls to dream boldly about their future.
Through our mentorship programs, Maasai girls build skills and confidence to help them stay in school and navigate pressures that threaten to pull them off their educational path. Trusted mentorship provides these girls with advocates, role models, and a safe, structured space to define their own goals.
We invite you to meet a few of the young women who are turning obstacles into stepping stones, forging their own paths with courage and perseverance. With our support, each featured student below is pursing her studies so she can gain the knowledge and skills to create lasting change in her community.
Beatrice Nyawira
Beatrice is a hardworking Form 4 student who enjoys studying mathematics and would like to become an accountant. She dreams of studying finance and accounting at the University of Nairobi so she can help her community manage resources and create opportunities for sustainable growth.
Seleto Loonkushu
Seleto is a curious and motivated Grade 9 student at St. Mary’s Narok who is drawn to the STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Her dream is to pursue medicine and become a doctor, helping Maasai families access quality healthcare and bringing vital support to her community.
Mareya Olopito
Mareya, an expressive Grade 9 student at Enkiteng Lepa, enjoys studying applied sciences and hopes to become a teacher. Her goal is to help improve literacy rates improve in her community and to inspire other girls to continue learning. She loves sharing her knowledge with younger students and encouraging the the next generation to dream beyond traditional limits.
Joyce Namelok
Joyce is a thoughtful Form 3 student at Olashapani Girls who dreams of becoming a journalist. She is passionate about using media and communication to helps her shine a light on important issues and inspire change through storytelling. Her dream is to write about Maasai culture and highlight the voices of women and girls in her community.
Tunda Ntutu
Tunda is a determined Form 3 student who dreams of one day becoming a doctor. She would like to study medicine at Mount Kenya University so she can return to her village and open a healthcare clinic, so families in her community can have the care they deserve and so often go without.
Elizabeth Koriata
Elizabeth, an ambitious Form 3 student at Ole Tipis Girls School, enjoys studying history and different languages, and hopes to one day study law. She wants to use her education to address land injustices and promote justice and equality for Maasai communities, primarily by advocating for the rights of women and girls.
These snapshots offer a glimpse into what is possible with the right support structures in place. By walking alongside these girls with consistent mentorship, we are investing not only in their individual futures but also in the strength and stability of entire communities.
Personalized mentorship—especially for Maasai girls—becomes a lifeline, providing them with the self-worth, confidence, and support networks they need to navigate the many challenges they face. Each girl’s determination is a powerful reminder of the potential young women have when they are given the opportunity to learn, lead, and shape a better future for their communities—and beyond.
To read more about the importance of mentorship, read our blog: Preventing FGM Through Girls Education and Mentorship.
Also see our joint article with EFAC on partnership in the Kenyan education ecosystem.
