Will you stand with girls who are left behind?
Girls born into poor families in Kenya are robbed of their futures. They are pulled out of school and forced into child marriage. Often, girls become pregnant while still children themselves, and can face a lifetime of poverty and abuse.
Education is the best chance a young girl has for a better future. But sadly, girls are often forced to marry for their dowries, while boys' education is prioritised. As a result, girls have no choice but to become wives and mothers at an early age, their futures stolen from them.
It’s not right. But it CAN change.
VSO is helping girls take control of their futures. Equipped with VSO-provided learning materials and hygiene kits, girls attend VSO learning centres where they learn the skills they need to break the cycle of poverty.
But there are thousands of girls we still need to urgently reach.
Will you help make sure no girl is left behind? Donate today and be part of the change you want to see.
Help girls who are being robbed of their futures
In rural Kenya, girls living in extreme poverty are forced out of school and into early marriage. They are expected to have children while they are still children themselves. Sadly, many often find themselves trapped in violent marriages.
Elizabeth* was forced to leave school at only 11 so she could get married. Her family lived in extreme poverty, with hardly any food and needed the relief her dowry would bring. She became a mother at just 13, trapped in the cycle of poverty, facing violence from her husband.
Attending VSO’s learning centres has been a lifeline for Elizabeth. She can now be a child again and play and laugh with other girls. She attends fun and interactive classes, and she loves learning again.
Her VSO mentor, Regina, is a vital source of support for her. She is a source of joy and encouragement for Elizabeth and helps her stay on track with her education. Having Regina to help with childcare while she’s studying is also a huge weight off her shoulders.
ElizabethIn the future I want to have my own small business – a grocery shop. I will sell tomatoes and green vegetables and make enough money to buy soap to wash myself and my clothes. This will make me happy.
How can you make a difference for generations of girls to come?
VSO learning centres in rural Kenya are helping girls like Elizabeth get back into education. The centres are open three days a week to girls aged 10-19 and VSO teachers help them catch up on essential skills like reading, writing and maths that are necessary to help them break the cycle of poverty.
Each girl is also paired with a VSO mentor who helps them navigate challenges at home and supports and encourages them with their studies. These mentors are local women who have often had similar experiences to the girls and understand the dangers of early marriage and a lack of education.
VSO mentors are the best role models – they show the girls that with the right education and support, it is possible to live a secure and happy life.
By donating to VSO, you can help girls build better futures today while helping the next generation of girls too. Your gift could help girls build the skills, resources and knowledge they need to lift themselves out of poverty.
Please donate today and help make sure no girl is left behind. Every penny makes a difference.
*Pseudonyms have been used to protect identities.
Here is how every £1 is spent
We value every gift that you give, and will always put it straight to work as quickly as we can. In 2023-24, 85p of every £1 you gave went directly towards tackling poverty worldwide. 15p was spent on the day-to-day running of the charity and raising the next £1 so that we can help even more people this year.
Our promise to you
It's important to us that you feel completely confident and comfortable in supporting VSO. As part of our promise to you:
- We will always treat your personal information with the strictest confidence.
- We will be transparent with how your donations are spent.
- We will always be in control of your support