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.
Help girls in Kenya 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.
Jane* was forced to leave school and marry at only 13. In her family, her brother's education came first. They also needed the money from her dowry to get by. This was common in the community because of financial needs and traditions. At only 14, she had her first child, and by the time she was 19, she had three children under six. She was trapped in the cycle of poverty.
Attending VSO’s learning centres has been a lifeline for Jane. She started to remember things she had forgotten, like multiplication, subtraction and addition. Her favourite subjects are maths and English, and she enjoys being at the learning centre.
Her VSO mentor, Hellen, is a vital source of support for her. She’s always there when Jane needs advice and encourages her to stay in school and avoid distractions. Having Hellen to help with childcare while she’s studying is also a huge weight off her shoulders.
JaneOn my first day there I felt good because I knew I would get an education and then I could get my own sewing machine or open my own small business."
How can you make a difference for generations of girls to come?
VSO learning centres in rural Kenya are helping girls like Jane 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