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Dear Friend, The eldest of seven children, Sabina stopped attending school after the sixth grade to look after her siblings. One year later, at 12 years old, she learned that she was going to be married to a man she barely knew. In northern Kenya, where Sabina is from, it’s common for parents to arrange marriages for their daughters when financial hardships arise — to pay for food, livestock and other needs. In fact, one in four girls in Kenya is married before the age of 18. This reality not only puts their education on hold, often indefinitely, but it also creates lifelong barriers to equality for women.
A Mercy Corps initiative in Kenya brings young women and girls together to receive education on reproductive health, basic reading and math, savings and loans, livestock management and other critical life skills. Since joining the group, Sabina has learned how to raise chickens and grow crops as a means to support her family. This support has been critical for her during the pandemic, as it no longer feels safe to sell her livestock at the crowded local market. Equally as important is the support Sabina receives from other women, including shared investments in their agricultural ventures. "I love [it] because there is a lot of development in the group," says Sabina. "Even the savings we contribute, we do it as a group ... We are united." The longer girls stay in school, the more opportunities they will have later in life. That’s why our teams on the ground in more than 40 countries are working to support women and girls so that they can take charge of their own futures. Make a gift to support this crucial work today, and help us reach our $65,000 fundraising goal by midnight tomorrow. Together, we can make up to 5x the difference:
With gratitude, Grace Ndungu Africa Media and Communications Manager, Mercy Corps |
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