Girls Education

For a society and a future of self-determining and self-reliant girls. We are committed to breaking down the barriers that prevent girls from accessing education and empowering them to reach their full potential. By addressing cultural norms, economic constraints, safety issues, and educational quality, we can create an environment where every girl has the opportunity to learn and thrive. 

our Mission

To equip girls with knowledge and skills for productive adult life, support girls' education and training as a foundation for self-reliance and self-determination, and protect, promote, and ensure that all rights of women and girls are respected.

Every child has the right to a safe, formal, quality education and access to lifelong learning. However, due to a combination of factors, many girls are forced to leave school while others never have the opportunity to go in the first place.

Challenges Facing Kenyan Girls in Education

  1. Cultural Norms and Gender Bias
    • Early Marriages and Pregnancies: Many communities in Kenya still practice early marriages, and girls are often forced to leave school to get married. Teenage pregnancies further exacerbate this issue, leading to high dropout rates.
    • Gender Stereotypes: Societal expectations often prioritize boys’ education over girls’, leading to fewer opportunities and support for girls to continue their studies.
  2. Economic Barriers
    • Poverty: Many families cannot afford school fees, uniforms, and other essential supplies. Girls are more likely to be kept at home to help with household chores or to care for younger siblings.
    • Lack of Menstrual Hygiene Management: Without access to sanitary products and proper facilities, many girls miss school during their menstrual periods, which affects their academic performance and attendance.
  3. Safety and Security
    • Long Distances to School: In rural areas, girls often have to travel long distances to reach school, exposing them to risks such as harassment and violence.
    • Unsafe School Environments: Some schools lack proper security measures, making it unsafe for girls to attend, especially in regions with high incidences of violence and crime.
  4. Quality of Education
    • Insufficient Resources and Infrastructure: Many schools lack adequate resources, including textbooks, classrooms, and trained teachers, which affects the quality of education that girls receive.
    • Limited Access to Secondary Education: Even when girls complete primary school, access to secondary education is limited due to factors such as high fees and few available spaces.

Key Areas of Focus:

  • Re-enrollment: Zawadi Community Programme helps girls who have dropped out of school due to early pregnancy or other reasons to return to formal learning. 
  • Vocational Training: Zawadi provides vocational skills training in areas like computer skills, hairdressing, and tailoring to empower girls. 
  • Girl Leadership: Zawadi also has a focus on building the knowledge and skills of adolescent girls for a productive adult life.
  • Rejoin School Project: Zawadi has a project called “Rejoin School” to support girls who have dropped out of school. 
  • Community Awareness: Conducting community awareness projects on children’s rights and forced marriage prevention. 

Breaking Barriers to Girls’ Education in Kenya

Advocacy and Community Engagement

Community sensitization programs to challenge cultural norms and advocate for girls’ education. These campaigns involve local leaders, parents, and youth to promote the importance of keeping girls in school.

Menstrual Hygiene Management – Provision of Sanitary Products: Zawadi distributes free sanitary pads to girls in schools, ensuring they have the necessary supplies to manage their menstruation with dignity and without missing classes.

Our approach supports girls as they safely transition into adulthood and create the futures they want for themselves. We ask questions, listen and co-create sustainable change based on their ideas. This approach reflects the understanding that girls don’t experience life according to our program areas.