AMPLIFY Girls Education and Innovation Fund Impact: Bringing Hope to Girls in Northern Kenya

In Arid and Semi-Arid areas in the Northern part of Kenya, rampant insecurity and harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and child marriage frequently hinder girls' access to education. The closure of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic had a particularly devastating impact on school-going girls from regions such as Marsabit and Isiolo counties. Many of them were forced into early marriages or experienced teenage pregnancies, leaving them with little to no hope of returning to school.

Organizations such as the Northern Women Empowerment Initiative (NOWEI), which aims to empower vulnerable young women and girls in Northern Kenya through education, have witnessed firsthand the effects of COVID-19 on girls in their communities. In response, NOWEI took proactive measures to mobilize support and help girls regain access to educational pathways.

In 2021, as schools began to reopen after the COVID-19-related closures, NOWEI joined forces with AMPLIFY Girls as a partner. By this time, the impact on girls' education had become evident, and community-driven organizations within the AMPLIFY Girls collective were working tirelessly to address these challenges. Recognizing the crucial need to support their efforts, we introduced the AMPLIFY Girls Education and Innovation Fund (E and I Fund) as a solution. This initiative provided funding to community-driven organizations to help girls regain access to education pathways in the aftermath of the pandemic.

With the invaluable support from the AMPLIFY Girls E&I Fund, NOWEI was able to extend its support to young girls and women in Isiolo and Marsabit. A total of 8 school-going girls were granted full scholarships to pursue their secondary education, while 6 young women were able to attend vocational training programs. 

“Through the (E & I Fund) project, girls have access to education… a chance to finish their education and pursue their dreams without fear of being left out of the society or threats of facing FGM and child marriage,” NOWEI says.

NOWEI, E and I Fund beneficiary

Zawadi is one of the eight girls who have been supported by NOWEI to continue their secondary education through the E and I Fund. A fifth child in a family of seven, Zawadi is aware of the harmful practices of child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) in her community. She is determined and works diligently at school, aspiring to be one of the few girls who are able to pursue their education in her community.

Zawadi excelled in her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams, but due to financial challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, she was unable to continue her secondary education. Zawadi's mother, Khadija, had given up hope of being able to support her daughter's education. Despite her earlier aspirations of providing a better future for Zawadi, Khadija now believed that Zawadi's ability to read and write was enough.

Luckily, NOWEI heard about the Zawadi's story and tracked her to her home in Marsabit. In 2022, Zawadi became the first in her family to pursue a secondary school education with a promise from NOWEI to be with her every step of the way. 

In a conversation on the impact of the E&I Fund on girls, NOWEI said offering scholarships to bright, vulnerable young girls and women instilled hope in other girls and motivated them to work harder in school.

“With the help of the Education and Innovation Fund, we have helped young girls avoid all the barriers (to girls’ education including FGM, teen pregnancy, and child marriage), and instilled confidence and trust in them that they belong to the society and their dreams are achievable.” 

Through the second round of the E&I Fund, AMPLIFY Girls aims to empower and uplift young girls and women, like Zawadi, by providing critical support to enable their return to school and access to educational opportunities.

Watch out for more updates on the Impact of the Education and Innovation Fund from our partners.