A Second Chance at Education Changing Teens' Lives

In the rural areas of eastern Kenya, girls face significant barriers to completing their education. In the community our Mikinduri sponsor site serves, many young women become caregivers instead of students. This may be because their own parents have passed away and they must care for their younger siblings, or because the teens have become mothers themselves. These young women drop out of school to devote themselves to their families. In their minds, they are permanently hanging up their dreams of completing their education or having a profession.

Our Mikinduri site staff could see the full potential of these young women and created a program to be the second chance they needed. The program will ultimately see 100 teenaged caregivers graduate from high school and receive vocational skills training. The young women will also receive seed money to start their own businesses and entrepreneurship mentoring from within the community.

The site staff conducted guidance counselling sessions with the first cohort of 40 young women before they re-entered high school. The staff could already see the change this program was making in the girls. "The girls' attitude towards life is changing and they feel more hopeful, empowered, confident, and well-prepared to take the next step to improve their lives," they write. They were driven to hold their high school diploma.

All high schools in Kenya charge tuition fees, yet another barrier for low-income families. But thanks to the generosity of Chalice supporters, the Mikinduri site paid for the whole cohort, plus four already attending vocational training courses. Throughout this summer and fall, more young women will enroll in colleges as they re-open.

All of the students are deeply grateful for the second chance Chalice donors have given them. "As young parents," writes the staff, "they understand the value of hard work to help them stand on their feet to support their young ones. Thank you for lighting up the candles of these bright young mothers."