Claire's World

During my service trip to Kenya, I met a student from the Women’s Institute for Secondary Education and Research (WISER). She invited me to visit her home, a modest mud house with a tin roof in a remote village without internet access. Inside, I met her mother, sister, and brother, and learned with sadness that her father had passed away when she was very young. I offered them chocolates I brought, and they enjoyed the treat warmly.

In conversation, I discovered her relentless dedication to both study and work to secure a place at WISER, an opportunity she deeply cherished. Her gratitude was moving, as was the resilience she and her mother displayed. It reminded me how rare it is for women in Kenya to rise above societal barriers and pursue independence. This encounter made me appreciate my own privileges and recognize the importance of not taking them for granted.

While Kenya provides free primary to secondary education, less than 50% of primary students advance to secondary school, and fewer than 40% of those are girls. Stark regional disparities exist: Nairobi boasts an 87.1% literacy rate, while the northeastern regions fall to just 8%. In many communities, women are undervalued, seen as labor or replaceable assets, and often face dangers like sexual assault, genital mutilation, and child exploitation.

Barriers to female education and rights are rooted in social and economic development, government policies, and cultural customs. The most profound challenge is the influence of parental attitudes and societal norms, which perpetuate the marginalization of girls. This includes a lack of long-term educational support and successful female role models. For real change, Kenyan women must break social constraints and inspire future generations as empowered mothers. WISER’s work is vital, fostering female growth and empowerment as a foundation for progress in the nation.