A foundation that will
cater for girls’ education from poor families in the coastal region has been incepted.
The foundation known as
The Mijikenda Girl Child Education Trust was initiated as an aftermath of the
international girl child celebration held in Vitengeni, Sokoke ward in Kilifi
County, where the media highlighted the plight of two girls who were selling
birds to raise their varsity fees.
Alice Bendera, 20, from
Mereni village in Bamba ward was admitted at Rongo University but had to
transfer to Pwani University after failing to meet the registration deadline. While
her colleague, Veronica Rehema, 19, sat her KCSE in Kenya High School and
scored a mean grade of B (63 points). She was admitted to the University of
Eldoret but she is yet to join.
Speaking in Bamba while
awarding a Ksh 150,000 cheque to Alice Bendera and Veronica Rehema at their
various homesteads , Maendeleo ya kina Mama Chairperson, Witness Tsuma said
that girls in the coastal region have for a long time been neglected despite
their potential to do well in education.
“We know starting a
foundation is not easy but we are rallying support from local leaders and successful
women from the coastal region to help us educate well performing girls in the
county and the coastal region as a whole. The girl child has for a long time
been neglected but it is now time to change that vice,” said Witness.
Local leaders have
already backed the move and have donated over ksh.100, 000.
“Watamu ward representative
has given us this cheque to assist in paying the two girls school fees. Another
contribution is from Kilifi North member of parliament, Gideon Mng’aro and
other well wishers,” articulated Witness
According to the
foundation’s patron Selina Maitha who is also an assistant county commissioner in
kikambala, the foundation is aiming at helping 10 girls and have currently
registered six.
“We want the girl child
from the coast region to go to school and gain education that will equip them
to be competitive in today’s world. How else are we going to achieve vision
2030 if our girls are not educated?”asked Selina.
The foundation will not
only be gathering funds from monthly membership fees also set up a website to
raise funds for needy girls.
Report by Dominick Mwambui @dmwambui 0729663424
