Make Every Woman Count’s organization highlight of the month for September is Voices of Hope Africa. Voices of Hope is a non-profit organization in Kenya which seeks to provide educational opportunities to vulnerable post-high school Maasai women in the Central Division of Kajiado District who are facing female genital mutilation and forced marriage.

Voices of Hope tells us that there are some young Maasai women who have managed to escape FGM and forced marriage by means of charitable primary and secondary school. However, these vulnerable women lack security and the possibility to continue on to post-secondary levels post-high school. As a result it is common to return to their villages, undergo FGM and be married or seek refuge and potentially face danger in the city. With little marketable skills and training and no financial means to support themselves, these young women are often sexually exploited, become prostitutes and can fall victim to HIV/AIDS. 

Voices of Hope new students attending leadership training class in August 2012.

 

 Voices of Hope works to change this reality and offer a brighter future to these young women, full of potential. Through the intervention of empowered Maasai women, Voices of Hope believes that positive change for women and girls can be realized within the Maasai tribe. Through investing in the empowetment and leadership abilities of these young women, there can be lasting effects. Voices of Hope believes that education is a fundamental way to give women a voice… a strong voice which is needed to speak out against FGM, forced marriage and promote girl child education and women’s rights.

Gender-based discrimination is recognized by Kenya’s government as well as by many prominent field organizations as the number one cause of persistent poverty among the Maasai. Gender based discrimination can be correlated with poverty, malnutrition, health concerns, low economic development as well as the high rates of illiteracy among Maasai communities.

 

Voices of Hope 2012 Leadership training class graduates. They each light a candle for girls to commemorate women who are affected by cultural practices like FGM, early Marriages and other women issues in the world.

Voices of Hope seeks to over-come this reality and face the blatant discrimination of women an girls head on through providing education to young Maasai girls and women. By doing so they will be investing in the future of Kenya as these women hold great promise to excel in their communities and make great changes nation wide. The success of a country depends on women’s rights and ending gender-based discrimination and violent practices is key to success and the full realization of human rights for all Kenyans.

A Success Story:

Since 2006, Voices of Hope has been able to provide post secondary education to 37 young women.  These young women are now either gainfully employed, volunteering in their communities, or completing their studies.  In addition, they have all have made a commitment to “pay it forward.” They do this daily by helping to provide for their families and bringing about positive change in their communities by advocating for health, education and the eradication of FGM.

Voices of Hope new students attending leadership training class in August 2012.

 

Challenges Ahead:

Despite great passion and outstanding results, Voices of Hope faces challenges like most NGO’s. For example the organization has land in Kenya on which to build a much needed Safe Home for giels and women looking for refuge due to FGM and forced marriage. Many of the organizations board members have rescued girls living with them but the organization is seeking a more sustainable avenue. With the building of a safe home Voices of Hope would not only be able to provide girls with shelter and safety but could also be provided with short skills training in effort to provide a sustainable wage and the confidence to make independent choices with their lives.

Additionally the organization has 400+ women waiting for Voices of Hope sponsorship and without it they will not have the full right to their education, potential or physical integrity—likely facing poverty, FGM, force marriage or patriarchal domination of some kind in their lives. Travel costs for the organization have so far been out of pocket for Voices of Hope’s dedicated members, so more sustainable funding that offers flexibility and adequate program support would be ideal for the organization.

 

Rachael Tengbom, Founder/ President of Voices Of Hope.

 

Contact:
Voices Of Hope
P.o Box 6563
Kennewick, WA 99336

For more information:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.voicesofhopeafrica.org/