“I want her to have a good education. I want her to live a good life. I want her to do more than me and do great things,” gushed Irene when asked about her and her 5-year-old daughter’s future plans.
Irene is a College Scholarship recipient, and more importantly, our friend.
Born to Maasai peasant farmers, Irene’s large family kept cattle and sold their milk in the nearby villages. “Life was difficult, not everyone needed milk,” she shared. It can be typical in Massai culture for fathers to marry off their daughters for a bride price…typically one or two cows from the wealthiest suitor. This could have been Irene’s fate, had her father not passed away and had she not been put in school by her mother.
In Kenya, women who receive a college degree are more likely to join the workforce, achieve higher earnings, postpone marriage, prioritize their children’s education, and contribute to their communities.
And for the past three months, Irene has done just that! Serving as a primary school teacher, Irene works at the same school where she studied as a young student, setting a new precedent for her daughter’s future.
Remember that educated girls tend to prioritize their children’s education?
It’s because women are more likely to invest their earnings back into their kids, breaking the cycle of poverty.
It’s a story of hope and change. A story of fresh beginnings and greater possibilities.
It’s a story of how one generous donation will impact one girl, one family, and in turn, leave a legacy.
