In rural Kenya, education can change the course of a girl’s life, but for many, simply reaching school safely is a daily obstacle. Long distances between home and school, household responsibilities, poverty, and the risk of early marriage all contribute to high dropout rates among girls, particularly once they reach secondary school age.
At Ntimaru Secondary School, many students walk hours each day to attend class, arriving exhausted and leaving before dark out of concern for their safety. Maryknoll is helping construct a dormitory that will give 300 girls a safe, supportive place to live while they pursue their education. With secure housing on campus, students can devote their evenings to studying rather than travel.
Rooted in the Catholic Social Teaching principle of the Life and Dignity of the Human Person, this project affirms that every girl possesses inherent worth deserving of protection and the chance to flourish. It also reflects Rights and Responsibilities, particularly the right to education. Maryknoll’s century-old charism of accompanying the poor and marginalized finds direct expression here, as missioners stand beside young women too often overlooked by systems built without them in mind.
Gifts to this project help complete the construction of a dormitory that gives an entire generation of young women the security and stability they need to finish school, pursue their goals, and grow into leaders within their communities and the Church.
