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Urgent Emergency Fund Request Due ToCurrent Kenyan Political Crisis
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Welcome to the Website of “Voices of Hope”
...preparing young Maasai women for leadership through academic, personal and spiritual development…
What is "Voices of Hope"? Voices of Hope is a non-profit organization that provides educational opportunities to vulnerable Maasai post high school young women in the Central Division of Kajiado District.
The number of post high school Maasai girls dropping out of school in the Central Division of Kajiado District is extremely high. This is largely because of traditional beliefs and practices that include forced marriages, gender discrimination, out of marriage pregnancy, and female genital mutilation (FGM).
Most Maasai families in the Central Division live below the poverty level on less than $1 US dollar per day, and have many children for which they can barely provide basic needs. Education is a privilege accorded mainly to boys with the understanding that they will eventually have their own homes, maintain the family heritage, and take care of their Parents/Grand Parents in old age. In contrast, the young women are not provided with educational opportunities and seen as having no future value to the extended family. They are considered to be providers of family labor and targeted for the traditional practice of early marriage in order for the family to gain cattle from a dowry in exchange for their young daughters. Since young girls will leave their homes to settle in their marital homes with their husbands, (who are often old enough to be their fathers), the families and Maasai community choose to invest in educating their sons rather than their daughters and the education of young women is seen not only as a burden, but a waste of limited financial resources.
Since its establishment in 2003, Voices of Hope has supported 14 young Maasai women in meeting their education goal of pursuing higher education. These young women had no previous means of continuing their education and were in danger of going through genital mutilation and arranged marriages. As a result of the intervention of Voices of Hope, these young women are now enrolled in colleges and local universities throughout Kenya and are being empowered to become change agents and leaders in their community.
What are the needs of Voices of Hope?
-Sponsorship for Higher Education (Tuition, fees, boarding expenses=$100/mo/young woman) -Construction of a Safe Home and Learning Center -Drilling of a borehole for water for the Maasai Community and the Safe Home
Long-term Benefits: -Preparing young women to be leaders and change agents in theirMaasai communities.
Interested in making a difference? -Sponsor a young Maasai woman's education (independently or through an organization) -Sponsor a "Gathering" where Rachael will speak and share items from Africa for donation -Make a donation to assist with the drilling of the borehole, construction of the Safe Home, and/or the ongoing expenses
-Contact Rachael Tengbom, Founder of Voices of Hope at shoenkai@aol.com
Use this button to make a donation: Gift Donations may also be made as a "present with a purpose". Use this donation card that can be printed and sent by you to an individual of your choice once you donation is complete.
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Why is there a need for this organization? 
How has "Voices of Hope" impacted lives of young Maasai women in Kajiado District? 