A few years ago, Mary Claire had the incredible opportunity to partake in a trip to Kenya. While most people visit Kenya to experience the beautiful wildlife (and trust us, it is amazing!), the local community is the true beauty.
Even though much of the community lives in extreme poverty, their spirits are never dampened. They exude joy and love. Many of them never have the opportunity to get an education, thus making it even harder for families to break out of poverty. The latest UN statistics cite over 1 million children out-of-school in Kenya and lists education as one of the three most critical needs, within the Maasai regions in Kenya. The desire for education is so strong that families will bankrupt themselves, often selling their cattle (the main livelihood and sustenance commodity) to put their children through school. For girls, it is even harder. They have two options: figure out how to find the funds to attend school or be forced into an early marriage.
In lieu of gifts, please consider a donation to support Big Life Foundation. Big Life currently supports 262 students (133 girls and 129 boys) with long-term scholarships, and pays the salaries of 22 teachers. Just a $50 donation will pay for a student to attend school for an entire year! This support is particularly important for girls, since education is one of the most powerful weapons in preventing child marriage. The longer a girl stays in school, the less likely she is to be married before the age of 18 and have children in her younger years, among countless other benefits.
