A holistic approach to combating gender-based violence among Maasai girls in Kenya
Among Maasai communities in Kenya, deeply rooted traditions such as female genital mutilation and child marriage continue to severely impact girls’ health and rights. These harmful practices often force girls to drop out of school prematurely, limiting their future livelihood opportunities and violating their fundamental rights. In the Kajiado region, three consecutive periods of drought have intensified economic insecurity, leading families to marry off their daughters at increasingly younger ages in exchange for dowries. The urgent need for interventions to counter this trend and uphold girls’ rights cannot be overstated.
In this project, Nice Place Foundation seeks to challenge harmful traditions and empower Maasai girls to lead dignified lives free from genital mutilation, gender-based violence, and child marriage.
The project is supported with 2 500 000 SEK.
What’s happening in the project?
The project consists of three parts:
The first part contains educational support for Maasai girls
- – Girls facing particularly vulnerable circumstances are selected to receive targeted support to complete their education.
- – Each girl is paired with a mentor who provides guidance in overcoming specific challenges and strengthening academic performance.
The second part consists of leadership training
- – Older girls participate in an intensive nine-week training program to become change agents within their communities.
- – The curriculum includes leadership, ethical decision-making, grassroots mobilization, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), environmental conservation, programming, and advocacy.
The third part consists of comprehensive SRHR education in schools
- – The project expands school-based SRHR initiatives for both girls and boys in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
- – Teachers receive specialized training to educate their colleagues and broaden the dissemination of SRHR knowledge within their schools.
Why was the project supported?
Education and health are essential foundations for individuals to reach their full potential. To ensure that girls in vulnerable situations have the same opportunities, social norms must be challenged and rights actively upheld. Only then can a more equal and inclusive society be built.
Project time status
11%
This project started in May 2025 and ends in May 2026
For more information: https://niceplacefoundation.org/
