Val Wilson

Team Kenya

Team Kenya work in partnership with Kenyan people, to educate girls, empower women and transform poor communities in Ndhiwa, rural Western Kenya. 63% of the community in Ndhiwa and the surrounding area live in extreme poverty, caused by many factors including, gender discrimination and inequality. Ndhiwa currently has the highest HIV/AIDS rate in Kenya with adolescent girls most at risk. Teenage pregnancies, early marriage and violence against women and girls are a common issues. Our vision is for every girl in Kenya to have an equal chance to achieve her own potential and be free from poverty. Our mission is to involve entire communities in gender equality, so that girls and women in rural Kenya can create their own bright futures. Team Kenya has 6 strategic priority areas: 1. Girls Education 2. Economic Sustainability and Food Security 3. Health, Hygiene and Nutrition for School Children 4. Rural Girls' Safety and Security 5. Social Justice and Equality 6. Organisational Development Women and girls in rural Kenyan communities are held back by poverty and gender inequality. We work with these communities to create a level playing field for girls and boys, where all young people have the same opportunities for education and employment. We involve all members of the communities we support to ensure girls have the best possible chance at success. We provide mothers with loans and training and hold community events where we promote gender equality. We've witnessed that with education and support, girls in these communities can break the cycle of poverty and transform their lives. We remove the barriers to girls' education by supporting them with scholarships, counselling, training and confidence building programmes.