Pace Setters Foundation

I apply because I believe in human transformation and that transformation begins with education; and ability to think of the imaginary human mind. That within the human mind, there is huge potential that remain untapped, and that education is one such way that such potential can be excited to do marvelous things.

The human being is composed of males and females. From birth, the females have the strength of carrying new lives (reproductive role). Conception for women and child-caring make them vulnerable that they do not have equal strength and opportunity to participate in class work or labor market. This vulnerability is increased for young teenage girls who become mothers at tender age (12-18 years). They are not prepared to be mother psychologically and age wise. In many developing countries, such teenage girls drop out of schools, and that might be their end with education. There are increasing reported cases of pregnancies of girls in primary and secondary schools. These teenage girls get condemned into lives of drudgery and suffering. 

I choose to join in changing this narrative among the teenage mothers. I choose to be the champion of taking them back to school as we care for the children.

I am a community development worker with post-graduate training. I got educated by chance after dropping out of high school due to inability of my parents to raise fees, but favored to come back with a female Peace Corps Volunteer teacher.

I have a vision of doing the right things right. The right thing to do right now is to support the education of girl child with dignity; while not forgetting the boys. Women are equal members of our society, with strengths, abilities, weaknesses and hopes, just as our men. However, we have a higher strength in women of carrying, caring and nurturing the next generation (children) in their most vulnerable time of their lives. I would like o join with other members and institutions in this endeavor.

I desire to develop the Pace Setters Foundation (PSF) in restoration of human dignity through transformative leadership and impacting the world through human transformation and restoration of human dignity of a fallen world. I hope to join the PSF in relieving poverty, improving access to quality education, promoting environmental conservation and resilience to climate change, and improving food security.

I desire to seen an empowered society mentally, economically, socially and livelihood

Specific Problems

Although much has been done towards attainment of gender equity in education, gender disparities persist in many parts of Kenya. Studies indicate that most girls who drop out of school due to pregnancies do not return to class after childbirth despite provisions for it (Nyambedha et al., 2015). There is not much in material support that teenage mothers received in school apart from the provision of text books.  It emerges that a range of socio-cultural factors constrain school re-entry of teenage mothers. Kenya has one of the highest levels of teenage pregnancies in the world. In spite of that, there is paucity of empirical research on causes of teenage pregnancies in African countries (Were, 2007). 

Proposal for Addressing the Problems:

1. Strengthen the guidance and counselling departments to improve the retention of teenage mothers in schools. 

2. Work with head teachers to invite girls who had dropped out due to pregnancy and give them permission to go home whenever it was sought.

3. Support girls with requirements for returning and re-entry to school after giving birth.

4. Encourage teenage mother take part in games and the guidance and counselling programs to provide the needed psychological support.

1. Supporting re-entry of teenage mother into schools: A number of socio-economic and cultural issues inhibit teenage mothers from re-entry in schools. These include the requirements of the schools that such mothers might not be able to provide for themselves. These are the areas we work.

2. Advocacy with parents and/or guardian: In some households, their teenage daughters getting pregnant and giving, results in condemnation, and sometime being banished from the family. It is in our work to advocate with such parents, guardians and or society that this is just a stage for the girl-child. Such teenage mothers still have the capacity to learn and do even better. These girls only need support and understanding.

3. Guidance, Counselling and Mentorship: As much as we appreciate the additional burden of teenage mothers to care for the infants, we walk with them in the care; understanding their fears of their children if they return to school; working with them through on their care of their children; counselling them on their psychological needs with these changes; and organizing and attaching them with female mentors who may also have gone through teenage pregnancies and successfully overcame the same.

Though not yet at national and global levels, we have had successful impacts with returning teenage girls to school.

1. One girl gave birth to first child in Class 8, we facilitated her to reenter school in high school. In form 1, she got another pregnancy. We supported her again to school. This time round, she finished High School. We supported her a vocational training. As we speak, she is a Laboratory Technician in one of County High Schools in Western Kenya.

2. With that experience, we advocated and created awareness amongst parents whose daughters were teenage mothers; supported them to re-register these daughters back to school. About 10 teenage mothers were re-registered; of whom about 5 known cases are now gainfully employed and caring for their children.

3. These efforts have escalated in may villages we have reached in Western Kenya. We are improving in our recording, monitoring and advocacy with different agencies to have a movement of the same.