Today, Florence is a senior at the best school in the Kajiado district (everyone must apply for high school placement and is selected according to their national test results). She is an excellent athlete, a natural leader and maintains stellar marks that will qualify her for university. Florence is THINKING BIG!
Florence is the first girl in her family to attend secondary school, thanks to a sponsorship made available through BEADS for Education. She is one of 65 girls sponsored through BEADS (July 2003). The sponsored girls are primarily from Maasai families from the Amboseli Wildlife Sponsorship Region and Isinya, which is 60 kilometers south of Nairobi. Each girl is matched with a sponsor who receives school reports, letters and pictures at the end of each term. Every girl signs a contract to participate in community service projects such as town clean up, tutoring and mentoring other students.
The girls’ mothers participate in a women’s business group and produce exquisite beaded handcrafts. Their profits enable them to provide the minimal financial contribution for school fees required from each family. Products are available at the Smithsonian National Zoo, Smithsonian gift shops, and on the BEADS web site. A beautiful display can also be seen at the Kenyan Embassy in Washington, D.C.
In January 2003, I was thrilled to share the first face-to-face meeting between Florence and her sponsor, Pat Judy. Florence’s father showed his pleasure by inviting the other elders in the area to join us, with his three wives and many of his children. As we ate, we discussed Florence’s ambition to attend the university and pursue a career in medicine. Florence’s father showed his appreciation for all that Pat had done for his daughter by offering her a gift—a goat.
Florence and Pat meet. - 01/03
Please help BEADS to expand this program; there are so many girls like FLORENCE.
