Coming of Age

BEADS is committed to assisting the Maasai keep the beautiful ceremony that signifies a girl's passage into womanhood, but without the FGM that has accompanied it in the past.

In her early teenage years, a young Maasai girl has her Coming of Age ceremony, an important ritual where she becomes a woman. Until recently, the ceremony has included Female Genital Mutilation -- a practice that would scar her for life. Although FGM is illegal in Kenya, the laws are rarely enforced.

BEADS for Education is committed to helping the Maasai eliminate the cutting, while respectfully supporting their traditions. Our alternative rite of passage was developed by the Maasai leaders themselves.

BEADS funded Patrick Papatiti, a Maasai leader of more than 8,000 warriors in the Amboseli region, to research the practice of FGM. He concluded that FGM was wrong, and that an alternative ceremony could be developed.

Since 2005, BEADS has been helping to host several alternative ceremonies each year, such as the one shown here. The ceremony remains appropriately traditional, and the result is just as meaningful to all involved.

Mama Esther (the local midwife and circumciser) held the first BEADS Coming of Age ceremony WITHOUT THE CUT for her daughter, Esther. Mama Esther said, 'This is important to us and Esther's sponsors.

Every ceremony without the cut shows the community that the rite can be just as meaningful without FGM. Here, relatives of an initiate show their support.

Through BEADS support, thousands of people have been educated about the negative impact of FGM.

Your support can help provide acceptable alternative rituals, and give girls the chance to enter womanhood in a healthy, happy way -- without the cut.

You can help eradicate FGM in our regions by donating to an alternative rites of passage ceremony without the cut.

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Click to read about Esther's coming of age ceremony

Esther' Story

Miriam’s Story with Beads for Education

In 2009, in the little dusty village of Imaroro, Kajiado County, a new tradition was born. For generations, girls had been forced into the painful rite of passage of circumcision, leaving their dreams buried and their futures uncertain. But in 2009, Beads for Education introduced a new culture a ceremony without a cut.

That morning, a ten-year-old girl named Miriam stepped out dressed in colorful beads and Maasai attire. She stood proudly among her friends as women sang songs of courage, men shared words of wisdom, and elders led by her father blessed her with prayers. Pain was replaced with joy, and fear with celebration. The ceremony marked Miriam’s passage into womanhood without harm. Carrying her schoolbook, she walked with her head held high, knowing nothing could stop her dream of becoming a teacher. Years later, Miriam excelled in her studies, becoming the first girl in her family to attend college and achieve her dream of teaching. “Beads for Education gave me wings to fly,” she said. The village witnessed the change protecting and educating a girl meant securing the future of the entire community.

My Success Story with Beads for Education

“From a young age, education felt like a distant dream,” Miriam recalls. “My family struggled to meet even the most basic needs, and schooling seemed impossible. In my community, educating girls was never a priority.”

Everything changed in 2007, when Beads for Education stepped into her life while she was in Grade 2. From then on, her school fees were fully covered year after year. More than financial support, Miriam received mentorship, encouragement, and the belief that she could dream big.

“Today, I stand in front of my own classroom as a teacher. When I look into the eyes of my students, I see myself,” she says proudly. Her journey proves that with opportunity and support, dreams can become reality. Miriam owes her success to Beads for Education, who invested in her future when she needed it most. Their support not only transformed her life but also allowed her to impact the lives of many children through teaching.

“I am living proof that education is the key to breaking barriers and building a brighter world. My story would not be complete without Beads for Education. From the bottom of my heart, I am forever grateful you have been my anchor throughout this journey.”