newsivl

Kilgoris, Kenya – Kilgoris, Kenya (AP) – “I’m worth defending!” A group of girls will sing while they each take a combat position.

They are about to practice combat techniques. And no, they are not part of a martial arts club. They are maasai girls living in a boarding school in Transmara in the west Kenyawhich doubles a rescue center for adolescents who have escaped early marriage and female genital mutilation.

“We learn to protect ourselves, to protect our body,” said Grace Mushen, 14, who lives and has been studying Enkakenya Center for Excellence since 2023.

The center was created in 2009 by Kakenya Ntaiya, a Maasai woman who was subjected to a genital cup. He does not only offer a safe refuge for girls at risk of early marriage: he also provides education at the free high school to encourage parents to allow their daughters to stay in school instead of undergoing the Ritual This is still common for maasai girls aged 8 to 17.

Once a girl is circumcised, she is considered an adult and ripe for marriage, which means a steep end of childhood and education for many.

“Most children’s weddings are caused by poverty in families,” says Musheni. “Because of this poverty, you can get that a parent can allow his daughter to be married by an old man – because the family can be paid.”

While Ntaiya could not escape the genital mutilation itself, she convinced her father to allow her to continue her studies, and she now has a doctorate. In education at the University of Pittsburgh and several prices for his work.

“I am a beneficiary of appropriate education and I really wanted to show my community how important it is to allow women and girls,” she said.

Although Kenyan law prohibits genital mutilation and marriage under the age of 18, both are still practiced, especially in rural areas where education levels remain low. The government’s demographic and health survey of Kenya 2022 noted that 56.3% of women without education had undergone genital mutilation, compared to 5.9% of women who had studied secondary schools.

Girls’ education apparently has an impact on gender -based violence In addition, with 34% of Kenyan women interviewed saying that they were victims of physical violence, a figure that falls to 23% for women with education.

But it’s always alarming. Thus, in addition to providing education, the Enkakenya Center joins forces with the Worth Defending to teach the combative skills of self -defense. It is not as long as they can physically fight potential attackers – although they can – but that taught them to assert themselves in all areas of their lives.

“We form them with basic principles of the affirmation and the framework of the limits, which includes verbal and physical techniques,” explains Amelia Awuor by I ING WORTH DEFENDING. “These skills breathe confidence to express themselves against violations or fight physical threats.”

The training gave Rahab Lepishoi the power of 14 years to speak for other girls. During a recent visit to her older sister, she learned that the girls in the village were about to be circumcised, including an old childhood friend. “I told him about The dangers of MGF And to come with me to me to avoid (that), ”explains Lepishoi.

It follows in the footsteps of its educators, who visit communities distant from Transmara every year to raise awareness of genital mutilation, early marriage and the importance of education. “Now when I go to a place, I apply this skill and this confidence. I educate my friends, so that when they meet a boy, they will be confident and say what they mean, ”explains Lepishoi.

Self -defense lessons also offer some protection against sexual abuse, which can end up trapped many violent marriages. “When a girl reports to her parents that she was mistreated, it is common for the parents to form the girl to marry the man who mistreated her,” said Mushen.

Purity Risanoi, 15, has been at school for five years. His mother is a widow and raised her five children alone, but the cultural pressures of her community remain. “My family is always very traditional,” she says. “When a girl grows, she should get married and she cannot choose who married.”

His solution? Continue to study. One day, she wants to be a lawyer.

Musheni dreams of a career as a software engineer. She wants to come back here and use technology to raise her community. “Girls can do great things,” she says. “I want to inspire others to continue their dreams.”

___

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP norms To work with philanthropies, a list of supporters and coverage areas financed at Ap.org.

___

To learn more about Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

Kilgoris, Kenya – Kilgoris, Kenya (AP) – “I’m worth defending!” A group of girls will sing while they each take a combat position.

They are about to practice combat techniques. And no, they are not part of a martial arts club. They are maasai girls living in a boarding school in Transmara in the west Kenyawhich doubles a rescue center for adolescents who have escaped early marriage and female genital mutilation.

“We learn to protect ourselves, to protect our body,” said Grace Mushen, 14, who lives and has been studying Enkakenya Center for Excellence since 2023.

The center was created in 2009 by Kakenya Ntaiya, a Maasai woman who was subjected to a genital cup. He does not only offer a safe refuge for girls at risk of early marriage: he also provides education at the free high school to encourage parents to allow their daughters to stay in school instead of undergoing the Ritual This is still common for maasai girls aged 8 to 17.

Once a girl is circumcised, she is considered an adult and ripe for marriage, which means a steep end of childhood and education for many.

“Most children’s weddings are caused by poverty in families,” says Musheni. “Because of this poverty, you can get that a parent can allow his daughter to be married by an old man – because the family can be paid.”

While Ntaiya could not escape the genital mutilation itself, she convinced her father to allow her to continue her studies, and she now has a doctorate. In education at the University of Pittsburgh and several prices for his work.

“I am a beneficiary of appropriate education and I really wanted to show my community how important it is to allow women and girls,” she said.

Although Kenyan law prohibits genital mutilation and marriage under the age of 18, both are still practiced, especially in rural areas where education levels remain low. The government’s demographic and health survey of Kenya 2022 noted that 56.3% of women without education had undergone genital mutilation, compared to 5.9% of women who had studied secondary schools.

Girls’ education apparently has an impact on gender -based violence In addition, with 34% of Kenyan women interviewed saying that they were victims of physical violence, a figure that falls to 23% for women with education.

But it’s always alarming. Thus, in addition to providing education, the Enkakenya Center joins forces with the Worth Defending to teach the combative skills of self -defense. It is not as long as they can physically fight potential attackers – although they can – but that taught them to assert themselves in all areas of their lives.

“We form them with basic principles of the affirmation and the framework of the limits, which includes verbal and physical techniques,” explains Amelia Awuor by I ING WORTH DEFENDING. “These skills breathe confidence to express themselves against violations or fight physical threats.”

The training gave Rahab Lepishoi the power of 14 years to speak for other girls. During a recent visit to her older sister, she learned that the girls in the village were about to be circumcised, including an old childhood friend. “I told him about The dangers of MGF And to come with me to me to avoid (that), ”explains Lepishoi.

It follows in the footsteps of its educators, who visit communities distant from Transmara every year to raise awareness of genital mutilation, early marriage and the importance of education. “Now when I go to a place, I apply this skill and this confidence. I educate my friends, so that when they meet a boy, they will be confident and say what they mean, ”explains Lepishoi.

Self -defense lessons also offer some protection against sexual abuse, which can end up trapped many violent marriages. “When a girl reports to her parents that she was mistreated, it is common for the parents to form the girl to marry the man who mistreated her,” said Mushen.

Purity Risanoi, 15, has been at school for five years. His mother is a widow and raised her five children alone, but the cultural pressures of her community remain. “My family is always very traditional,” she says. “When a girl grows, she should get married and she cannot choose who married.”

His solution? Continue to study. One day, she wants to be a lawyer.

Musheni dreams of a career as a software engineer. She wants to come back here and use technology to raise her community. “Girls can do great things,” she says. “I want to inspire others to continue their dreams.”

___

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP norms To work with philanthropies, a list of supporters and coverage areas financed at Ap.org.

___

To learn more about Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

Kilgoris, Kenya – Kilgoris, Kenya (AP) – “I’m worth defending!” A group of girls will sing while they each take a combat position.

They are about to practice combat techniques. And no, they are not part of a martial arts club. They are maasai girls living in a boarding school in Transmara in the west Kenyawhich doubles a rescue center for adolescents who have escaped early marriage and female genital mutilation.

“We learn to protect ourselves, to protect our body,” said Grace Mushen, 14, who lives and has been studying Enkakenya Center for Excellence since 2023.

The center was created in 2009 by Kakenya Ntaiya, a Maasai woman who was subjected to a genital cup. He does not only offer a safe refuge for girls at risk of early marriage: he also provides education at the free high school to encourage parents to allow their daughters to stay in school instead of undergoing the Ritual This is still common for maasai girls aged 8 to 17.

Once a girl is circumcised, she is considered an adult and ripe for marriage, which means a steep end of childhood and education for many.

“Most children’s weddings are caused by poverty in families,” says Musheni. “Because of this poverty, you can get that a parent can allow his daughter to be married by an old man – because the family can be paid.”

While Ntaiya could not escape the genital mutilation itself, she convinced her father to allow her to continue her studies, and she now has a doctorate. In education at the University of Pittsburgh and several prices for his work.

“I am a beneficiary of appropriate education and I really wanted to show my community how important it is to allow women and girls,” she said.

Although Kenyan law prohibits genital mutilation and marriage under the age of 18, both are still practiced, especially in rural areas where education levels remain low. The government’s demographic and health survey of Kenya 2022 noted that 56.3% of women without education had undergone genital mutilation, compared to 5.9% of women who had studied secondary schools.

Girls’ education apparently has an impact on gender -based violence In addition, with 34% of Kenyan women interviewed saying that they were victims of physical violence, a figure that falls to 23% for women with education.

But it’s always alarming. Thus, in addition to providing education, the Enkakenya Center joins forces with the Worth Defending to teach the combative skills of self -defense. It is not as long as they can physically fight potential attackers – although they can – but that taught them to assert themselves in all areas of their lives.

“We form them with basic principles of the affirmation and the framework of the limits, which includes verbal and physical techniques,” explains Amelia Awuor by I ING WORTH DEFENDING. “These skills breathe confidence to express themselves against violations or fight physical threats.”

The training gave Rahab Lepishoi the power of 14 years to speak for other girls. During a recent visit to her older sister, she learned that the girls in the village were about to be circumcised, including an old childhood friend. “I told him about The dangers of MGF And to come with me to me to avoid (that), ”explains Lepishoi.

It follows in the footsteps of its educators, who visit communities distant from Transmara every year to raise awareness of genital mutilation, early marriage and the importance of education. “Now when I go to a place, I apply this skill and this confidence. I educate my friends, so that when they meet a boy, they will be confident and say what they mean, ”explains Lepishoi.

Self -defense lessons also offer some protection against sexual abuse, which can end up trapped many violent marriages. “When a girl reports to her parents that she was mistreated, it is common for the parents to form the girl to marry the man who mistreated her,” said Mushen.

Purity Risanoi, 15, has been at school for five years. His mother is a widow and raised her five children alone, but the cultural pressures of her community remain. “My family is always very traditional,” she says. “When a girl grows, she should get married and she cannot choose who married.”

His solution? Continue to study. One day, she wants to be a lawyer.

Musheni dreams of a career as a software engineer. She wants to come back here and use technology to raise her community. “Girls can do great things,” she says. “I want to inspire others to continue their dreams.”

___

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP norms To work with philanthropies, a list of supporters and coverage areas financed at Ap.org.

___

To learn more about Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse