About the Cause
Gender equality is a cross-cutting theme in all Dubai Cares’ education programs with an approach that aims to secure equal access for boys and girls to safe learning environments with adequate facilities, materials and academic support from gender sensitized teachers and communities.
My Story
Being pregnant as a teen is a horrible experience. My sister, Beryl, was once a victim in 2004. However, she was lucky to have understanding parents that rescued her and she continue with education. Homabay County in Kenya is a hotspot for teenage pregnancies just as many other parts of Kenya. According to a recent survey, up to 300 teenage girls get pregnant and drop out of school in Homabay alone every year. National figures are higher. Schools in Homabay refuse to accommodate pregnant students. Similarly, society feels that pregnant girls have become mothers and they should enter marriage as soon as possible. It hurts me to witness young girls destroying their future like this. Most of the girls are lured to sex in exchange for money to purchase sanitary towels. Other girls also get the money to support their poor parents. For example, Edwina has a three-month-old baby now. She is just 15 years. She got pregnant following an ordeal to raise money to buy a math textbook that her parents could not purchase. Despite eventually acquiring the book, Edwina's future is ruined!!! Supporting girls like Edwina makes more sense for me. I want this campaign to take the goal further and save our desperate girls in Homabay.