Help Her Learn

Studies have shown that with each year of primary education a girl receives, she can boost her earnings by 10 to 20 percent later in life.

"IT'S A MAN'S WORLD"

Find out how Peninah busts this all-to-common myth.

Peninah Nthenya Musyimi grew up in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya in an atmosphere of low expectations and surrounded by violence and prostitution. She feared one day she'd have to join the women who sold their bodies to survive.

"I started primary [school] without a uniform, without shoes, without a school bag, without anything," she says. But she graduated at the top of her class, all while washing clothes and dishes for her neighbors to help her family put food on the table.

She wanted to go to secondary school, but she had no money. Finally, one school gave her a scholarship. Peninah had to walk nine miles to and from school every single day but, her determination paid off! Peninah was the first person from her slum to qualify for college. Even though she didn't have enough money to attend, this didn't stop her. When Peninah discovered student-athlete scholarships were available, she learned how to play basketball in a month. Not only did she get that scholarship, but she played on Kenya's national basketball team!

Peninah didn't stop there. She went on to law school after graduating college. Then, she started an organization called Safe Spaces to help girls learn to lead through the power of sport. Peninah has dedicated her life to empowering girls to overcome challenges by helping them sharpen their leadership and decision-making skills.

GIVE TODAY

It is women like Peninah who inspire us at CARE to continue our work empowering girls and women. We see the incredible obstacles they overcome every single day, and we strive to provide them with the opportunities not only to lift themselves from poverty, but to pass on the tools and resources they've gained to help other girls and women do the same. Help girls like Peninah go to school, become leaders and work their way out of poverty by giving to CARE today!

Photo Credit:© 2011 Juliett Otieno/CARE