Growing up in a community where women’s voices were silenced and opportunities were few, I learned early that success required courage, resilience, and a vision for change. Raised by my grandmother, I recall when she disguised me as a boy named “Mati” so we could sell tea because only men were allowed to. That moment ignited my determination to rise above the limits placed on girls like me.
Through dedication to education, I earned sponsorship and vowed to one day help another child access learning. Later, when I married into a deeply traditional community in Tharaka where FGM, early marriages, and low literacy were common I found myself as the only woman in decision-making spaces, determined to change the narrative. From that resolve, I mobilized women to fight harmful traditions and promote education.
What began as a grassroots movement grew into the Tharaka Women Welfare Programme (TWWP), a community-driven effort transforming lives across Tharaka. Our Alternative Rite of Passage offers girls a safe transition into womanhood without FGM…….