• LOCATION: Kitale, Kenya
• PROJECT: Girls’ Sponsorship Project and Shelter
• DIRECTOR: Rev. Elijah and Rebekah Wafula
• FINANCIAL NEED: $32,000 Construction cost

Girls in rural areas of Kenya struggle in many ways—especially to stay in school. But to make matters worse, the ancient tradition of genital mutilation has made life intensely painful for them. Many girls are rounded up and forced by their parents to endure this painful ”surgery”—which is usually performed in unsanitary conditions. After the procedure, many girls suffer from urinary tract infections and other complications. And sex during marriage becomes a painful burden to endure.

We believe Christians must work to end female genital mutilation, or FGM, once and for all. We can do this through education programs and by providing safe houses for girls who are fleeing the practice. Rev. Elijah Wafula will be directing this shelter in the city of Moi’s Bridge, near Kitale, and Monicah Wanjiru will lead special girls’ events to build their self-esteem so that they can understand their value in Christ.

In 2021 we raised $10,000 to complete the girls’ dormitory at our school there, and we have been paying school fees for a group of at-risk girls who were rescued from female genital mutilation. Now we want to expand the school by adding additional classrooms and bathrooms.