Story Courtesy of World Radio
For many teenage girls in Kenya, staying in school is not simply a matter of showing up.
Often, it is a daily struggle against poverty, stigma, and the absence of basic necessities, particularly sanitary towels.
That reality drives the work of Vickie Winkler, founder of Health Education Africa Resource Team (HEART), and Sally Kamau, who leads the Freedom for Girls project under HEART.
HEART is working to ensure vulnerable girls have the support they need to remain in the classroom and pursue their education.
Vickie says many girls drop out not because they lack ability or determination, but because circumstances quietly push them out.
“Education changes everything but a girl first has to be present in class,” Vickie says
“If she keeps missing school because of things she cannot control, eventually she falls behind and loses confidence.”
One of the most overlooked barriers to school attendance is menstrual health.
Without access to sanitary products, many girls miss several days of school every month—days that add up and affect their performance and self-esteem.
Through Freedom for Girls (FfG), HEART works to address this challenge by providing menstrual products, mentorship, and safe spaces where girls can speak openly about the difficulties they face.
Sally says the impact of such support is immediate and visible.
“Sometimes what keeps a girl out of school is something very basic,” she explains.
“When we provide what she needs and remove the shame around it, she can concentrate on learning and participating fully in school life.”
Beyond practical assistance, the program encourages girls to see themselves as capable and worthy of opportunity.
“When a girl realizes that people care about her future, it changes the way she sees herself,” Vickie says.
“She begins to believe that her dreams are possible.”
Sally adds that keeping girls in school requires sustained support and awareness.
“Enrollment alone is not enough,” she says.
“We have to make sure girls are able to attend consistently and stay engaged so they can complete their education.”
The work of HEART shows a simple but powerful idea: removing small barriers can open the door to life-changing opportunities.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Vickie and Sally shared their experiences during the podcast The World and Everything In It, in an episode titled “A Chance to Stay in School.” They were interviewed by Jenny Rough in Nairobi, about the ongoing effort to help vulnerable girls remain in school and pursue brighter futures. Here is a direct link to the story. To listen, click on the small arrow in the box below the title on the left hand side: https://wng.org/podcasts/a-chance-to-stay-in-school-1772059016  https://wng.org/podcasts/a-chance-to-stay-in-school-1772059016