Girls Leading Change: World Vision Kenya Champions Girl Empowerment on International Day of the Girl Child
Nairobi, Kenya, October 11, 2025 – As the world marks the International Day of the Girl Child under the theme “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis,” World Vision Kenya (WVK) is celebrating the resilience and leadership of girls who are breaking barriers and transforming their communities despite immense challenges.
Across Kenya, girls continue to face early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and female genital mutilation (FGM). UNICEF reports that nearly 23 percent of girls in the country are married before the age of 18, while climate change and poverty have worsened their vulnerability, keeping many out of school. Yet, in the face of these crises, Kenyan girls are rising as leaders demanding education, equality, and dignity.
World Vision Kenya has been at the forefront of this transformation through its Big Dream to End Child Marriage (BDECM) program, which targets seven counties where girls are most at risk. The program empowers girls to stay in school, access healthcare, and participate in community leadership. To date, WVK has reached more than 4.2 million people, including 2.24 million children, through its girls’ empowerment initiatives.
Among its achievements, WVK has rescued and reintegrated 745 girls who escaped early marriages and harmful practices, giving them psychosocial support and school reentry opportunities. Over 1,558 girls have received school fees subsidies, while 218 are enrolled in vocational training to pursue their career goals. In addition, 640 girls who had dropped out have returned to formal education.
To nurture leadership, more than 6,100 girls have been trained in life skills and child rights advocacy through school and community clubs. In regions where FGM remains prevalent, 1,897 girls have gone through Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP) that celebrate womanhood without harm. WVK has also distributed over 28,700 dignity kits and improved menstrual hygiene facilities in schools to keep girls learning with dignity.
“The girls we work with are not waiting for change; they are leading it,” said Gilbert Kamanga, National Director of World Vision Kenya. “Their courage, leadership, and resilience are shaping a better future for Kenya. When girls lead, communities thrive.”
As Kenya joins the world in celebrating girls, WVK is calling on governments, donors, and communities to invest in girls’ education and leadership because empowering girls today builds a stronger, more equal tomorrow.
