Women professionals move to halt girl-child school dropouts

Nyanza women professionals under the umbrella Amako Women Group and Cardolinda Foundation, have launched a campaign to reduce the rate of girl-child school dropout in the county.

Amako chair, Susan Owino blamed poverty and lack of mentors within the community for the high rate of drop out among young girls.

“In Suna East, especially in Kwa location, the rate at which young girls conceive while in primary school is worrying. If this trend continues, we shall have a society of un-empowered women,” she said.

The initiative comes barely a month after the media reported of a school in the location where seven primary school candidates dropped out at the same week after becoming pregnant. According to Ms Owino, the victims are lured into illicit relationships by young men who are mostly school dropouts and drug addicts.

“The Amako group, in partnership with Cardolinda Foundation, therefore, seeks to provide essential materials for the candidates and also offer counseling to the already affected girls.

essential items

We are aware that sometimes, demand for these basic things may push the girls into acts that put their lives at risk of early pregnancies,” she said.

Girls from four of the most affected schools, Radienya, Rabuor Taya, Opasi and Kwa Hill primary schools, attended the event and received sanitary towels, soaps and other essential learning materials from the women.