The College Experience: Thriving Beyond the Classroom
In the dynamic landscape of college life, GLOW Foundation recognizes the importance of a well-rounded approach to education.
For our empowered young women, engaging in extracurricular activities is not just a means of stress relief; it's a gateway to a balanced and fulfilling college experience.
Unleashing Potential Beyond Academia
At GLOW, we encourage our girls to explore and embrace activities they are passionate about, creating a safe space where they can unwind, recharge, and discover a world beyond textbooks.
Whether leading a team, collaborating in clubs, or problem-solving in communities, these activities provide practical insights that complement their academic knowledge.
Meet Jane, a shining example of the transformative power of extracurricular involvement. Seeking positivity and personal growth, Jane joined her school's field hockey team.
Little did she know that this decision would not only contribute to her physical well-being but also open doors to a world of essential values like teamwork, team spirit, and collective effort.
A Community Beyond the Game
As a striker in her second year and co-captain of the school team, Jane's journey goes beyond the field. The hockey team has become a community where teammates are more than just players; they are friends supporting each other both on and off the field.
Through tournaments and playoffs, Jane interacts with influential figures, including the founder of the Nakuru Hockey Club, expanding her social and professional network.
Connecting on a National Level
Currently playing in the Kenya Super League, Jane acknowledges the platform it provides to bring together hockey players from across the country. This exposure allows her to connect with professionals who share a passion for the sport.
In these interactions, Jane gains valuable insights from players who have successfully navigated their careers in hockey.
Beyond Boundaries: Cultural Enrichment and Global Perspectives
Field hockey isn't just a game for Jane; it's a passport to new horizons. The opportunity to travel for tournaments adds an enriching dimension to her experiences and, most importantly, enhances her cultural adaptability.
Through the sport, she is breaking geographical boundaries and gaining a broader perspective on life.
Breaking Chains: GLOW's Holistic Approach to Overcoming Educational Barriers
While sports play an important role in many of our girls' lives, our commitment goes far beyond the playing field. We understand the multifaceted challenges that young women, particularly the women in sub-Saharan Africa, encounter on their educational journey.
Poverty, a pervasive force, stands out as the greatest barrier, weaving itself into a complex tapestry of obstacles that hinder girls from disadvantaged rural communities.
What is happening with women in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Stark Reality
A quick summary of the disheartening scenario today can be illustrated with a statistic that reveals that 95% of girls from such communities never complete secondary school. The number of women who actually go to higher education is far rarer, evidencing the need for women’s education charities, like GLOW.
This staggering number reflects the harsh reality faced by these girls, where basic needs like transport, school fees, uniforms, and even food become unattainable luxuries. In the face of such hardships, girls are the first casualties of a system that fails to provide the essential support they need.
The Domino Effect of Poverty
When families grapple with poverty, it's the girls who bear the brunt of the impact. Faced with insurmountable challenges, they become statistics—falling prey to field work, forced early marriage, early pregnancy, and various forms of abuse.
Without access to education, their potential remains untapped, and the opportunity to shape their own futures is unjustly denied. This is why we want to change this.
GLOW's Holistic Model: A Beacon of Hope
GLOW Foundation's dedication to breaking these chains is not a mere aspiration—it's a mission deeply rooted in the understanding of the interconnected challenges these young women face.
Our holistic model addresses the complex nature of the obstacles, acknowledging the individual context of each GLOW girl.
Through GLOW's holistic initiatives, we systematically break down barriers to education.
Our scholarships go beyond tuition, extending to cover essential needs like laptops, mattresses and sheets, menstrual products, and so forth, to ensure that financial constraints don't deprive these girls of their educational journey.
Recognizing the paramount importance of guidance, our Mentorship Program pairs young women with many accomplished female business leaders, providing them with invaluable insights and great support. Nothing better than female mentors helping shape the future female leaders!
But beyond mentorship, our Entrepreneurship Training equips our scholarship recipients with the skills necessary for income-generating activities, fostering self-sufficiency and a profound sense of empowerment. That is to make sure our GLOW girls can take care of themselves in the long-term.
We also hold community service as a core value, which is why we instill a sense of responsibility, encouraging our girls to give back and create a ripple effect of positive change within their communities.
Along those lines, we also emphasize accountability. Our buddy system reinforces the interconnected support network that ensures no girl is left to navigate these challenges alone. This is how we strive to create this community of smart, inspiring and strong women!
How You Can Help: Support Women's Education with GLOW
Our mission at GLOW Foundation is only possible with the support of individuals just like you who share our commitment to women's education. You can make a meaningful impact by supporting GLOW through donations - every dollar counts!
But if you want to know, consider the tangible difference your support can make: a School Backpack can be paid with a $25.00 donation or Laboratory Equipment empowering one of our girls in STEM (and we have quite a few 💪) for $60.00. You could even donate the equivalent of a semester's full tuition and board for one girl at $2,150.00.
If you're ready to make a lasting commitment to our cause and support women's education on a monthly basis, we also have some basis for you too! Books for a Semester, for example, could be paid with a $32.00 monthly gift over a year. You can even buy a laptop with a $42.00 monthly gift.
But if you cannot afford to donate too much, but still want to help. Don’t worry, we also got you. If you have 10 bucks to spare (what’s that? maybe 2 or 3 lattes 😄), you help us with the equivalent to sanitary pads for 2 girls for 1 entire year! Just $10.00!
But if you are feeling generous, let me tell you that one year's full tuition and board for one Glow girl at $360.00 🤩
Your contributions go beyond mere donations; they empower us to offer comprehensive college scholarships, impactful mentorship programs, skills training… 😅Ultimately, you help us create opportunities for meaningful change for these women, and I am glad you got to meet Jane.
Join us in transforming lives and breaking down barriers to education. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the future of young women, providing them with the tools they need to succeed.