Florence

Florence’s Story

Attending college and graduating is the most honorable thing that has ever happened to Florence. She grew up in a village that not only frowned upon visionary girls but also one that was economically disadvantaged and largely marginalized. The rate at which gender determined opportunities was alarming for such a small village. Access to education was limited, but sons were still far more likely to proceed to college than daughters. Many girls were left behind and so was Florence.

The families lived in deep poverty by hard labor in quarries and off long-distance herding.

Florence’s family of 12 survived on much less income than an ordinary $2 per day. Her mother was the sole breadwinner who struggled to make ends meet. 

Without education, girls in her village were condemned to circumcision and early marriage. Florence’s three older sisters were forcefully married off before they each turned 15, an incident their father saw as a chance to cut down his expenses. He then channeled all the funds from the bride price to putting his sons through school at the expense of his young daughters who could not fight back. 

Florence wanted to become a nurse but the odds of her starting college were seemingly narrow until 2017 when GLOW was born. She became one of the pioneer beneficiaries of the scholarship. She graduated from Kabarnet Medical College in 2019 with a diploma in nursing and is now on the government payroll working as a nurse at the county government of Isiolo in northern Kenya.

Besides being able to support herself, she also funds the education of her six nieces and nephews.