A friend responded to my story last week (Part 2) that high school student Mercy’s dream to become a surgeon was unrealistic. I agree with him that poverty, lack of access to post-secondary education, and unemployment are stark realities in Kenya and not all girls will achieve their ambitions—however, I believe in the power of dreams for their young women.

“I want to be a pilot.” “I want to be a nurse.” “I want to be a teacher and come back and teach the children in my community.” The girls from WE Charity’s Kisaruni High School enthusiastically share their dreams with me as I sit at a desk in one of their classrooms in rural Kenya.

The Samburu girls push the bowl towards me inviting me to choose some beads. Leah invites the girls to show me how to thread a line of beads on the needle. With a swift movement, suggesting ten thousand hours of expertise, they swipe their needles through the bowl and voilà, their thread is stacked with beads. I follow suit, the beads avoid my needle like captives on the run. We all laugh.

As the new year begins, I’m thrilled to report that, thanks to you, my first Heartfelt Endeavours campaign raised a total of $6079 for Kisaruni High School in rural Kenya! Your contribution will have a ripple effect in the lives of these students and their communities.

In Kenya, even though education is free, there are many barriers to education, particularly for girls: early marriage, poverty, poor health, traditional domestic roles for females, gender-based biases. I’ve witnessed how these girls are transformed by their experience at WE primary schools.