Creating Safe Spaces That Protect Every Girl's Future

A scholarship changes one girl's life, but mentorship can change an entire school. Through reproductive health education, mental health support, and mentorship, Light Up Hope is equipping thousands of girls with the knowledge and confidence to stay in school and build brighter futures.

Students sited during a reproductive health mentorship session.

Photo credit: Gracious Aganda/Light Up Hope

Every Girl Deserves a Chance

For many girls growing up in rural Kenya, the dream of completing high school is threatened long before they sit for their final examinations. Early marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), teenage pregnancy, poverty, and lack of basic menstrual hygiene products continue to force thousands of bright young women out of school every year.

Light Up Hope's High School Scholarship Program was created to change that reality.

Our scholarship rescues vulnerable but academically promising girls by covering school fees and providing the essentials they need to thrive; including school supplies, sanitary towels, body lotion, and other personal care items. Beyond financial support, every scholarship recipient receives ongoing mental health support and mentorship to help them navigate the emotional and social challenges they face throughout their education.

But every scholarship application reminds us of one painful reality.

For every girl we are able to sponsor, many more are left behind simply because the resources are not enough.

Instead of allowing those girls to miss out completely, we asked ourselves one question:

How can we reach more girls, even when we cannot sponsor every girl?

The answer became our in-school mentorship program.

Rather than limiting mentorship to scholarship recipients alone, Light Up Hope began offering mentorship sessions to every girl attending schools where our sponsored students are enrolled. Today, these sessions cover topics including reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, mental health, career development, self-esteem, leadership, and making informed life choices.

So far, the program has reached more than 8,000 learners across multiple secondary schools.

The impact has been immediate.

Teachers have observed that students are more willing to ask difficult questions and discuss sensitive issues with external mentors than they often are with school staff.

"I appreciate Light Up Hope for bringing the mentorship to our school because the girls do not easily open up to us as their teachers, but with you they have."
— Teacher Lilian, Tawa Girls High School

By creating safe, non-judgmental spaces for honest conversations, girls are gaining knowledge that empowers them to protect their health, remain in school, and make informed decisions about their futures.

Students sited during a reproductive health mentorship session.

Photo credit: Gracious Aganda/Light Up Hope

Accurate Information Gives Girls Confidence to Choose Their Futures

Many of the schools Light Up Hope serves are located in or near communities where early marriage, FGM, and teenage pregnancy remain significant challenges.

For example, Makueni County borders Kajiado County, where cultural practices have historically contributed to high rates of child marriage and early pregnancies among adolescent girls.

These realities make comprehensive mentorship even more important.

Recently, our facilitator, Dr. Caleb Oketch, led reproductive health and menstrual hygiene sessions at Mwaani Girls High School and Good Shepherd Girls High School, reaching more than 1,600 students.

At Good Shepherd Girls High School, the need for these conversations was clear.

"Early pregnancy has been one of the challenges affecting our students. We are grateful that Light Up Hope came to equip our girls with accurate information that will help them make informed decisions."
— Headteacher, Good Shepherd Girls High School

By equipping girls with scientifically accurate, age-appropriate reproductive health information alongside mentorship and emotional support, Light Up Hope is helping young women remain focused on education instead of becoming statistics.

Dr. Caleb facilitates an interactive reproductive health session.

Photo 2 credit: Gracious Aganda/Light Up Hope

The need for mentorship continues to grow.

Every school we visit requests additional sessions. Teachers ask us to return. Students ask more questions than time allows us to answer. Communities recognize that these conversations are helping girls stay in school, avoid early pregnancies, and dream beyond the limitations placed on them.

Yet many schools still have no access to this kind of mentorship.

With additional resources, Light Up Hope can expand these life-changing sessions to more schools; including schools where we currently do not sponsor students; and reach thousands more girls with knowledge, encouragement, and hope.

Because every girl deserves the chance to learn, to dream, and to choose her own future.

Students sharing their opinion during a mentorship session.

Photo Credit: Gracious Aganda/Light Up Hope

Support more girls…

Every contribution helps us reach another girl with the knowledge, confidence, and support she needs to stay in school and build a brighter future. Whether through sponsorship, mentorship funding, or a one-time donation, you can help create safe spaces where girls can learn, grow, and thrive.

Join us in ensuring that no girl's future is determined by circumstances beyond her control.