GIving GIrls a Future at Jeri Savuto Rescue Center
In 2019, ten-year-old Monica’s parents arranged her marriage. She was to become the ninth wife of a man old enough to be her grandfather – and, before the marriage happened, Monica would have to face the horror of FGM.
Monica had grown up witnessing older girls pinned down for the “cut” before being taken out of school and married off to older men. Only the day before, a friend had warned her that their families were preparing for a circumcision ritual where they would be the “guests.”
Unwilling to give up on their futures, the girls made a plan to run away. That night, they snuck out of their home village and spent the whole night walking, hiding from animals and strange men along the way. It was a dangerous journey, but Monica knew she had no choice if she wanted to continue her education.
“We had to save ourselves and safeguard our dreams.” she said.
The next morning, two exhausted girls arrived at the house of the area chief and shared their stories with him. He assured them that they would be safe, and they were welcomed with open arms by the local Methodist church. They were enrolled in a local school, made friends with shelter residents who’d faced similar struggles, and recovered from their trauma together.
The story was not at all an uncommon one for the girls at Jeri Savuto Rescue Center. During a recent interview with the school, another student – who preferred to remain anonymous – shared how she had learned about her impending marriage from her father: “The same day my father forced me to go to a sixty-eight-year-old man and be with him as his bride, I refused to go and my father threatened to disown me… he wanted me to be married so he could get rid of me.”
Another girl recounted that “After school, my father called me and told me I would not go to school anymore. He had found me a husband… I could not sleep that night, very early in the morning I went to the chief, and the chief took me to the rescue center.”
Today, Monica is one of dozens of young girls who escaped child marriage at the Jeri Savuto Rescue Center for Girls in Dira, Kenya. Friends describe her as a cheerful, outgoing girl who dreams of becoming a human rights lawyer and protecting the rights of girls like herself. The Jerri Savuto Rescue Center changed Monica’s life, giving her a haven from abuse and empowering her to reach for a better future.
Jerri Savuto Rescue Center has transformed the lives of young girls across West Pokot County. However, the community’s water scarcity puts the girls’ health and safety at risk.
While the school has access to a local water system, this system is often unreliable. When the piped water is unavailable, girls often walk up to 3 kilometers every day to collect water. This water isn’t always safe, exposing the students and staff to waterborne diseases.
This year’s project will provide the center with a full safe water system. With access to safe, clean, and reliable water, the girls at JSRC can stay safe from waterborne diseases, pursue their studies, and make change in their communities.
We’re teaming up with South Slope Wines and Bistro in Elk Grove, California to raise money for this project! If you’re in the Elk Grove area, stop by on May 3rd for delicious food and wine, live music and the chance to make a change.
You can register for the event or donate at the link below.
