WISER, THE BRIDGE TO SUCCESS

Only 5% of girls reach secondary school in Muhuru due to pregnancy, HIV orphanage, and early marriage. Few receive the support necessary for success.
10% of teen girls in Muhuru have HIV. Education drops girls’ risk of acquisition by 50% and improves child survival. Educated girls change communities.
WISER is a community development organization focused on the social empowerment of underprivileged girls through education.
In 2006, prior to the creation of WISER, only 5% of girls transitioned from primary to secondary school. An assessment of teen sexual and economic behaviors was completed in 2009.  In a community with 38% HIV prevalence, half of all 12 year olds reported having sex for money to get basic supplies, including sanitary pads, to stay in school. Most girls dropped out of primary school due to unexpected pregnancy, the death of a parent, or arranged marriage. Those girls that completed primary school earned poor grades and rarely entered secondary school. The continual pattern of underachievement reinforces the widespread belief that girls are a commodity to be traded, rather than educated, for a small herd of cattle.
WISER is the solution. By training teachers, providing mentoring and rigorously monitoring academic progress, primary students now succeed academically. WISER has doubled the number of girls finishing primary school. WISER works with 14 schools comprised of 700 students to provide educational support for girls. We train Kenyan teachers to be both better educators and champions of girls’ personal and academic potential. We change the system.
We provide sanitary pads for all girls so no girl is forced to choose between missing school due to menstruation or finding a “sugar daddy” for support. Community events highlight girls’ achievements and the top girls receive full scholarships to secondary school.
Mentoring, improved education, and enhanced social support has increased the number of girls in Muhuru Bay who qualify for secondary school by over 300%. Now these girls are celebrated by the community and are changing how a girl is valued.
WISER produces successful girls, changing how girls are valued. Girls across Muhuru now know they are worth more than two cows; their demands for education and a brighter future are increasingly met by receptive parents, teachers, and community members. WISER’s continued presence in the community enhances the prestige and opportunities attainable by girls around the area.  With your help, WISER will help girls meet their potential, curb the cycle of early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and HIV.