In Sub-Saharan Africa, access to professional healthcare education remains limited, leaving many rural communities without adequate medical care. Recognizing this challenge, One Woman At A Time (OWAAT) has partnered with Ortum Mission Hospital in Kenya to address two critical issues: the lack of healthcare professionals fluent in local tribal languages and the financial barriers that prevent young women from becoming nurses.
Find out more: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5793415/
By offering scholarships, OWAAT is empowering young women to pursue nursing careers, breaking cycles of poverty, reducing the prevalence of harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and improving healthcare in underserved areas. The journey of these future nurses is both inspiring and transformational.
The Impact of Nursing Scholarships
Currently, OWAAT supports eight nursing students in Kenya. The tuition fees for nursing stand at 153,050 Kenyan Shillings (£1,156) per year, with each student required to complete 3.5 years of study.
- 3 of the students are young mothers balancing the demands of education and family.
- All students agree they would have undergone FGM without the scholarship.
By empowering women to become nurses, OWAAT is not only providing opportunities for individuals but also creating ripple effects throughout their communities. These nurses will bring better healthcare to rural areas, challenge traditional gender roles, and inspire future generations of women.
Your support can help more young women like Sheila, Florence, Isabella, and Janet achieve their dreams and transform their communities. Together, we can build a brighter future for all.
#EmpoweringWomen #NursingEducation #EndFGM #OneWomanAtATime
Sheila’s Story
Sheila, a 20-year-old nursing student, reflects on how her life would have unfolded without OWAAT’s support. “If I didn’t have this chance, I would have had to have FGM and get married,” Sheila explains. Instead of being confined to traditional roles, Sheila is pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse and hopes to inspire her younger sisters to follow her path. “I will be very happy when I finish my studies, God willing. Then I will come back and support others.”
Florence’s Story
Florence is a young mother balancing her dreams and sacrifices. Leaving her three-year-old daughter in the care of her grandmother, Florence travels 65km from home to train as a nurse. Despite the emotional toll of seeing her daughter only once a month, Florence’s determination is unwavering. “I want to give my baby and family a better life,” she says, her strength of character shining through.
Isabella’s Story
Isabella, 22, spent three years at home with no hope of attending college. As the third of six children in a family living in poverty, her father demanded she undergo FGM to secure a marriage. Isabella refused, and with her mother working tirelessly to support her siblings, she thought her dreams were out of reach. OWAAT stepped in, providing a scholarship that changed her life. “Now, I have a future to look forward to,” she shares.
“I stayed home for three years without having any hope of going to college” (Isabella).
Janet’s Story
Janet, 19, has been a fierce advocate against FGM since attending an awareness camp at Ortum Girls’ Primary School in 2011. As the third of five siblings supported solely by their mother, Janet is determined to use her education to help her family and others in need. “I realized that I am the only one who can help my family and the needy,” she says.
