Salome grew up in the rural community of Oloosiyoi with her parents and four siblings. Her parents are subsistence farmers, but when droughts hit and their crops failed, they struggled to provide for their family’s basic needs. On school holidays, Salome and her sister had to work at neighboring farms to earn extra money for uniforms, books and school supplies. It wasn’t easy, but Salome graduated from primary school and earned a place at Kisaruni, which gave her a chance at a secondary school education she may not have otherwise been able to access. “Everyone in my community was so happy when they found out about my results!” says Salome. “I went to visit my primary school and the children ran toward me when they saw me coming.”

Marcella Sang was one of just 36 students across all of Kenya to score an A or A- in English. She was also the first student in Narok County to earn an A in English.

Marcella grew up in the rural community of Pimbiniet, one of 11 children. She’s the first in her family to graduate from high school. Like her classmate Salome, Marcella also had to overcome obstacles to finish primary school. Her parents struggled to provide her with the supplies she needed for school. But Marcella worked hard and received top marks in her primary school exams before being accepted at Kisaruni. She hopes to become a journalist.

This school has changed my life completely,” says Marcella. “I have gained leadership skills and I have excelled in academics. When I started at Kisaruni, I was shy and not able to address people in public. That’s changed—I have a voice now.”

To help ensure access to a sustainable source of clean water in Udawad, WE Charity worked with community members to rehabilitate a hand pump and install a new water tank outside the community’s school. Water pipelines were also installed to bring water directly to homes like Ramli’s. Now, more than 900 people, including Ramli and her family, have access to clean water and no longer worry about waterborne diseases.

Now that Ramli spends much less time collecting water, she has more time to look after her home and focus on her farming. She can care for and irrigate her crops, even during the dry season, ensuring that there is enough nutritious food to feed her family.

“Now, water is accessible throughout the year,” Ramli explained. “This has made life easier. Water is available for agriculture and cattle, and this has resulted in better production.”

Joy radiates from the young mother as she carefully cradles her newborn for the first time. Sunshine floods in through the window in her room in the Baraka maternity wing, creating an inviting place for her to recover, while the nurses and doctors check in on her regularly.

In the past two years, Baraka Hospital helped deliver 213 healthy babies in the new maternity wing, giving mothers exceptional care during labor, and providing support for nutrition, hygiene and immunizations after the baby is born. Providing a place for a safe delivery is just one step to ensuring a new baby gets the best start in life. At Baraka, care starts early in the pregnancy and continues long after the baby is born. The clinic gives soon-to-be-mothers education about pregnancy and potential complications, tetanus vaccinations and iron supplements, and ultrasounds and physicals to monitor mother’s and baby’s health.

After the baby is born, staff closely monitor the health of both baby and mother, with a check-up at two and six weeks. In addition to the check-up, health care staff talk about the importance of hygiene, nutrition and breastfeeding for the baby.

But health care services don’t stop there. As the baby grows older, Baraka provides a Child Welfare Clinic program to provide immunizations, assess developmental milestones and monitor nutrition and growth. More than 4,000 children under the age of five have been immunized, preventing communicable diseases and ensuring proper growth.

The increase in income means greater opportunities for education, better access to nutritious foods and more involvement in decision-making at the household level. The leadership programming and the increase in income also empowers the young women, giving them confidence in their own voice and in making decisions about their future. This programming also addresses gender equality, leading to healthier and more educated households, greater economic opportunities, and an improved outlook for future generations.

A few times a week, members of the girls club in Totoras wake up early and walk through the morning mist to school. Normally, they would practice their weaving skills, turning red, yellow, blue and pink yarn into cintas (hair ribbons) or fajas (belts).

But today is different. Even though they’re now expert weavers, they leave their looms at the side of the room. Today they’re starting a completely new set of lessons on animal husbandry. They’ve crowded together, talking excitedly amongst themselves about what they might learn. Then the instructor, a neighbor from the nearby community of San Miguel, starts to speak, and the girls quiet down. Their first lesson is about how to care for livestock, and includes tips on things like vaccinations and proper feeding. Over the coming weeks, they’ll learn how to look after their flocks, how to raise lambs and some savvy business skills.

By learning how to look after a flock of sheep, members of the girls’ club take their future into their own hands. They can raise the animals themselves and sell lambs to others looking to start their own flock. Or they can sell wool at the market. Or they can keep the wool for their weaving, which helps keep costs down and lets them make a bigger profit from the sale of their crafts. It’s their choice.

These lessons are empowering the young people of Totoras. By learning how to lead healthier lives, they’re removing barriers to their education and helping their community thrive. By learning how to raise a herd of sheep, they’re opening up new opportunities for themselves and their families.

Eventually the first class on animal care comes to a close, and there’s a quick conversation about when they’re meeting next. When that’s done, the girls have a few minutes before school starts, so they step outside to get some fresh air. The mist has vanished and the sun is shining.

Viola Kirui stands in the Oleleshwa garden, leaning over a bush with a pair of pruning shears. This spring, the vibrant greenery has reached the height of her knees, brushing the yellow hem of her uniform skirt. “We have been taught to live as a community,” says Viola, smiling. The highlight of her time at Oleleshwa has been making friends and becoming part of a community that makes decisions together. She already feels like a different person from the timid young woman who first transferred here.

“Being in Oleleshwa has made me stronger, bolder, courageous and outspoken. We are the seniors. Therefore we are expected to be the role models to the others,” says Viola, stooping to inspect a yellow-and-green leaf.

For students, Oleleshwa Secondary School isn’t just a place of learning. It’s the home where they live, socialize, play and grow as leaders and friends. For Viola, gardening is a way to give back to Oleleshwa and beautify her new home. But her love of nature runs even deeper than that. You see, Viola’s personal heroine is Wangari Muta Mathaai, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning environmentalist from Kenya.

“She dedicated all her life to conserving the environment,” says Viola, surveying the flourishing garden with pride. “At some point she stood out bold to face the government when they wanted to clear a forest for the sake of erecting some skyscrapers. Though she was hurt a lot physically, mentally and emotionally, she eventually won.”

You can see the same tenacity in Viola, and in all the Oleleshwa learners, as they greet each new day with enthusiasm, curiosity and determination to plot their futures and succeed on their own terms.