In the heart of communities in Kenya where traditionally nomadic herding communities prevail, the Pastoralist Child Foundation (PCF) has been working tirelessly to empower and improve the lives of young girls and women. Sayydah Garrett, the founder of PCF, sat down with us to share the organization’s mission and impact.
COBMEX® has been a proud supporter of PCF for years, sponsoring several fundraising projects and remains committed to creating positive change in these communities.
Join us as we delve into PCF’s mission, initiatives, and its aspirations for a brighter future.
A Passion for Change
Sayydah’s journey to founding PCF began with her fascination for elephants, which was ignited by a documentary. This newfound love led her to Kenya to visit an elephant orphanage, a trip which would transform her life.
Sayydah embarked on a safari that included a visit to a Maasai village, where she met Samuel Siriria Leadismo, co-founder of PCF and a member of a pastoralist community.
Samuel shared his desire to establish a community-based organization dedicated to eradicating female genital mutilation (FGM) and ending forced early marriages, all before his youngest sister could be subjected to these practices. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that girls can attend school and break free from these harmful traditions.
Drawing from Sayydah’s background in the non-profit sector, she pledged to assist Samuel any way possible. The Pastoralist Child Foundation was officially incorporated in April 2013, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey to make a positive difference in the lives of girls in pastoralist communities.
Mission
The Pastoralist Child Foundation aims to end FGM and forced early marriage in the Samburu and Maasai Mara regions by educating their communities at the grassroots level. They collaborate with teachers, religious leaders, and local authorities to replace harmful practices with alternative rites of passage, and sponsor girls’ schooling at secondary and university levels.
The Power of Education
Education has emerged as a beacon of hope and empowerment in these communities facing the hardships of droughts, limited access to education, and deeply ingrained patriarchal norms.
COBMEX® is proud to extend its support to PCF’s scholarship program, a truly transformative initiative that offers a lifeline to girls with promising academic records. It gives them access to quality education, breaking the cycle of illiteracy and dependency. Beyond academics, sponsorships include three daily meals, ensuring that girls have the necessities they need to thrive.
Scholarships equip girls with knowledge, confidence, and independence, enabling them to not only break free from regressive cultural practices but also become agents of change within their communities. Many of the scholarship recipients have gone on to study commerce, nursing, nutrition, and wildlife management and conservation, shattering gender-based limitations.
“We’re so proud to work with COBMEX® on creating solutions that promote positive healthy behaviours and empower girls to unlock their full potential to be the future leaders in their communities. We’re excited to see the results and reach even more girls in pastoralist communities.” – Samuel Leadismo, Co-Founder & Director Pastoralist Child Foundation
Edna was sponsored by PCF through secondary school and became the first scholarship recipient to graduate university in 2022.
Giving Women a Voice
The organization also focuses its efforts of shifting the mindset of those within the communities. PCF conducts workshops educating individuals of all ages and genders about critical issues such as FGM, AIDS, forced early marriage, self-awareness, and self-confidence. These workshops have provided women with a platform to speak out and share their experiences, a powerful way to change hearts and minds. By encouraging open dialogue, these initiatives are sparking change within communities, culminating in signed declarations to end FGM.
“With the continued support of COBMEX® since 2015, Pastoralist Child Foundation is making heralded success in the communities we serve in Kenya. The sponsored youth sports tournaments bring together hundreds of teenagers who, during the tournaments attend life changing and life saving workshops and dialogues. They return home empowered and, therefore, enthusiastically share what they learn with family and peers.” – Sayydah Garrett, Co-Founder & President, Pastoralist Child Foundation
Sponsored youth soccer tournament
Economic Independence
Economic empowerment is an important pillar for change supported by PCF. In support of this effort, COBMEX® provided seven sewing machines to PCF to help women in these pastoralist communities open a store and sell handmade items to tourists. This enabled them to open and run a self-managed shop that not only sustains their families but also funds girls’ education.
As the price of materials rose, these resourceful women sought new forms of income. They had the idea to purchase undernourished, affordable lambs and bulls from local markets and raising them on family lands to sell at a profit. COBMEX® supported this project as well, helping these women any way needed.
Mary is a seamstress who teaches women how to sew using the Singer machines donated by COBMEX®.
Leadership
Within these pastoralist communities, self-help groups have emerged as a powerful catalyst for economic independence and community development.
Sixty women have united their efforts under the banner of two self-help collectives, notably the Namayiana Women’s Group in Samburu. These groups, although subordinates to the larger PCF initiative, operate with a remarkable degree of autonomy. They have taken charge of their financial affairs, independently seeking funding opportunities to sustain their endeavors.
These self-help groups have not only transformed the lives of their members but have also ignited a spark of empowerment within their communities. Their success has served as a beacon of hope, inspiring other women to initiate their own self-help groups, thereby creating a ripple effect of economic independence and community development.
A Vision for the Future
PCF’s vision for the future is ambitious, yet promising and necessary. The organization aims to partner with the Kenyan government to eradicate FGM across the country by 2030. They plan to provide cash payments to families for essential needs and expand their support to more pastoralist communities. PCF dreams of establishing its own girls’ secondary school, fostering academic excellence and arts within the community.
Sayydah Garett with PCF-sponsored students in 2022.
At COBMEX®, we’re dedicated to making a positive impact, both globally and locally. Our support for the Pastoralist Child Foundation (PCF) reflects our commitment to social responsibility principles, driving us to share inspiring stories like this one.
