Safe Passage: Empowering Kenyan Students Through Safe Transport

In rural Kenya, children walking home from school face incredible danger. Without safe transport, students walk long distances through remote plantations where predators lurk. Sexual assault, kidnapping, and rape are common. As a result, many children drop out of school to protect themselves, and never obtain the education that opens doors to employment opportunity and financial independence.

Sr Miriam Goretti Auma and the Sisters from the Cor Mariae School in Kiambu, Kenya, saw a simple solution to this devastating problem. So they asked Sisters Rising Worldwide for help to purchase a passenger van that could safely transport students. Thanks to SRW donor support, the Sisters received a 27-passenger van, and with it, the students were safe from harm. “The school van has had a profound and life-changing impact on our students and the broader community,” Sr Miriam says. 

Sr Miriam reports that since acquiring the van, school enrollment and retention rates have significantly improved, and many of the girls who previously dropped out because of safety concerns have re-enrolled in school. And that’s not all. With the van, students can finally take part in sports, academic, and other cultural events crucial to social development and boosting self confidence. The wider community has benefited as well, with the van being used for outreach programs and other shared transport needs.

Sr Miriam sends her profound thanks to Sisters Rising Worldwide, and all the donors who helped change the course of her community’s future. “Your generosity has already saved lives, restored dignity, and opened doors for a brighter future for our students,” she says. “Thank you for your belief in our mission and your invaluable support!”