Doreen Majala: Why I advocate for girl child education

Lawyer and media personality Doreen Majala who is known for her bold, and charming personality has disclosed why she advocates for quality education for the girl child.

In December 2019, Majala quit her news anchor job at NTV to focus on her legal career, mediation firm and philanthropy.

She has continued to use her platform to advocate for the right to education of the girl child in rural communities across Kenya.

She does this through the Doreen Majala Foundation (DMF), a non-profit she founded.

According to Majala, she has always been inspired to work towards improving livelihoods through sustainable development.

The former news anchor says that research she conducted opened her up to the reality that girls in rural areas face a myriad of challenges on a day-to-day basis.

These challenges included access to education participation and active performance of the girl child in education.

She adds that there still exists a gap in access to quality education for the girl child in rural communities across the country.

“In as much as we point out Socio-cultural, Economic and Environmental factors, our girls lack mentorship. We need community sensitization, comprehensive sexuality education and more enrolment of girls in schools,” Majala told the Star.

Her organization in an initiative dubbed ‘Beyond Pink Program’ supports participation and active performance of girls in education through community civic education, mentorship and provision of basic sanitary necessities.

This, Majala said promotes inclusivity, in that girls do not have to miss school when on their menstrual cycles. The girls are also taught about important aspects of life as they grow into adults.

“It is in line with the Government of Kenya’s Vision 2030 towards achieving inclusivity in the provision of quality basic education.”

The foundation also supports various charities among them youth organizations and community projects across Kenya with over 20 schools and community projects benefiting from the program, with the number expected to grow.