Naiposhi is 9 years old, and she is attending a boarding school called Upendo Friends School in Arusha. The headmistress there, Isabella Mwampamba, along with Naiposhi’s oldest brother, Salaton, helped us rescue her from an agreement her father made with a 55 year old Maasai man to be his 3rd wife when she hit puberty. She has been at Upendo Friends for her second year and doing so well academically. She came never having any knowledge of English or Swahili, the country’s official language. She is getting all A’s in school. She was able to return home for a month this past summer. She loved being with her mother and sisters, but she was anxious to get back to school. Education for girls is the key to their future. Without it, they are destined to an early marriage which is loveless and is filled with building the home, taking care of children, caring for all the animals, walking miles to find water, and making food. Sadly, there are many other girls just like her needing an education.
Naiposhi with Debbie on a Safari trip day. We had such a great time!