Recently a very brave Maasai woman, Nice Nailantei Leng’ete, was named one of Time’s Most Influential People.   Nailantei has made it her life’s work to help girls escape female genital mutilation (FGM) or "the cut", escaping the practice herself at just eight years old.

https://youtu.be/oaIuLnqgs84

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO). FGM is a ritualistic practice done as a right of passage, often when the girls (as young as three) are betrothed.

“FGM, for Maasai, is a rite of passage from girlhood to womanhood. Women are not considered women unless they have gone through FGM,” Nailantei explains, “FGM in my community connects to girls ending their education, with child marriage, and with teenage pregnancies. A girl is 10 or 12 years old when she undergoes FGM. Then she’s told she’s a woman, and that means she’s ready for marriage, and that means she has children. They all go together. I saw pain. I saw death. Since I was 7 years old, I used to attend these ceremonies in my community with girls undergoing FGM. I saw my friends leave school and get married. And I wanted to continue my education.”

Nailatei escaped by running away with her sister and hiding in a tree until the ceremony was over. She then became the first girl in her village to go to secondary school (high school).  When the other girls in her village saw her in her school uniform it inspired them to run away, seek help, and avoid the ceremony as well.

Nailate has helped over 15,000 girls avoid FGM and doing so made her a wanted woman in the region of the Maasai Mara. She then decided to take a different approach and received permission to share information about sexual health and wellness within her village. After four years of educating her village and community, the elders were convinced that the Maasai would be more prosperous if women were indeed able to stay in school longer, marry later and forego "the cut".

Though the elders in Nailate's village renounced the practice of FGM in 2014 the prevalence still remains very high amongst some communities such as the Somali at 94%, Samburu 86%, Kisii 84%, and the Maasa at 78%, according to UNICEF 2017.

Because of brave girls and woman just like Nailatei, FGM is decreasing. The media also continues to play an important role in highlighting FGM as an abuse of human rights. Social media and radio stations around Kenya and other countries stream programs enabling platforms for community dialogue regarding FGM, human rights, and even avenues to report FGM practices to local and national authorities. Safe houses for those running away and escaping FGM and child marriages have also been placed throughout the region thanks to non-profit and humanitarian organizations as well as Kenya's government.

Today let's highlight and stand for Nice Nailate Leng’ete and all of the brave girls and women who stand up to human rights violations and brave the terrifying obstacles before them. Because of them, countless girls will have access to education, safety, and a healthy life.

Ashe Oleng
Asante sana

Jody Tabibu Naritisho Mattena
President/Founder Tabibu Africa, Inc

About Geo Kenya Safari's - More of why we trust and love our in-country Director

Africa....Full of adventure, mystery, exploration, and nature. Where you can travel through the Maasai Mara and see elephants, giraffes, lions, buffalo, leopards, and more then return to a tented camp where you are greeted with amazing food and hospitality. You can then sit on your front porch, enjoy other travelers in the cafe or bar, or wake early for a balloon ride adventure.


You can see the Nairobi National park along with Karen Blixen's home and museum. Then stay at a bed and breakfast at the Giraffe Manor.





Travel to Lake Nakuru and boat with the Hippopotamus and catch a glance at a Fisher Eagle catching its dinner.


The most popular is to witness the annual migration of zebra and wildebeest coming across from Tanzania to Kenya. Or to safari in Amboselli reserve in view of the famou Mount Kilimanjaro.

Whichever you choose, Geo Kenya Safari's will make the perfect plan for your trip of a life time. If you're tight on a budget they will make sure it fits. From staying in clean, safe, and friendly budget camps or even participating in group events. Geo Kenya will plan it all for your budget. If it's your 50th anniversary or honeymoon and you want luxury, that can also be easily done. Luxury camps complete with spa's, pools, and champagne. From a tight budget to spare no expense your trip will be one you will always remember.

When Tabibu Africa travels we always stay with the budget camps when we must provide our own lodging. Even though they are classified as "budget" camps they are still very clean, safe, and just what we need. Geo Kenya makes sure all of our needs are met.

 For more information email: GeoKenyasafaris@gmail.com or check out www.geokenyasafaris.com

The Gift of Opportunity

A message from one of our student sponsors:

Roughly a year ago, my kids and I signed on to be sponsors of a student at Little Giants School in Ruiru, Kenya, East Africa. What a great decision! When I told my kids that we were going to “adopt” a boy from Kenya so he could attend school, my little eight-year-old son could not be more excited. His response went something like this, “Really, Mom?! We get to have a BROTHER?! I’ve always wanted a BROTHER!” Needless to say, we had a little expectation reset and education that our “adopted” student wasn’t actually going to come live with us, but that we were going to be his key to the future—the reason he would be given the gift of opportunity. And, really, in life the gift of opportunity is literally life-changing.

We now sponsor a 9-year-old boy named Lewis. Lewis’ mother works 2 jobs to pay for her Lewis’ basic needs. Once she was released from her second job, she would go to Little Giants and mop all the floors by hand in trade for Lewis’ tuition. Hearing this, I just knew we needed to help her and Lewis. I believe that any mother who is willing to work that hard to pay for their child’s education deserves a helping hand. So, we happily sponsored Lewis.

Sponsoring a student with Little Giants is very easy. It is an investment of $155 per year. This pays for the student’s tuition for a year, a uniform (In Africa all children who attend school are required to wear a uniform. For many kids, this inhibits their ability to attend and, therefore, restricts them from getting an education at all.), a medical screening, and a meal each day. The meal is very important too—the poverty in Kenya is unlike anything you could imagine. While I haven’t actually been to Kenya, I have a very amazing mother who has and I’m telling you that seeing photos of children atop garbage piles scrounging for food is an image I won’t ever forget.

In return for your sponsorship, you will receive a letter from Little Giants (affiliated with Tabibu Africa, a US-based humanitarian organization) and a photo of your child. Our little Lewis’ photo hangs on our fridge and my kids ask about him daily. You will receive communication from your child two times a year. For us, the Christmas card was a real highlight!
It gives me a great sense of pride knowing that we are helping someone else in need; and, it gives my kids a perspective about how much they have and the opportunities they have been given. There are many Little Giants Students who need sponsorships. As if everything I’ve told you isn’t enough, a Little Giants sponsorship is also a tax deduction—good for you and good for your sponsored kiddo! I would love to see each student have a sponsorship. Imagine the difference we could make!

Facts you may not know

Facts you may not know.

• 70% of the world’s poorest people are women and girls.
• In some parts of the world a girl is more likely to be raped than learn to read.
• 1 in 7 girls in the developing world will be married before the age of 15.

Tabibu Africa embraces the need to empower women and girls in Kenya, through education and empowerment classes, you can help too.

Find out more about why we do what we do and how you can be a hero

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