Connecting Cultures. Inspiring Families.
Defending Nature. Protecting Girls.
Our Mission
Pastoralist Child Foundation (PCF) is a registered 501C3 nonprofit organization committed to advocacy against, and the intervention and prevention of female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage by providing support services, education, scholarships and enrichment programs.
PCF provides youth empowerment workshops and adult community dialogues that focus on FGM, child marriage, teen pregnancy, sexual & reproductive health and rights, HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, health & sanitation, the importance of formal education, and economic empowerment for women. We provide scholarships to students attending secondary boarding schools and universities.
We also focus on enhancing climate resilience for pastoralist communities while sharing sensitivities of gender issues, particularly in Samburu County and Maasai Mara regions. Our multi-faceted approach respects the cultural dynamics of the Kenyan people, ensuring that we acknowledge their customs while advocating for youth and their families. We recognize the nuanced complexities of women’s rights and the unique challenges faced by girls in this context. By empowering the villages we serve, we strive to create a balanced environment that respects culture while advancing gender equality and community resilience.
- Pastoralism contributes significantly to national and regional economies in Africa with a value estimated at US$1.3 trillion, which is equivalent to 30% of the continent’s gross domestic product.
- Approximately 230 millions girls and women worldwide are living with the consequences of FGM. In Africa, about 92 million girls age 10 years and above are estimated to have undergone FGM. FGM is practiced in 28 African countries, and to a lesser extent in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America.
- Over half of the world’s 58 million out-of-school children are girls, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Only 23% of poor, rural girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete primary school.
- PCF has reached over 10,000 students in guidance with life skills and personal development programs and has granted scholarships to girls who graduated from university with Bachelor’s Degrees in Economics and Finance, Entrepreneurship & IT, and Community Health.
