Happy almost 4th of July,
Before you pack up the car, fire up the grill, or jump in a lake this holiday weekend, I wanted to let you know how grateful I am for you. You may not have realized it at the time, but your support over the past five years helped the KGSA girls do something extraordinary: survive the ripple effects of a global crisis.
This article from Ms. Magazine by my colleague Kakenya Ntaiya explains just how deep those effects still run:
On the Fifth Anniversary of COVID‑19, the Crisis for Women and Girls Isn’t Over
In countries across Africa, COVID-19 didn’t end, it evolved into long-term setbacks, especially for girls:
- Teen pregnancy and child marriage surged
- Many girls never returned to school
- Gender-based violence increased
- Health services dried up
- And the emotional toll lingers still
At KGSA, we saw our students’ families pushed to the brink. And we saw how easy it is for girls to get left behind unless someone steps in. That someone has been you. Because of your generosity, KGSA remained open. We provided safe housing, mental health care, meals, mentorship, and academic support. We didn’t just help girls return to school; we made sure they had everything they needed to stay, succeed, and lead.
Five years on, your support is still urgent. Recovery doesn’t happen on its own: it takes a community. It takes people who care enough to keep showing up, even when the headlines fade. Thank you for being one of those people.