Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya's Powerful Address
Championing Change: Youth, Rights, and the Power to Transform Societies
In December 2024, Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya, the President and Founder of Kakenya’s Dream delivered an inspiring address at the UNFPA’s 20th Rafael M. Salas Memorial Lecture. Dr. Kakenya is a globally recognized advocate for girls’ health and human rights and her powerful talk highlighted the importance of education, empowerment, and community-driven change in advancing the rights of young girls in rural Kenya and across Africa.
Women for Change started supporting Dr Kakenya Ntaiya in 2017. We are supporting around 100 students to gain a tertiary education either in Kenya (for graduates of her girls’ school, the Kakenya Center for Excellence), or for those with leadership aspirations, here in Australia.
The Kakenya Center for Excellence offers a high-quality education to girls who might not otherwise have access to it. It also provides them with life skills and leadership training, as well as health education and support.
Dr. Kakenya’s personal story is a testament to resilience and determination. She escaped the devastating practices of child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) in her Maasai community and became the first woman from her village to attend university in the United States.
At the heart of Dr. Kakenya’s message was the importance of creating safe spaces for girls, where they can not only learn but also flourish. She emphasized how education is key to unlocking opportunities for girls and communities, enabling them to overcome poverty and inequality. Through her work with Kakenya's Dream, Dr. Kakenya has helped more than 10,000 girls in Kenya access education, escape harmful cultural practices, and realize their potential.
Women For Change's partnership with Kakenya’s Dream reflects a shared commitment to creating lasting transformation through education and leadership development.
Dr. Kakenya’s talk also highlighted the critical need for collaboration between organizations, communities, and governments to address the systemic challenges that girls face, such as poverty, gender-based violence, and limited access to education. The partnership between Kakenya’s Dream and Women For Change is a shining example of how global solidarity can spark meaningful change.
In her address, Dr. Kakenya also shared a video of Linet, one of the first recipients of a Women for Change scholarship. Learn about Linet’s inspiring story and hear more about her recent achievements on our website.
In closing, Dr. Kakenya’s address was a call to action for all of us to step up and invest in the futures of girls. As she said, “When we educate a girl, we change the world.” This vision continues to inspire both Kakenya’s Dream and Women For Change as we work toward a brighter and more just future for girls everywhere.
For more on Dr. Kakenya’s work and the ongoing partnership with Women For Change, visit our website.
Watch the full lecture here (Dr Kakenya’s lecture commences at ~22 minutes).