Literacy
About Us
Started by 15 young women. Built for every girl who comes after.
G for Girls Initiative is a community-based organisation founded in 2022 by 15 young women from Vanga ward, Lunga Lunga sub-county. We began with one goal — that no girl would drop out between primary and secondary school — and we have grown alongside the learners we serve.
Locally-led, not delivered from outside
Our founders, champions and volunteers come from Vanga. Our gender policy commits us to consulting the people our programmes affect, and to building those programmes with communities rather than for them.
Do no harm
We work under a safeguarding policy and a policy on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse. Challenging gender norms can cause unintended harm, so participant safety comes before every other consideration.
Talk to us
Priscah Mongera
Founder & Executive Director
Our Approach
What we are for, and what we hold ourselves to
GGI was founded to close one gap — girls dropping out between primary and secondary school in Lunga Lunga. Everything we run traces back to that, and to the commitments we have put in writing.
Our Mission
To create safe spaces that foster girls' education through advocacy, mentorship, and the provision of technical skills.
Our Vision
To narrow the gender gap in education by inspiring a community of leaders who are agents of sustainable change.
Our Principles
Equality and non-discrimination, intersectionality, locally-led participation, do no harm, and collaboration — the five commitments written into our Gender Policy 2024–2028.
200+
Young people trained since 2022
Measuring Our Work
We measure what changes, and we report it
Assessment is built into the programme rather than added at the end. Learners are assessed at the midpoint and again at the close of every camp, which tells teachers how to keep supporting them once we have gone.
How we measure progress
- Nyansapo AI assessments at the midpoint and end of every camp
- Data disaggregated by gender across all programmes
- Annual review against KPIs set by our gender committee
The Gap We're Closing
What girls in Lunga Lunga are up against
These are the conditions our programmes were designed around. They come from the schools and families we work with every day.
Support this work- Literacy
ExpectationsA patriarchal community that narrows girls' futures to marriage and childbearing
SafetyA continuing cycle of gender-based violence, FGM, forced marriage and teenage pregnancy
Bring KWEMA to your school, or campaign with us. Get in touch
How We Work
Five principles from our gender policy
Our Gender Policy 2024–2028 came out of an independent assessment of the CBO, training from the SBC consultancy through the Mastercard Foundation, and consultation with our members, advisory board, staff and champions.
Equality and non-discrimination
All genders benefit from our policies, programmes and activities, with deliberate steps to include those facing multiple, intersecting barriers.
Intersectionality
Age, ethnicity, economic status, disability and place of origin all shape a person's experience. We account for how those identities collide.
Locally-led participation
We consult our members and everyone our programmes affect, and commit to gender balance in staffing, activities and evaluation.
Do no harm
Dismantling gender norms carries risk. We consult every community we work with and put participant safety and protection above all else.
Collaboration
Gender inequality is not ours to solve alone. We work with government, the private sector, civil society, researchers and individuals.
- 5
- Schools in Vanga ward
- 200+
- Young people trained
- 75%
- Average improvement
Grade 4 literacy camps and Grade 7 mentorship run in all five.
Equipped with policy advocacy skills through GGI na Vijanaa since 2022.
Learners moving up at least one literacy level during a camp.
Meet The Team
Working together to build a better future
GGI is run by a small team from the community it serves, supported by teachers, community champions and young volunteers trained on safeguarding and child protection.
Work with us
Priscah Mongera
Founder & Executive Director
Ilse Kithembe
Founder & Policy Advocacy and Communications Manager
Naomy Kemei
Programs Manager
Huldah Machocho
Project Accountant
Millicent Mgalla
Project Officer
Albert Kimatu
Communications Assistant
- A registered community-based organisation of 15–30 members
- Governed by a four-person management committee elected for two-year terms
- 75% women, 10% persons with disabilities, 70% from the Lunga Lunga community
Support Our Work
Keep a girl in school in Vanga ward
Every contribution helps run literacy camps, mentorship sessions and safeguarding referrals in the five schools we work with.
How your money is handled
Funds sit in the CBO's bank account with committee signatories. The annual report, financial statement and budget are presented to members and adopted at our AGM each December.
- Annual financial statement adopted at the AGM
- No funds are distributed to members as profit
Registered CBO
- Lunga Lunga sub-county, Kwale County
- Operating since 2022
- Gender Policy 2024–2028
Frequently Asked Questions
Your questions answered with transparency & care
We work with five schools in Vanga ward, Lunga Lunga sub-county, Kwale County. Literacy camps run with Grade 4 learners and mentorship sessions with Grade 7 girls, and both are built into the school schedule through our collaboration with the schools and the Ministry of Education.