Where We Work
Kenya
Benin
United States
Nigeria
Northern Benin
Benin is a West African country bordered by Nigeria to the east, Togo to the west, Niger and Burkina Faso to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Natitingou is the capital of Atacora’s department, in north-west Benin. With a population of ~9,500, the majority of whom are young, Natitingou is a popular tourist destination.
Primary education accounts for 28.8% of Natitingou's population, secondary education for 11.2% and higher education for 0.7%. At all levels of education, educated women are poorly represented, with the parity index largely in favor of men. Since 2021, northern Benin has been faced with the phenomenon of insecurity and all its consequences (displacement of people, famine, disease, children dropping out of school, inactivity among women and young people, etc.). Natitingou has not been spared these consequences, which are making life more difficult for women and young people.
Northern Kenya
Kenya, a country in East Africa with a population of ~52.4 million, is the 7th most populous in Africa. Northern Kenya, is a semi-arid, hot region characterized by dramatic landscapes and a nomadic and pastoralist population.
The 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) reveals significant challenges for Northern Kenya in issues such as water access, sanitation, and health outcomes. Over half the population lacks access to drinking water on premises, and Turkana County has the highest proportion of households in the poorest quintile. The communities of Samburu, Laikipia, Samburu, Isiolo and Marsabit have some of the poorest indicators with significant challenges around gender inequality and harmful practices, major health disparities, climate vulnerabilities, underserved and underrepresented as well as being home to to diverse Indigenous pastoralist communities, such as the Samburu, Rendille, Borana, Turkana, and Maasai.
Women in these communities often face unique cultural, social, and systemic challenges that require tailored interventions.
Northern Nigeria
Across Northern Nigeria, millions of children—especially girls and children with disabilities—face steep barriers to accessing quality education.
Deep-rooted poverty, early marriage, insecurity, and long distances to schools continue to keep many girls out of classrooms. For children with disabilities, these barriers are multiplied by stigma, inaccessible facilities, and a lack of trained teachers. Many communities still lack inclusive schools equipped with ramps, assistive devices, or sign language interpreters. Girls with disabilities are among the most excluded, often denied both education and health care.
Cultural norms and gender bias frequently prioritize boys’ schooling, leaving girls at home or in informal labor.
Yet, families express a strong desire for their daughters to learn when given the right support. Education represents hope for breaking cycles of poverty and exclusion that persist across generations.
