EVELYN SANAU: TEAM ANGAZA INTERN

“I want to become a role model to Maasai girls and continue to work tirelessly to ensure their dignity and future opportunities are protected….Through Team Angaza, I am very sure that we will change the lives of many.”

Evelyn was one of two interns we brought on in 2021, to reach two especially remote communities in the Loita Hills. The formal knowledge each of these interns gain by completing high school, combined with their deep familiarity with local families’ struggles, creates a critical bridge of communication to introduce new ideas about gender and schooling.

Evelyn is an example of the ways this local familiarity works to the benefit of girls’ education. Growing up in a small village with ten brothers and sisters, Evelyn’s parents were supportive of all their children’s educations. Her mother also had a deep sense of compassion for others in need and passed this on to her children. Evelyn became a star student and athlete, graduating from high school in a region where historically only 1 in 20 girls has done so. While there, she attended a human rights conference that deepened her awareness of, and empathy for, the barriers less fortunate children face.

That empathy, combined with Evelyn’s knowledge and confident personality, began having a big impact nearly immediately in her work with Team Angaza. “Before, local parents didn’t understand the importance of being in school,” says Evelyn. “Now, many are sending their children to school because they know the importance of it.”

“Every one of the parents from my community that I’ve talked to have now promised to take their children to school,” says Evelyn. “For me, seeing this change take place is important because we can gain role models for our community. We can gain needed doctors, teachers, and even pilots. As a Maasai woman passionate about helping others, I want to become a role model to Maasai girls and continue to work tirelessly to ensure their future opportunities and dignity are protected. I feel happy and excited when I see them now going to school because it will help end early marriage and FGM*. It gives them a voice in the community and helps end gender bias. The community also benefits when they become leaders of tomorrow. Through Team Angaza, I am very optimistic that we shall change the lives of many.”

*Female Genital Mutilation