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Precious Sisters was founded by Gerald Maithya who works here at Barclays, as part of a personal commitment to set up a charity in the memory of his young sister Caroline, who passed away at the age of four. The vision was to support the education of girls and young women in Kenya. Primary schooling is free in Kenya, but secondary education is not and so the charity's focus is to help girls  who come from poor homes where the family cannot afford the fees. The gift of an education gives these girls the chance to make something of their lives  - hence the charity's aim of "giving bright girls the chance to shine". 

 

The charity began simply in 2005 with Gerald and three colleagues each sponsoring a girl through school. It has grown steadily since then and, in 2013, subject to finding enough sponsors, the charity hopes to offer another 20 places, bringing the total up to 77 girls. To date, 85% of of the 46 girls who have completed their secondary education have won a place at university.

 

The charity supports the girls through the four years of secondary school by paying their school fees (£350 per year), running a mentoring weekend at the start of each term and having personalised follow up meetings with the girls twice during each term.  It now works with three schools: Precious Blood Kilungu, Precious Blood Riruta and Bishop Gatimu which are located in three difference provinces and ensure a diversity of provincial, religious and tribal backgrounds.

 

The girls are selected on the basis of financial need and academic ability. In most cases, parents will not have permanent work. Many are from single parent families and some are orphans.  If these girls are denied the opportunity of an education, they are effectively confined to the cycle of poverty into which they were born. Often shy and with low self esteem, these girls rarely  have role models in their midst to guide them, and so the mentoring support which is provided makes a big difference to the girls - helping them to shape an ambition for the future, to have self belief and to develop their confidence. 

 

Read more about the charity on its website at: http://www.precioussistes.org 

 

We would love to give more bright girls in Kenya the chance to shine!

 

On average, it costs about £1500 to sponsor a girl through the 4 years of her secondary education. 

 

Our target is to raise £6000 and support 4 girls through school.

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