Empower Women
Strengthening Women. Protecting Girls. Transforming Communities
In Maasai and Kuria communities, poverty and harmful traditional practices like female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriage are deeply intertwined. For many women- most of them widows and sole breadwinners- the only perceived way to provide for their families is by allowing their daughters to undergo FGM, paving way for early marriage and the dowry that comes with it.
This practice, driven by poverty and inequality, denies girls the right to education, exposes them to early pregnancies and keeps communities trapped in the cycle of poverty. Mothers often spend their entire lives not realizing that their greatest power lies not in dowry, but in supporting their daughters to say NO to FGM and YES to education.
Our Response: The Imarisha Msichana Initiative
The Imarisha Msichana is HOPE for Girls @ VISA’s flagship women’s economic empowerment and social transformation program. It is designed to tackle the root causes of FGM by equipping women with sustainable livelihood, financial independence and the agency to champion for girls’ rights.
Through a holistic, community-driven approach, we work to ensure that no girl is married off because poverty and no woman is forced to choose between survival and her daughter’s future.
Our Interventions
🌱 Climate-Smart Agriculture
We train women in resilient, eco-friendly farming practices that increase crop yields, improve household nutrition, and boost incomes. With food security assured, the economic pressure to marry off girls for dowry is reduced, and women gain confidence as providers for their families.
💰 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs)
We mobilize women into savings and loan groups where they learn financial literacy, build collective resilience, and access small loans to start businesses or invest in farming. These groups empower women to meet household needs, pay school fees, and reduce reliance on harmful practices for income.
👩👧 Women as Champions of Change
With strengthened livelihoods and financial independence, women become advocates for their daughters’ futures. We train and mentor them to lead campaigns against FGM and child marriage, mobilize other community members, and model the power of choosing education over dowry.
The Impact
The Imarisha Msichana Initiative is already changing lives:
Over 250 women have been organized into thriving savings groups, reducing household vulnerability.
Women trained in climate-smart agriculture have reported improved food security and increased incomes, enabling them to keep girls in school.
Communities are shifting perceptions—from seeing daughters as sources of dowry to viewing them as leaders, students, and future professionals.
Girls are more protected from FGM and early marriage because their mothers and community leaders now advocate for their rights.
Why Partner With Us?
Your partnership in the Imarisha Msichana Initiative helps us scale a tested and impactful model that:
✔️ Tackles the root causes of FGM by addressing poverty and inequality.
✔️ Protects girls while empowering women with dignity and economic security.
✔️ Builds long-term resilience in marginalized communities.
✔️ Creates measurable impact for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 1, 3, 4, 5, and 8).
🌍 Join Us in Strengthening Women and Protecting Girls.
Together, we can ensure that poverty is never again a reason for a girl to face FGM or early marriage. By investing in the Imarisha Msichana Initiative, you are breaking inter-generational cycles of poverty, amplifying women’s voices, and safeguarding girls’ futures.