Umul and I are racing 10 kilometers in support of girls' education. Any money we raise goes directly to Daraja Academy in Kenya and Umul's education. Thank you for your help! Or, as they say in Kenya, ASANTE SANA!
"An educated woman will know her rights and stand up for them." -Umul
'My greatest struggle was undergoing female genital mutilation when I was eight years old. I do not blame myself because I was young and could not make my own decisions. But from now on, I will always fight against harmful practices in my community,’ says Umul.
Umul is from a small village called Wamy in Isiolo County. She lives with her mother and five siblings in a wooden house without running water or electricity. She describes herself as kind, honest, and someone who enjoys making jokes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her father abandoned the family. Most people in her village survive through domestic work and hawking goods. Umul often lacked school materials and struggled to find light to complete her homework.
Her role model is Rehema Dida, a woman she admires for raising her children strongly after being abandoned. Umul aspires to become a doctor so she can save lives, especially those of pregnant mothers in her village.