It wasn’t tradition that sealed her fate. It was drought. In Narok County’s arid plains, where the worst drought in 40 years has devastated pastoral communities, her family’s animals died within months. With no goats, no camels, no means of survival, they made a calculation: three camels and two goats in bride price, or watch their children starve.

It wasn’t a choice. It was arithmetic born of environmental collapse.

Today, Amara is one of thousands of girls in Kenya’s northern regions whose childhoods were traded for survival. Her story represents a pattern we see across Narok—cases where climate catastrophe doesn’t just cause droughts. It weaponizes gender inequality and turns girls into economic survival tools.

Amara’s story is composite, drawn from documented cases and patterns reported by aid organizations, health workers, and girls themselves across many pastoral communities in Kenya.

When Drought Becomes a Gender Crisis

We don’t often talk about climate change in terms of gender. But in Narok, the connection is impossible to ignore.

For firsthand reporting on this crisis, watch this powerful documentary on how climate collapse is driving gender-based violence in pastoral Kenya:

 Watch: Climate Crisis and Gender Violence in Kenya

Climate change is not a neutral force. It hits hardest those who have the least power to protect themselves. In pastoral communities, that means girls and women.

The Four Ways Climate Crisis Becomes a Gender Crisis

1. The Bride Price Economy Activates During Drought

When livestock die and fields dry up, families face an impossible choice: watch their children starve, or secure immediate resources. Child marriage becomes a financial transaction. In communities experiencing 9+ months of no rain, child marriage rates spike dramatically. Girls are exchanged not because of culture, but because of desperation. They become survival currency.

2. Water Collection Becomes a Gauntlet

Girls walk 8.6 to 17.6 kilometers daily to collect water—38 percent more than the three-year average. On these solitary journeys through remote, sparse landscape, they are completely defenseless. Sexual predators know girls will come alone. They wait. We have documented cases of serial rape during water collection journeys. The perpetrators disappear into the desert, facing no consequences.

For detailed reporting on this crisis, read: Al Jazeera: “In Kenya, girls are sold into marriage to stave off starvation from drought”

3. School Becomes a Luxury Girls Can’t Afford

When a girl must walk 8.6 kilometers for water each day, school becomes impossible. Period poverty compounds the crisis—without sanitary pads, many girls won’t attend school during menstruation. When drought hits, water collection takes priority. Girls drop out. Education becomes a privilege reserved for communities with water security.

4. Malnutrition and Health Collapse Hit Girls Last and Hardest

Women and girls typically eat last in pastoral communities. During drought, this means they often don’t eat at all. Malnutrition weakens their bodies and their ability to resist disease, pregnancy complications, and sexual violence. Their health becomes collateral damage in the fight for family survival.

“The last drought took all of our animals. My youngest son became very sick from malnutrition. I was so worried that he would die. It made us much poorer, and now we are in another one which looks like it could be even worse.”

How Tree for Girls Project works

At Tareto Africa, we were already working on sexual and reproductive health and rights with girls in Narok. We were teaching about gender-based violence, harmful practices, and bodily autonomy.

But we kept hitting the same wall: girls couldn’t prioritize their rights when their survival was threatened.

A girl can’t focus on education when she’s walking 8.6 kilometers for water. She can’t resist marriage when her family is starving. She can’t report sexual assault when she’s afraid her report will bring shame to a family already on the brink.

We realized: we couldn’t fight gender inequality without fighting the environmental collapse that weaponized it.

That’s when Trees for Girls was born.

Trees for Girls: An Integrated Approach

Trees for Girls isn’t just about planting trees. It’s about linking three interconnected crises and tackling them simultaneously.

Pillar 1: Environmental Conservation

Girls aren’t passive observers of environmental collapse—they’re agents of restoration. Through the program, girls plant trees, practice agroforestry, and implement water conservation techniques. They restore vegetative cover, combat soil erosion, and build long-term community resilience.

But here’s what matters most: girls see themselves as environmental leaders, not victims of environmental disaster. They understand that the droughts that threaten their futures aren’t inevitable. They’re consequences of deforestation and environmental degradation that can be reversed through collective action.

Pillar 2: SRHR Education and Climate Awareness

Comprehensive sexuality education isn’t enough if girls don’t understand why harmful practices intensify during climate stress. So we teach the connection explicitly.

When a girl learns that child marriage spikes during drought, she stops seeing it as cultural tradition and recognizes it as a preventable consequence of environmental collapse. When she understands that sexual violence increases because girls walk farther for water, she becomes an advocate for water security as a feminist issue.

Knowledge becomes power. Understanding the “why” transforms girls from passive victims into active advocates.

Pillar 3: Menstrual Health and Economic Empowerment

We distribute reusable sanitary pads and train girls to produce them. This addresses immediate period poverty—keeping girls in school—while building economic skills that create an alternative to the bride-price economy.

When a girl can earn income through pad production, her family doesn’t need to marry her off to survive. When she can afford pads, she stays in school. When she’s in school, she builds the education and confidence to imagine futures beyond early marriage.

What We’ve Built So Far

Our Partner Schools: Where the Movement Grows

Trees for Girls is active in five anchor schools across Narok County, each one becoming a hub of environmental leadership and gender advocacy:

Nkoilale Primary School

Home to one of our most active T4G clubs, where girls are leading tree-planting initiatives in the surrounding community and training younger students.

Ntulele Primary School

Girls here are both learning SRHR education and implementing water conservation techniques that benefit their school and neighboring villages.

Naboisho Primary School

A center of innovation where T4G clubs are experimenting with agroforestry practices and mentoring girls from pastoral families about alternatives to early marriage.

Masai Girls School

Our secondary school partner, where older girls are trained as peer educators and environmental champions, taking the T4G message to their families and communities.

Additional School Partners

We are expanding into one additional school, piloting new models and preparing for our scaled expansion to 25 schools.

In just a few years, we’ve established thriving T4G clubs in these schools across Narok. Girls are planting trees. They’re learning about their bodies and their rights. They’re becoming community advocates who understand that environmental justice and gender justice are inseparable.

We’re seeing it: trained girls return to their communities as change agents. They talk to peers about the climate-gender link. They inspire their families to support reforestation. They model confidence and leadership that challenges traditional gender roles.

Each school becomes a nucleus—not just for environmental action, but for a complete reimagining of girls’ possibilities in pastoral communities.

Why We Need to Scale—Urgently

Every year, droughts return. Every year, more girls are married off. Every year, more forests disappear and less water flows.

We can scale this model. We need to.

Our Goal: Expand from 5 to 25 partnering schools. Establish a tree nursery capable of producing 100,000 trees. Reach 3,000+ more girls with integrated climate, SRHR, and economic empowerment training. Create a network of young women who are both environmental stewards and rights advocates—transforming their communities from the ground up.

Every new school multiplies the impact. Every tree planted is a barrier against the next drought. Every trained girl becomes a climate and gender champion.

A Different Future?

Amara’s story—and the thousands like it—doesn’t have to be Narok’s future. But it will be—unless we act now to address the interconnected crises of climate change and gender inequality.

Trees for Girls shows that there’s another way. A way where girls aren’t casualties of climate crisis. Where they’re leaders of climate solutions. Where environmental restoration and gender justice aren’t competing priorities—they’re the same movement.

This is the story we’re writing in Narok. Will you help us keep writing it?

Nurturing Empowerment and Education

At Tareto Africa, we deeply understand the transformative power of education and environmental awareness in shaping a sustainable future. The “Trees for Girls” program embodies our commitment to empowering girls through hands-on environmental activities, fostering a deep connection to nature while equipping them with essential skills and knowledge for a brighter tomorrow.

Empowerment, for us, goes beyond just providing resources. It’s about instilling a sense of agency and capability within these young girls. By involving them in tree-planting campaigns and sustainable farming practices, we not only contribute to the preservation of the ecosystem but also nurture a generation of environmental stewards who understand their role in safeguarding the planet for future generations.

Planting Seeds of Change

Through our experiential learning approach, participants in the “Trees for Girls” program engage in meaningful environmental conservation efforts. The act of planting a tree becomes a symbol of hope and renewal, but it also serves as a catalyst for broader change. As these girls witness the impact of their actions firsthand, they develop a sense of ownership and responsibility towards their environment, paving the way for sustainable practices that extend far beyond the boundaries of our program.

In addition to tree-planting, our program emphasizes sustainable farming practices that not only ensure food security but also promote environmental sustainability. By teaching techniques such as water conservation, organic farming, and agroforestry, we empower girls to become agents of change in their communities, addressing not just immediate needs but also long-term challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation.

Blossoming Opportunities for Growth

But our commitment to empowerment doesn’t stop at environmental activities. We understand the interconnectedness of education and personal development, which is why the “Trees for Girls” program also provides educational scholarships and mentorship opportunities. These initiatives not only unlock doors to quality education but also nurture the academic and personal growth of girls and young women, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Through mentorship, we provide guidance and support to help girls navigate the challenges they may face, whether it’s pursuing higher education, starting a business, or becoming community leaders. By investing in their potential, we are not just changing individual lives but also building a foundation for sustainable development that benefits entire communities.

Rooted in Community Resilience

The impact of the “Trees for Girls” program extends far beyond individual empowerment. By actively engaging the broader community in environmental initiatives, Tareto Africa fosters a culture of collaboration and shared responsibility for the well-being of both people and the planet. Through community workshops, outreach programs, and partnerships with local organizations, we create a network of support that strengthens community resilience and unity in the face of environmental challenges.

Our approach is rooted in the belief that sustainable change can only occur when communities are actively involved in the process. By empowering girls to take the lead in environmental conservation efforts, we not only amplify their voices but also create a ripple effect that inspires others to join the cause.

Scaling Impact, Inspiring Change

As the “Trees for Girls” program continues to flourish, Tareto Africa is dedicated to scaling its impact and inspiring others to embrace similar initiatives. By showcasing the transformative potential of this program, we aim to spark a movement of environmental conservation and girls’ empowerment that transcends borders and creates a ripple effect of positive change.

Through strategic partnerships, advocacy efforts, and knowledge-sharing initiatives, we aim to expand our reach and empower even more girls to become leaders in environmental stewardship. Together, we can cultivate a future where education, environmental stewardship, and community resilience converge to create a sustainable and thriving society for all.

Join Us in Our Mission

Join us in our mission to cultivate change, empower girls, and protect the environment. Together, we can nurture a future where every girl has the opportunity to thrive, where every tree planted is a symbol of hope, and where communities are resilient in the face of environmental challenges. Together, we can make a difference

As I sit down to pen these words, I am filled with a mix of emotions – gratitude for the progress we have made, determination to overcome challenges, and hope for the future we are striving to create. The journey of Tareto Africa has been one of resilience, empowerment, and unwavering commitment to change.

What are the Challenges Facing the Maasai Today?

When I founded Tareto Africa, I knew we were embarking on a challenging path. The deeply ingrained cultural practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), gender-based violence (GBV), and child marriage presented formidable obstacles. The resistance to change, the reluctance to challenge age-old traditions, and the complexities of addressing these issues within the Maasai community were daunting.

What Tareto Africa is Trying to Do

Despite the challenges, Tareto Africa has remained steadfast in its mission to empower girls, women, and young people. Through advocacy, education, and community engagement, we are working tirelessly to end harmful practices and provide support to survivors. Our grassroots campaigns, educational programs, and provision of essential resources like sanitary pads and sexual reproductive health education are aimed at creating a safe and supportive environment for those in need.

Impact Achieved to Date

The impact of our work is a testament to the dedication and resilience of the Tareto Africa team. From rescuing girls from the clutches of FGM to providing educational opportunities and empowering survivors of gender-based violence, we have touched the lives of thousands. The stories of resilience, transformation, and hope that have emerged from our initiatives inspire us to continue our mission with renewed vigor.

Future Expectations

Looking ahead, my vision for Tareto Africa is one of hope and possibility. I envision a future where girls and women can live without fear of harmful practices and violence, where they can pursue their dreams and aspirations with confidence. Tareto Africa aims to expand its reach, empower more individuals, and advocate for gender equality and social justice on a larger scale. Our goal is to create a society where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and lead a life of dignity and purpose.

In conclusion

In closing, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all who have supported Tareto Africa on this journey. Your belief in our mission, your unwavering support, and your commitment to change have been the driving force behind our work. Together, we can create a future where empowerment, resilience, and social justice prevail.

This Post was written by Leshan Kereto, Founder, Tareto Africa.