Even in the best environment, growing up into an educated and responsible adult has never been easy. However for young girls and boys in East Africa, it's particularly tough. The facts of life in Kenya are eye-opening.

According to a survey conducted in 1997 in thirteen districts in Kenya, it was found that about 75% of families living below the poverty line lack the capacity to provide for and protect their children. As the children grow older, the capacity of families to provide for and protect them diminishes. Children in households headed by women are even more at risk.

The following factors exacerbate the poor conditions of children:

• the breakdown of family and social support systems
• high unemployment rates
• harmful traditional practices such as early marriages
• illiteracy and ignorance
• diminishing opportunities for education and health care
• malnutrition and food uncertainty
• an alarming increase in the incidence of HIV/AIDS

These forces combined with the ravages of drought and other natural calamities make it difficult, if not impossible, for the majority of Kenyan children to get an education and thereby escape from a life of despair. Several districts in Kenya are struggling against famine and every day pupils drop out due to hunger. Many families who depend on farming are faced with starvation, and asking children to attend school regularly is expecting too much.

Due to the impact of the factors listed above, about 41% of children between the ages of 10 and 14 years must work to help support their families. If they enter school at all, most of them drop out before they finish the primary grades, and over 30,000 children live in the streets. There is even greater pressure on girls to drop out of school due to cultural beliefs. Girls are expected to assist in many of the household duties and in caring for younger siblings. Societal attitudes mandate that the female role is to care for husbands and children and therefore there is no need for formal education. By the age of 18, girls average 4.4 years less education than boys.

Did you know?

• Children under 15 years of age constitute nearly half of the population of 36.9 million
  
  
• Per capita GNI in Kenya is $530 (US dollars)
  
  
• 23% of the entire population live on less than $1 per day
  
  
• 50% of the population lives below the poverty line
  
  
• 1 in every 18 children die before they are 5 years old
  
  
• 39% of the population do not have access to safe water
  
  
• Arranged marriages are still common for girls as young as age 12
  
  
• Secondary school enrollment is only 48% of the total students eligible to attend.