We at Malkia believe in nurturing creativity and tapping into girls' and young women's dynamic and vibrant energy. We encourage them to explore their potential and utilize their agency to shape their own future.
The Malkia Team taps into the ability of young people and women to persistently strive for their inclusion in social and economic involvement in a highly patriarchal and culture-steeped community to deliver on our mission
We as the Malkia family believe in working together to achieve our organizational goals. We also endeavor to network and partner with other like-minded organizations, governments, and development partners to drive toward our vision
Acting with strong ethics is a priority for everyone at Malkia. We believe in taking responsibility for our actions by being forthright as the ultimate way to build trust internally & externally.
Malkia is a Swahili word for Queen. The Malkia initiative was founded on the principle that all women/girls were created for excellence and aims to build self-esteem and confidence in our nation’s young women by helping them realize that they are all queens.
The Maasai are a highly patriarchal community; girls and women do not have a place or a voice and have no right to education. With advocacy some girls get the opportunity to go to school but are faced with a myriad of challenges including but not limited to harmful cultural practices including Female genital Mutilation (FGM), Cultural interference, lack mentorship, poverty hence girls lack basic needs such as stationery and sanitary towels, leading the girls to drop out of school.
Due to this plight The Malia Initiative was born in 2015 and it is based in the heart of Kajiado County, it was then officially registered as a Community Based Organization in October 2016 with under registration number KJD/HUD CBO/0242.
At Malkia Initiative we have a robust number of programmes to better impact women and girls in Kajiado and enable them attain their full potential.
In the 7 years of Malkia’s existence, our impact has been felt from villages in Iltilal, Kajiado south sub-county to the border town of Shompole in Kajiado West. Direct results of our programs include, families supporting their girls to attend school, girls gaining voices and advocating for their rights. Girls & parents deciding against Female Genital Mutilation & Child Marriage in return more girls now have the freedom to bodily autonomy
Jedidah Lemaron is an accomplished psychologist and specialist in AYSRH and Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management. As a training consultant, FGM advocate, and the Founder and Executive Director of The Malkia Initiative, she works tirelessly to ensure that every girl and woman in pastoral communities can participate in development meaningfully and effectively through quality education, advocacy, and gender justice mainstreaming.
With over 9 years of experience in Gender, Community Sexual Reproductive Health, and Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG), Jedidah is committed to empowering women and girls through education, addressing gender equality and sexual reproductive health and rights, policy, and advocacy.
She earned her degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Nairobi and completed a Leadership in Civic Engagement program at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Jedidah’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2022, she was honored with the Head of State Award for ending Female Genital Mutilation in Kajiado County. She was also a finalist for the Diversity and Inclusion Award and recognition for UNLEASH SDG 5talent in 2022 and a recipient of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders in 2016.
We contribute towards enhancing equity in education by reducing barriers to transition and increase engagement and well-being of Adolescents girls and Youth.
The Malkia Initiative works to enhance the enrollment, retention, attendance and transition of girl
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