When we started our work with the Maasai, we had very much in mind that the women were treated in a way very unequal to the men. Girls are taken from school at 12 or 13 and given in marriage to older men not of their choosing. The Maasai also still practice female circumcision.
We knew if we tried to interfere with this in our Community Conservation programs, that we would not be allowed to work with the women and the children at all. The most we could do is to help shine the light of education on them, and as a result of this one day the girls would free themselves. And that day is upon us. When we were in Kenya in 2009, at a celebration held for us, 2 girl students recited this poem for us. They were demanding to be free as the boys, to learn and live as equals. They spoke up in front of their elders, protesting the “Cut,” female circumcision, and demanded to be allowed to pursue an education.
It was stunning.
This is what they recited to us:
YES WE CAN
Yes the girl can do better, so we deserve equal access to education.
But society is trampling on our rights, our birthrights.
Early dropping out of school, early marriages and even forced labour,
We must say no, because the girl can do better.
Yes we MUST say no, no, no
To all forms of girls discrimination
A girl can make a better doctor, a teacher and even a pilot.
We say what a boy can do better, a girl can do best.
So you must educate a girl, to build a strong society
So we must say no, because the girl can do better.
At tender age, girls are dropped from school.
They are forced to go through the cut, against the law of the land.
They are forced to early marriages, against their wishes and plea of help.
So we must say no, because the girls can do better.
Good engineers, permanent secretaries and even ministers.
Whether in government, private sector or even up in the corporate ladder.
The results are there for all to see, yes they can do better.
So we must say no, because the girl can do better.
Why we ask? Why does society destroy girls hopes?
Destroy its own bright stars, and its hopes to ever grow stronger?
Injustice to girl children is injustice to whole society.
So we must no, because the girl can do better.
Yes we MUST say no, no, no
To all forms of girls discrimination