The people behind every rescue, classroom, and second chance.
Meet the Samburu Girls Foundation team — and the founder who opened her home so girls could stay free, stay in school, and grow into the women who end harmful practices.
The Faces of Samburu Girls Foundation
Wanjiru Wahome
Team Leader
Jostin Toinato
Operations Manager
Jackline Kuya
Education Coordinator
Mark Musau Mulela
Finance Manager
Peter Lemong'i
Community Engagement Liaison Samburu West/East
Simon Paul Lekuchula
Community Engagement Liaison Samburu North/East
Faith Nasha
People & Culture Officer
Sally Naitoti Lolkoloi
Accountant
Michael Songol
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning
Naomi Lopiala
Girls Development Assistant
Alvin Musebe
Communications
Fred Lenairoshi
Accountant
Over 40 other dedicated team members – including NALP teachers, housemothers, cooks, security and drivers – make SGF’s impact possible. There isn’t room to picture them all here, but their work is essential and highly appreciated.
Meet our Founder: Dr. Josephine Kulea
In 2009, Josephine Kulea decided that she could not sit on the sidelines while young girls in her own community were being raped, abused, mutilated and if they got pregnant, forced to kill their own children. She began by rescuing her own cousin who was married off to a man almost her father’s age. Things quickly went south when she had to call for the intervention of the police when her uncle opted to marry off her rescued cousin’s younger sister as a replacement bride. The backlash from the community was intense. Elders put a curse on her.
Despite the opposition, Josephine would not be stopped, so she opened up her home to rescue more girls from this horrifying act. Soon, her house was full with over 20 young children. She received daily calls from others needing rescue. She was supporting them with her own salary, working as a nurse. Josephine realized she needed help. She reached out to her friends, church, and other community members, who secretly supported her.
In 2011, Josephine formally registered SAMBURU GIRLS FOUNDATION, as an NGO to rescue at-risk girls. The scope of rescue swiftly grew from her little village to her rescuing girls across 4 counties in Kenya. Samburu, Marsabit, Isiolo and Laikipia counties.
Her tremendous work has been recognized widely and has been awarded numerous awards including:
- Unsung Hero 2011, Head of State Commendation 2012, COVAW champion 2013,
- UN Person of the Year 2013,
- Inspiring Woman by Gender commission Kenya, 2014
- YALI Washington Fellow 2014,
- African Union Youth Hero 2015,
- Egerton university gender award 2015
- Humanitarian Award 2017 by Kenya Women and Children Wellness Center.
SGF was recognized by President Obama on his visit to Kenya, and selected by Michelle Obama as a member of her Girls Opportunity Alliance.
Board of Directors
- Sarah Symons, Chairperson, Executive Director of Her Future Coalition
- Bundie Kabanze, Regional Co-Director for Africa, Global Fund for Children
- Sankara Gitau, Kenya Country Director for ChildFund International
- Mohini Tadikonda, Executive Consultant and Coach
- John Berger, Principal at Innovating Impact & Co-Founder of Her Future Coalition
- Laura Korn, Regional Lead, Crossroads Church
- Dr. Josephine Kulea, Founder of SGF
Stand with these girls — and this team.
Your gift keeps the Rescue Center open, classrooms running, and girls in school until they can stand on their own.