Location: KENYA
The Project
Change often begins when individuals stand up against long-held practices that cause harm. Through her project Creating Awareness on the Dangers of Female Genital Mutilation, Sheila Wambui Njogu sparked important conversations in Baragwi, Kenya. With courage and compassion, she brought together parents, caregivers, community health volunteers, and young people to confront the reality of female genital mutilation (FGM) and its devastating impact on girls’ health, education, dignity, and future. As she explained,
“Many teenagers were not even aware of what FGM was, nor of the dangers it carried. Teaching them opened their eyes and gave them the knowledge to protect themselves and others.”
Her grassroots initiative reached more than 4,000 people, from senior citizens to at-risk youth, setting in motion a wave of community development rooted in compassion and equity.
The Impact of the Seed Grant
The Pollination Project micro-grant was a turning point in making this vision possible. With TPP’s support, Sheila was able to purchase critical tools such as a projector, laptop, and camera, which allowed her to hold trainings, document activities, and share information widely. Transport costs and communication materials ensured that even the most remote families could participate. The grant directly empowered her to educate over 1,500 parents and 2,500 children and youth in schools, churches, and community halls.
“The grant gave me a voice and the means to reach people who had never heard this message before,” Sheila reflected.
Local chiefs, assistant chiefs, and community health volunteers joined the effort, creating reporting channels for cases of FGM and offering girls and women a safer path forward. The impact was measurable: 96% of trained parents signed in support of ending the practice, with many pledging to protect girls from harm and advocate for change.
The Future
Sheila envisions taking this movement beyond Baragwi into other wards, counties, and eventually across Africa. Her goals include establishing accessible institutions where parents and children can seek advice and protection, expanding education for youth, and continuing to challenge harmful traditions through heartivism – activism rooted in compassion and the heart. With each new step, she is building toward a future where women and girls live with dignity, equity, and freedom from violence.
“The community was very grateful to The Pollination Project,” Sheila shared, “and they wished this work could grow elsewhere so that more people can live dignified lives.”
Her story is a reminder of how micro-grants can drive global impact by nurturing grassroots leadership, saving lives, and planting the seeds of justice and compassion for generations to come.
I would like to thank The Pollination Project for funding my project on bringing a social change to society on a situation that needs to be fully rooted to protect the lives of girls, women, parents of tomorrow and women who are expected to build a civic society tomorrow.
Sheila Wambui Njogu
Sheila Wambui Njogu is a community development graduate from Moi University in Kenya and a dedicated change agent committed to building a just and compassionate society. She has worked with the Kirinyaga County Development Office as a youth representative, with World Vision Kenya in the Nakuru Cluster, and as an intern at the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, experiences that deepened her understanding of the challenges facing marginalized communities. Born and raised in a village where traditional practices still shape daily life, Sheila has long envisioned change, particularly in addressing harmful customs that affect women and children. Through grassroots education and community engagement, she continues to inspire transformation, advocating for dignity, equity, and sustainable development for future generations.
Join The Pollination Project in seeding a global movement of grassroots change. When we invest in passionate local leaders, small acts of generosity blossom into lasting impact. Every dollar you give takes root in communities, growing into sustainable solutions that touch countless lives.
