The Butterfly Project is an educational program that offers academic opportunities, life skills and enrichment activities for vulnerable girls in Kenya.

Grant Information
Requested	2,000
Granted
Categories	Education
Location	International
Grant Cycle	2012

Organization Info
I CAN FLY International	http://www.icanflyinternational.org

Grant Description
Description	BENEFICIARIES<br/>THE BUTTERFLY PROJECT will benefit girls living within the Machakos District and surrounding villages in Kenya who seek better opportunities for themselvess. These girls are considered vulnerable citizens due to their current or potential status of being victims of child marriage, female genital mutilation, tribal war and thos subjected to extreme poverty. Each participant has a desire to gain access to education but have been unsuccessful in achieving their dreams due to their economic limitations, social stigmas, cultural hurdles and/or lack of transportation and housing. <br/><br/>We aim to increase enrollment rates at higher education levels and create economic stability, as well as expand the work force locally, regionally and nationally. We intend to boost the self-esteem of each participant through enrichment activities that will ultimately motivate and equip them to take on leadership roles in their community and nation with high ethical standards. These activities are increasingly important at a time when girls in the targeted age group are known to drop-out of school due to a series of economic and social challenges.<br/><br/>We will achieve our objectives by providing 60 girls, free and low-cost Secondary education, housing, and enrichment activities that promote higher education, economic growth, self-esteem, and character building. By offering free education and providing exposure to a wide range of programs outside of their normal academic coursework through enrichment activities, we aim to increase enrollment rates at higher education levels and create economic stability, as well as expand the work force locally, regionally and nationally.
Used for	The proposed money will be used for program expenses which include supplies and staffing. The Butterfly Project participants are offered eight academic subjects which indlude math, science, chemistry, physics, biology, English, CRE, and Swahilli. Each subject costs an estimated $400 each month to operate effectively with the proper supplies and teaching staff.
Benefits	The grant will benefit the world by giving young girls an opporutnity to recieve an education who are normally forced to drop out of school due to a lack of school fees and/or culutrual norms that prohibit girls from attending school. The beneficiaries of the grant are survivors of child marriage, female genital mutilation, slavery and tribal war. Studies have shown that girls who are educated are less likely to marry early, get pregnant or succumb to other negative patterns which allows them an opportunity to bulid self-sustaining livelihoods for themselves.