Rising Beyond Viungujini: Saa’s Fight for Every Girl’s Future

At just 24 years old, Saa Mshimu Salim from Viungujini village in Msambweni, Kwale County, has become a powerful voice for young women in her community.

Growing up in a setting where cultural practices often limit girls’ opportunities, she has seen many of her peers drop out of school due to teenage pregnancy, early marriage, and lack of parental support for education beyond secondary level.

According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, 15% of adolescent girls aged 15–19 have already begun childbearing, with the rates even higher among those with little or no education. In Kwale, this means that 1 in 5 girls is likely to leave school too early, with higher education remaining a distant dream for most.

“I watched friends give up school for marriage. I realised our stories needed to be heard beyond Viungujini,” Saa shares.

Her encounter with Msambweni Queens and later Youth for a Sustainable World (YSW) cemented her resolve to be at the forefront of changing the situation.

“After completing Form 4, I joined a 3 month computer course at a local cyber. At the time, my sister was already a member of Msambweni Queens group, and she often shared with me about the community dialogues they were conducting. She explained how members were trained and later selected to attend different trainings and meetings, where they gained valuable knowledge and skills,” she explains.

Msambweni Queens is self help group that empowers girls and young women to lead and thrive, with focus on women leadership, SRHR and gender equality.

Saa joined MQ group, where she currently serves as the group secretary, and was later selected as part of YSW youth champions, advocating for the improved policy environment to ensure girls and young women are able to access reproductive healthcare information and services.

Her active role in advocacy, including participating in public hearings and engaging Members of County Assembly, positioned her to represent her peers at the EAC Youth Policy Forum in Arusha, Tanzania, in August 2025. The dialogue, held under the theme “From Consultation to Action: Legislative Pathways and Popularisation Strategies for the EAC Youth Policy 2025–2030,” brought together 200 youth leaders, lawmakers, and sector experts.

At the forum, Saa participated in expert panels, breakout sessions, and youth-led dialogues, strengthening her ability to connect local challenges—such as limited contraceptive access and unmet mental health needs—with policy solutions at regional levels.

“Standing in Arusha, I carried the hopes of young women in Msambweni—so that regional laws reflect our realities,” she reflects.

Saa’s advocacy contributed to the Communiqué’s commitments: enactment of the EAC SRHR Bill, expansion of youth-friendly health services, and integration of mental health into primary care.

Beyond advocacy, she has also participated various training sessions that have strengthened her knowledge and skills in governance, financial management, project management, and resource mobilisation.

Her journey goes beyond advocacy, she is also part of the first cohort of leaders trained under YSW’s Transformative Leadership initiative. The seven-week leadership program was designed to nurture inner strength, emotional intelligence, and purpose-driven leadership.

“I learned that true leadership begins with self-awareness understanding who you are, your strengths, and your purpose, and leading with honesty and confidence. I also learned that communication is not just talking, it’s about listening, respecting others’ views, and working together to make better decisions,”she says.

She adds, “My dream is to become a leader who empowers girls and young women at the grassroots level. Through my experience with MQs and YSW, I aim to continue building my skills in leadership and program work, influence positive change in my community, and mentor other young women to make decisions that affect their lives.”

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PHOTO BY BRIAN OTIENO/STORITELLAH.COM/DSW