HER Lab

Rural women comprise 25% of the world’s population. In Kenya’s hard-to-reach rural areas, Global Give Back Circle implements a holistic bridging program for the employment-readiness needs of rural young women.  HER Lab is a place – a safe space for these young women to gain skills and find pathways to employment and economic freedom.

For the needs of rural young women

‘Her Lab’ is a 12-month post-high school skilling program, providing participants with pathways to employment and dedicated mentors. They learn how to assess their strengths and link them to job opportunities, and how to access higher education opportunities. Throughout the program, their communities’ benefit through give back projects designed to educate community members in areas such as financial literacy, regenerative agriculture /agribusiness, and digital skills. 

‘HER Lab’ engages key stakeholders, including the Kenyan government and private sector organizations, in rural community transformation led by the courage and resilience of young women who were at one time subjected to harmful cultural practices like FGM and forced early marriage.

After 10 years of success in West Pokot, Kenya, the HER Lab model is being scaled up to other ASAL communities in Kenya, through a partnership with Mastercard Foundation in the Economic Empowerment 4 HER Program, which delivers the HER Lab model through a set of integrated approaches. Partnerships with local organizations in Kenya (Perur Rays of Hope, HELGA and Circle Group Ltd.) support long-term sustainability, ensure the voices of young rural women are incorporated in all aspects of program implementation and reinforces that HER Lab belongs to the communities it serves.  

Our Theory of Change

The Economic Empowerment 4 HER Program is a holistic initiative designed to create sustainable career pathways for young women in rural Kenya by addressing individual skills, market access, and social barriers simultaneously.

Skills-Building

 Provides market-aligned vocational training, mentorship, and personal development to build both professional competence and personal confidence.

Connection to Work

Bridges the gap between training and income through employer partnerships, apprenticeships, and direct support for entrepreneurship.

Shifting Mindsets

Engages families and community leaders to reduce social resistance, promote shared domestic responsibilities, and foster a supportive environment for women leaders.

Program
Impact

Sustainability

By linking learning directly to real-world income, the program ensures that education translates into immediate economic stability.

Reinforcement

The three components work in a “virtuous cycle”—as community support grows, women can pursue work more freely, which in turn reinforces their roles as economic contributors.

Holistic Growth

The goal is to move beyond simple job placement to ensure women can learn, earn, and lead consistently and without disruption.