In mid-August, Agents of Peace Organization (APO) welcomed Swedish journalist Sofi Lundin to our office. Her visit focused on a crisis that continues to shape the future of many families in Ikolomani: the girl child dropping out of school at a young age, early pregnancies, and the wider pressures created by artisanal gold mining.

For APO, the conversation was both timely and urgent. In Ikolomani, Kakamega County, gold has long been seen as a path to survival. But too often, that same economy pulls children — especially girls — away from classrooms and into cycles of risk, poverty, and lost opportunity.

The girl child at the centre of the struggle

During the visit, we shared how school dropout among girls is closely linked to household hardship, early pregnancy, and the pull of mining work around them. When a girl leaves school early, she loses more than a desk and a uniform. She loses protection, skills, and the chance to shape a safer future for herself and her community.

Early pregnancies deepen that vulnerability. Many young mothers face stigma, interrupted education, and limited support — while still carrying the weight of caring for a child. APO believes no girl should be forced to choose between survival today and dignity tomorrow.

Gold mines and community pressure

Artisanal gold mining remains one of the hardest pressures on childhood in Ikolomani. Hazardous sites, unstable incomes, and the promise of quick money can draw children into dangerous labour and pull families into conflict over land, safety, and opportunity.

This is why APO continues to call for community action to keep children in school and out of the mines — a message we also advanced in our earlier story, Protecting childhood in Ikolomani.

Why Sofi Lundin’s visit matters

Sofi Lundin’s mid-August visit helped amplify these realities beyond our local networks. Journalism that listens carefully to communities can open doors for accountability, solidarity, and practical support. Hosting her at our office gave us space to explain APO’s work on peace, justice, child protection, and community empowerment — and to insist that the girl child’s education is a peace and justice issue, not a side concern.

APO remains committed to:

• Keeping girls in school and protecting them from early dropout
• Supporting families facing economic pressure linked to mining
• Raising awareness on early pregnancies and child protection
• Promoting peaceful, accountable responses to gold mining challenges in Ikolomani

We thank Sofi Lundin for visiting our office and for helping shine a light on the plight of the Ikolomani girl child. The work continues — in classrooms, households, and community spaces — until every child can learn, grow, and dream in safety.