A Champion for Girls Around the World
| This blog post is part of “20 Years, 20 Stories,” a series celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 60 million girls Foundation. Over the next eight months, we will share the stories of the people who have shaped our journey — volunteers, partners, donors, and the girls at the heart of our mission. We hope their voices inspire you as much as they inspire us. |
In late September 2022, the 60 million girls Foundation lost a beloved and dedicated volunteer. We miss Lesley’s warmth, her tireless energy, and her quiet dedication to 60 million girls, women’s empowerment, and the children we support.
Before joining the Foundation, Lesley was a Grade 6 primary school teacher, where she was firm, but generous with her time, always ready to offer extra support to any child who needed it. Her students knew they mattered to her. In retirement, Lesley didn’t slow down, she redirected that same devotion toward girls halfway around the world who deserved the same chance she had given her own students.
At 60 million girls, Lesley led the communications team, sat on the executive committee, and served on the project evaluation team. Lesley was detail oriented and always provided feedback with a smile. She showed up fully, in every role, every time.
Supporting Women through Girls’ Education
When 60 million girls first partnered with the Maasai Women Development Organization (MWEDO) in 2017 through The Stephen Lewis Foundation, Lesley was deeply moved by women’s struggles and the lack of opportunities for young women. In Tanzanian pastoralist communities, Maasai girls are traditionally married off by the time they are fifteen, and only 1 in 100 girls gains access to secondary education.
MWEDO was founded by three local women who had themselves struggled to access education, and their work speaks directly to that injustice. Since 2005, over 600 Maasai girls have accessed secondary education thanks to MWEDO’s support. Beyond schooling, MWEDO holds community meetings with traditional leaders and local government, trains birth attendants and home-based care workers, and advocates tirelessly for the rights and wellbeing of girls and women.
The Lesley H. Stewart Scholarship Fund
In her memory, family and friends established the Lesley H. Stewart Scholarship Fund, separate from regular 60 million girls’ donations. The fund provided four-year scholarships to six Maasai adolescent girls in Arusha, Tanzania, to attend MWEDO Secondary School full time from January 2023 through November 2026. The scholarships cover school fees, food, lodging, supplies, books, health support, and mentorship. It is exactly the kind of investment Lesley would have chosen herself: practical, holistic, and rooted in community.
Lesley always encouraged those around her to be the best they could be. Now, across an ocean, six young women are getting a chance to finish school. She would certainly be pleased.
The 60 million girls Foundation is grateful for every act of generosity that keeps our mission alive. If you would like to explore how you can support girls’ education — including through a legacy gift — please visit Give now – 60 million girls.