Avoiding a twelve-hour trip on rough roads, an MAF flight has facilitated a seminar for hundreds of girls to learn about Female Genital Mutilation – and has planted hope.
Story by Hillim Gitonga
An MAF plane touches down in the hills of northern Kenya, in the remote village of Gatab. On board is Esther Focking-Stolz and her husband, Dr.Friedhelm Focking, a familiar face to many in this quiet Samburu community.
For remote communities like this one where roads are rough and distances long, air travel isn’t a luxury, it’s a lifeline. MAF makes it possible for Esther and her husband Friedhelm to return regularly, carrying not just supplies and encouragement, but a message of hope.
This trip marked the 12th Hearts for Gatab seminar: A one-day event that brings together young girls for honest conversations about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The day includes worship, medical teaching, meals, and a chance for the girls to make a public commitment to say ‘no’ to the practice. The seminar was attended by 272 girls, coming from three different schools in the area.
For many girls, it’s the first time they hear they have a choice. They meet others who’ve said ‘no’ or survived the experience, and they see they’re not alone. But the pressure is real: some face losing the chance to go to school, rejection by their families, or worse.
One memorable moment that still sits with me to date was a story involving a girl, betrothed young, who was facing FGM
“We rescued her, reported the situation to the police, and my husband Friedhelm and I became her legal guardians, protecting her.”
These aren’t stories you forget. They are real lives changed by timely intervention, consistent support and compassion.
Getting to Gatab isn’t easy. Roads are unreliable, and the distances are long. Esther depends on MAF to make these trips possible.
‘‘Without MAF flights, reaching these girls regularly would be nearly impossible,” Esther added. For her, MAF isn’t just a transport service, it’s part of the mission itself.
‘‘We came here to serve the people by providing medical treatment and to spread the Word of God,” said Friedhelm, himself a medical doctor
MAF planes have a big impact in our work since we save travel time, and are able to visit other places and work in those places. Previously, it would take us up to two days to get to Gatab.
Hearts for Gatab may have started with one woman’s conviction, but it has grown into something more, a quiet movement powered by faith, love, and resilience.
Esther has been working together with different nurses from this community who help her with the organisation of the seminars as well as talk to the girls.
Njelly Lamadada, a nurse from Gatab, recalls how Esther would come and talk to them about FGM when she was still in primary school.
I could see how mothers were suffering during childbirth and decided to join Esther to teach the ladies about the dangers of FGM
Josephine Lekoshere, who works as the community health assistant added, ‘‘Girls are being educated about FGM, gender-based violence and to say ‘no’ to these harmful practices. We also teach them about the law and places where they can report these cases.”
Esther hopes for a future where no girl has to fear being cut, and where each one has the chance to grow up safe, confident, and rooted in Christ. She’s praying for more hands to help and more hearts to care, because there are still so many girls waiting for someone to stand with them.
For now, she’ll keep showing up, one flight, one gathering, one girl at a time.
