Our story begins with a young Maasai girl in Kenya who, at just eight years old, was confronted with a life-changing decision: to undergo ‘the CUT’ and be accepted as a woman, or to refuse and face rejection from her community.
That girl was Nice Nailantei Leng’ete.
Having witnessed the physical pain and lost opportunity through cultural practices like early child marriages and lost education opportunities that followed the CUT, otherwise called Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Nice dreamed of a different path.
With extraordinary courage, she chose to resist,running away not once, but twice, to escape the CUT.
In a bold act of love and determination, she appealed to her grandfather, a respected Maasai elder, and convinced him to allow her to continue her education instead. This decision made her the first girl in her village to remain uncircumcised and go on to high school.
Nice’s victory was not hers alone—it sparked a lifelong mission to ensure that no girl would have to choose between her body, her dreams, and her future. Out of this mission, the Nice Place Foundation was born.
What began as one girl’s act of defiance has grown into a sanctuary of hope. Today, Nice Place Foundation provides safety, education, and leadership opportunities for girls escaping harmful practices like FGM and early childhood marriage. It is a place where girls are not only protected, but empowered to thrive, to lead, and to become the women they dream of being.
DREAM. LEARN. LEAD
Our purpose is to empower girls who have overcome harmful cultural practices to live dignified lives. We exist to equip and support them for a better future through education, and to create a community movement that brings change from within. Our ultimate goal is a world where girls lead. We offer a safe space where they can live peacefully, helping them to build a new life after facing cultural, economic, and social challenges. You can make a difference in the lives of girls by supporting the Nice Place Foundation. Your generous donation helps us provide a safe space and vital resources for girls to heal, grow, and build a brighter future.
Our mission is to protect at-risk girls, nurture their resilience, and empower them to become transformational leaders through education, advocacy, and entrepreneurial training, creating a sustainable legacy of change in their communities.
A safe space where girls are empowered to live a dignified life.
Guided by our core values of empathy, respect, confidentiality, integrity, and teamwork, we are dedicated to helping every girl heal and thrive.
Founder and Executive Director
Ms. Leng’ete is the Founder and Executive Director of the Nice Place Foundation. She
is a globally recognized Kenyan human rights advocate, celebrated for her transformative work to end female genital mutilation (FGM) and promote girls’ education. Ms. Leng’ete brings visionary leadership, community credibility, and international networks that strengthen strategic governance and advance the Foundation’s mission for social impact.
Non-executive Board Chair
Ms. MacKenzie is the Board Chair and serves as the Chief Client Experience Officer at CIBC Mellon, where she oversees client service, data governance, and relationships.
management functions. She holds a business administration credential from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and is a Certified Financial Planner.
Ms. MacKenzie has a strong record of philanthropic engagement, having served on boards, including the Special Olympics Foundation and Canadian Postcode Lottery
Foundation, and previously chaired the AMREF Canada board. Her experience in enhancing client engagement, driving service excellence, and building trusted
partnerships makes her a valuable asset for governance and strategic board leadership.
Non-executive Director
Justice (Prof.) Joel Ngugi is a distinguished jurist and scholar, currently serving as a Judge of the Court of Appeal of Kenya. A Harvard-trained lawyer, he possesses deep expertise in law, governance, and social transformation. He is a former Director of the Judiciary Training Institute and an ardent human rights defender. Justice Ngugi
presently chairs the National Steering Committee for the Implementation of the Alternative Justice Systems Policy (NaSCI-AJS), bringing a wealth of experience in
institutional leadership, policy innovation, and people-centered justice. These qualities make him an invaluable contributor to strategic governance and impactful board service. He also hails from Kajiado County.
Non-executive Director
Dr. Leyian is the CEO of Big Life Foundation. A native of Imbirikani Group Ranch in Kajiado County, he has deep roots in the Amboseli ecosystem, combining lived experience as a pastoralist with academic and professional expertise in conservation and management. He has previously served as CEO of the Amboseli Ecosystem Trust and as Conservation Advisor to the Governor of Kajiado. Dr. Leyian now brings his leadership to Big Life at a critical moment of land and ecosystem transition, offering
valuable insights to the Foundation’s strategic direction.
Non-executive Director
Ms. Naisula Keko is the Regional Business Lead for East & West Africa at IFS and a Board Member of New KCC. She previously spent 14 years at SAP East Africa,
supporting digital transformation across the region. Naisula holds a Master of Science in Management & Organizational Development from USIU–Africa and is passionate about technology, leadership, and driving organizational change.
You can make a difference in the lives of girls by supporting the Nice Place Foundation. Your generous donation helps us provide a safe space and vital resources for girls to heal, grow, and build a brighter future.
