My
mentorship project dubbed “Sisterhood” has recently expanded its focal point
and is now in more schools and centers within Nairobi and its environs. Walking
down this road has not been easy to say the least, but it has been unquestionably
worthwhile. I am constantly amazed at how differently my world view is as to that
of others. Our life experiences definitely have a lot to do with that, but this
reality should neither make us vain or bitter, nor conceited or proud.
My
most recent encounter has been with young teenagers and very young mothers
living in Kibera and Kawangware both located in Nairobi. The negative publicity
that is constantly aired in regard to these areas of course makes one skeptical
and to a large degree scared of being in the area. It was a happy surprise to
find very clean, orderly and respectable young ladies awaiting us. It would be
a fallacy to say that no crime or violence indeed goes on in the area, but a
lot of good is equally evident in the area too; and I am keen on focusing on
the positive and eliminating the negative not the other way round.
In
Kibera, my two mentees are both 18 years old and as any normal young lady, they
are curious about boys and dating, freedom and making money to name but a few. Our
coordinator Emma has appointed 11 Mentors to mentor 22 mentees in the area. This
translates to 2 mentees per mentor and we all commit to have contact of at
least two hours per week for the next 6 weeks with the girls. Last week was
officially our first week of action and on our menu for the day for my team was
on goal setting. The girls certainly had to get homework and I cannot wait to
hear from them this Saturday how it felt to set their long term goals without
any limitation and not withstanding their current situation.
Kawangware
has a lovely football team; “Binti” comprised of 25 young ladies between the
ages of 12-24.The coordinators of the project the Young Women Leadership
Initiative-Kenya use football as an ice-breaker to engage the young ladies. It
was a remarkable feeling just being with these girls especially when they
shared the impact football and the mentorship project has influenced their
lives and their relations with others in the community especially their
parents. I have never been a football fan, but I assured the girls that I will
be their self appointed cheerleader from now henceforth!!!Many of these girls
are actually in the under 17 National football team…
If
you preserve it, if you believe it, you can achieve it is the girls’ mantra and
it is working!!!
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