Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Mentoring and Empowerment Camp 2007
The Mentoring and Empowerment camp for girls was held in Kenya in December 2007. It was the first of its kind and definitely a first for the girls and their community! The camp was thought provoking, inspiring and life changing for girls. The camp was a space for the girls to experience a new way of thinking and seeds of change, sisterhood, diversity, self respect and love planted during the camp will surely produce fruits of influential young women.
The Mentoring and Empowerment Camp for Girls is the tool which we seek to achieve personal transformation and empowerment for young African girls so that they are better prepared to participate in the leadership and development of the African continent. The project strategy is to hold three consecutive camps for a group of girls over a period of three years. Our pilot camp is in its second year and the girls will continue to increase their knowledge base on human rights, assertiveness, diversity, sisterhood, mentoring, peace building, sexual and reproductive health among other things. Each year the project will recruit 25 girls and hold the empowerment camps over a period of three years with each group. This strategy will be used for a period of five years after which it shall be reviewed and evaluated to ensure that the program remains relevant and effective.
There were many interesting aspects of the camp, some of them being:
• Each of the girls wrote a letter to herself explaining the things she likes about herself and why she should be respected. This exercise was to help the girls realize their self value. The things one knows about themselves translates to good self esteem and self worth.
• There was an intergeneration forum during the camp which brought together women from three generations in one family. The women shared their life experiences and this was very inspiring for the girls first because these women came from their locality and proved to the girls that where one comes from doesn’t matter, it is where one is/wants to go that matters. Secondly, it allowed the girls the space to question people older than them. This is considered a taboo in the traditional setting. The essence of the mentoring camp was to allow girls freedoms they would not otherwise enjoy on a day to day basis. It also helped them understand that it is good to ask questions especially where something is not clear or you have no knowledge at all.
• The girls spent a lot of time with each other and this brought home the message on sisterhood. Each girl realized that she is her sister’s keeper and if her sister is not okay then she is also affected.
As part of monitoring and evaluation as well as sustainability for the camp, the team strives to keep in touch with the girls in order to facilitate the much needed guidance and monitor progress and growth. To this end, the team came up with the Afia Mentoring project that facilitates mentoring for the girls amongst themselves. So far, two of the older girls have facilitated mentoring sessions with the other girls. This project is expected to extend to schools where these girls are. Some of the girls are already in discussions with their teachers to facilitate the formation of clubs that will incorporate camp lessons and open a wider avenue for mentoring and empowering girls who didn’t attend the camp.
In keeping track on the girls, they come together on their own every two months or as school breaks allow. It is exciting to see these girls transform to self loving and responsible people.
Below are glimpses into the girls' lives.
Tabitha Mwema
• I am happy that since the camp I have been empowered to speak for myself. I am now in form 1 in Kyetivo High School. I am glad that I have the opportunity to study and become a woman of influence in my society.
Esther Kalekye
• Since the camp I am now aware of my rights as a girl. I am in Ksomwema High school. It is a day school. I have many challenges such as being in a new environment but I am determined to excel in school.
Susan Mbithe
• I am now in forth form looking forward to do my final secondary school exams. I made new friends from the camp who are my school mates and I am happy about it as we now have more in common. I know I am my sister’s keeper.
Linet Salim
• When I got my K.C.S.E results I was not happy, so I decided to go back to school so that I can work hard and get a better grade that will give me an opportunity to join the university.
Mercy Ndinda
• I am in Kyanguli Memorial Secondary School. I wanted to form a girls human rights club in my school so I wrote a letter to a female teacher asking for her guidance. She hasn’t responded but as soon as she does I will let you know.
Serah Nthenya
• I joined Tema Girls High School and I am currently enjoying the new environment and working hard so that I may become a woman of influence.
Alice Kalekye
• I joined High school and I am enjoying meeting new people from different backgrounds.
Faith Mutheu
• I am happy that I am in the same school with Serah ; it is special because we met at the camp. Together we are connecting dots and we are currently looking for interested girls to mentor and pass on the knowledge we got form the camp.
Agatha Kanini
• I am in Machakos Girls and I am glad that so far I have connected with two girls. I hope to start a club for girls at the school.
Susan Nginyo
• I am happy to report that I just completed my college education at the Kenya Teachers Training College and I am currently looking for a job. I am also making informed choices in life. I encourage all of you to be determined and have faith in yourself and you will make it in life.
Emmah Munyiva
• I realized that I needed to build my self esteem and I am currently practicing what I learn't at the camp.
Esther Mbete
• I am now in form 2. I have talked to one of my teachers and expressed my interest in forming a human rights club, I am awaiting an answer, I already have two other girls to start with.
Mary Nthenya
• I joined Mumbuni Girls High School. It is very competitive and there is no time to relax, we all work hard to achieve our dreams. I have talked to the headmistress to allow us form a girls’ club in the school.
Winfred Ndunge
• I am in Kyanguli Memorial School and education so far is enjoyable and I believe I will achieve my dreams.
Josephine Mukui
• I am now in form one and education is enjoyable and I am working hard in my studies.
Joyce Nduku Mwende
• I joined a mixed school so I learn together with boys. I am learning to use my voice because boys are loud and feel superior to others, if you don’t use your voice they walk all over you.
Elizabeth Mutio
• I joined Machakos Presbyterian High School and so far I find it very enjoyable. I am determined to work hard to excel in my studies
Esther Mwende
• I am in Kunyui Girls High School. When I first reported life was hard as I lost a bucket and slippers but I have adjusted.
Sharon Munyiva
• Sharon is currently in Kunikila Secondary School in Mwala.
This girls will get together again in Decembr for a follow-up camp. This camp is meant to continue the good work already started in the girls. It is anticipated that by the 3rd year of this group's camp, they will have made significant steps in changing their world and that of women around them.
The Mentoring and Empowerment Camp for Girls is the tool which we seek to achieve personal transformation and empowerment for young African girls so that they are better prepared to participate in the leadership and development of the African continent. The project strategy is to hold three consecutive camps for a group of girls over a period of three years. Our pilot camp is in its second year and the girls will continue to increase their knowledge base on human rights, assertiveness, diversity, sisterhood, mentoring, peace building, sexual and reproductive health among other things. Each year the project will recruit 25 girls and hold the empowerment camps over a period of three years with each group. This strategy will be used for a period of five years after which it shall be reviewed and evaluated to ensure that the program remains relevant and effective.
There were many interesting aspects of the camp, some of them being:
• Each of the girls wrote a letter to herself explaining the things she likes about herself and why she should be respected. This exercise was to help the girls realize their self value. The things one knows about themselves translates to good self esteem and self worth.
• There was an intergeneration forum during the camp which brought together women from three generations in one family. The women shared their life experiences and this was very inspiring for the girls first because these women came from their locality and proved to the girls that where one comes from doesn’t matter, it is where one is/wants to go that matters. Secondly, it allowed the girls the space to question people older than them. This is considered a taboo in the traditional setting. The essence of the mentoring camp was to allow girls freedoms they would not otherwise enjoy on a day to day basis. It also helped them understand that it is good to ask questions especially where something is not clear or you have no knowledge at all.
• The girls spent a lot of time with each other and this brought home the message on sisterhood. Each girl realized that she is her sister’s keeper and if her sister is not okay then she is also affected.
As part of monitoring and evaluation as well as sustainability for the camp, the team strives to keep in touch with the girls in order to facilitate the much needed guidance and monitor progress and growth. To this end, the team came up with the Afia Mentoring project that facilitates mentoring for the girls amongst themselves. So far, two of the older girls have facilitated mentoring sessions with the other girls. This project is expected to extend to schools where these girls are. Some of the girls are already in discussions with their teachers to facilitate the formation of clubs that will incorporate camp lessons and open a wider avenue for mentoring and empowering girls who didn’t attend the camp.
In keeping track on the girls, they come together on their own every two months or as school breaks allow. It is exciting to see these girls transform to self loving and responsible people.
Below are glimpses into the girls' lives.
Tabitha Mwema
• I am happy that since the camp I have been empowered to speak for myself. I am now in form 1 in Kyetivo High School. I am glad that I have the opportunity to study and become a woman of influence in my society.
Esther Kalekye
• Since the camp I am now aware of my rights as a girl. I am in Ksomwema High school. It is a day school. I have many challenges such as being in a new environment but I am determined to excel in school.
Susan Mbithe
• I am now in forth form looking forward to do my final secondary school exams. I made new friends from the camp who are my school mates and I am happy about it as we now have more in common. I know I am my sister’s keeper.
Linet Salim
• When I got my K.C.S.E results I was not happy, so I decided to go back to school so that I can work hard and get a better grade that will give me an opportunity to join the university.
Mercy Ndinda
• I am in Kyanguli Memorial Secondary School. I wanted to form a girls human rights club in my school so I wrote a letter to a female teacher asking for her guidance. She hasn’t responded but as soon as she does I will let you know.
Serah Nthenya
• I joined Tema Girls High School and I am currently enjoying the new environment and working hard so that I may become a woman of influence.
Alice Kalekye
• I joined High school and I am enjoying meeting new people from different backgrounds.
Faith Mutheu
• I am happy that I am in the same school with Serah ; it is special because we met at the camp. Together we are connecting dots and we are currently looking for interested girls to mentor and pass on the knowledge we got form the camp.
Agatha Kanini
• I am in Machakos Girls and I am glad that so far I have connected with two girls. I hope to start a club for girls at the school.
Susan Nginyo
• I am happy to report that I just completed my college education at the Kenya Teachers Training College and I am currently looking for a job. I am also making informed choices in life. I encourage all of you to be determined and have faith in yourself and you will make it in life.
Emmah Munyiva
• I realized that I needed to build my self esteem and I am currently practicing what I learn't at the camp.
Esther Mbete
• I am now in form 2. I have talked to one of my teachers and expressed my interest in forming a human rights club, I am awaiting an answer, I already have two other girls to start with.
Mary Nthenya
• I joined Mumbuni Girls High School. It is very competitive and there is no time to relax, we all work hard to achieve our dreams. I have talked to the headmistress to allow us form a girls’ club in the school.
Winfred Ndunge
• I am in Kyanguli Memorial School and education so far is enjoyable and I believe I will achieve my dreams.
Josephine Mukui
• I am now in form one and education is enjoyable and I am working hard in my studies.
Joyce Nduku Mwende
• I joined a mixed school so I learn together with boys. I am learning to use my voice because boys are loud and feel superior to others, if you don’t use your voice they walk all over you.
Elizabeth Mutio
• I joined Machakos Presbyterian High School and so far I find it very enjoyable. I am determined to work hard to excel in my studies
Esther Mwende
• I am in Kunyui Girls High School. When I first reported life was hard as I lost a bucket and slippers but I have adjusted.
Sharon Munyiva
• Sharon is currently in Kunikila Secondary School in Mwala.
This girls will get together again in Decembr for a follow-up camp. This camp is meant to continue the good work already started in the girls. It is anticipated that by the 3rd year of this group's camp, they will have made significant steps in changing their world and that of women around them.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
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