The highlight of my trip home to Enoosaen, Kenya was the girls’ school groundbreaking event that took place on August 16, 2008. On this day I was very excited but also nervous. I was not sure if the community would turnout in big numbers for the event or if the only attendees would be from supporting women’s groups—Empiris group, the Kakenya Center for Excellence Committee and my friends from Vital Voices.

In preparation for the event, women from the village spent the whole night cooking: a bull was slaughtered and coupled with all of the other wonderful food that we have in Kenya. A film crew from America was busy shooting footage and other guests were beginning to arrive, traveling on rough roads for four hours to reach Enoosaen… I felt truly blessed to have such a group of supporters and friends. Why worry about the ones who don’t want to come? – I consoled myself.

As you may have guessed, the turn out was unbelievable, the young, the old, women and men traveled long distances to come be a part of this event. By 11am (the time the meeting was to start), people had gathered and you could witness small groups conversing in different corners of the compound. When the event started, the speeches focused on girl’s education and praised the efforts of making education in this community a reality. The area Member of Parliament Gideon Kochellah sent a representative to pledge support to this project, both morally and financially. The District Officer, promised adherence to the law, prohibiting parents from engaging in early marriages. The education officer promised that his office will ensure that the girls at the Center will excel academically and live up to the name of their school. The community promised to whole-heartedly support the cause for the school—girls education. And my friends from outside Kenya pledged enduring support to the school.
As for the Big news: Vital Voices announced they will sponsor the first ten girls’ attendance and Beth Brooke, the Global Vice Chair of Strategy and Regulatory Affairs of Ernst & Young offered to support next ten – making a total of the twenty girls. YES – the first twenty girls have sponsors already! Thank you Vital Voices and Beth Brook for setting the bar so high!!!

At around 2pm the event ended officially with the ground breaking – My mother and I stood in front of a big crowd as the pastor blessed the ground. I wondered what my mother was thinking – was she proud of me or what was going on through her mind? I did not actually ask her the question yet but will once I get a moment.

Although this project is focused on the Center for excellence and ensuring that girls in my community get a chance to become better leaders in the future, it is also an empowering opportunity to the women of the community. They took a lead role in organizing the groundbreaking event and are taking the central role in building the school. There is power when women come together, things happen – they wash dishes together, they reason together, they welcome visitors together: these women care together – I love it.

I will be posting regularly on my experience in Kenya- so please check in frequently.
I want to thank all people who attended the event, the local leaders, community members, and the girls who entertained us endlessly and made many cry. A special thank you to Vital Voice for bringing such a team to support the work I am doing in my community. This meant a lot to me! THANK YOU