Empower Her, Empower our Society

Girls sharing knowledge...

The International Women's Day that was celebrated early this month and it provided a platform for many stakeholders to opine on the suffering of women today and celebrate the successes the fight for gender equality has brought so far. However, much is yet to be done as our women have not yet been freed from the yokes of culturally institutionalized servitude.
One of the basic issues that indeed need much attention is the intellectual empowerment of our girls. A better and improved education system that would incorporate fairness. It is true that our girls are tirelessly fighting for their rights and it is high time the society came out strongly to help them in this fight.
I am writing this with the girl child living in the slums of Kibera in my mind.
A look at the school attendance in Kibera and there is a clear indication of massive dropouts reported, especially in high school. Even among the dropouts, girls are more than boys and when this happens, girls resort to getting married at an early age or engage in activities that are, in most cases, limited to utilizing what they readily have (their bodies) definitely ruining their future. Boys on the other hand have a wide range of options as most activities that require no skills are more often masculine in nature.
Revising our education syllabus to include instilling basic skills would help in giving girls more option. It is only through education that our girls will not be submissive to culturally dictated aspects that undermine their empowerment.
At the Children of Kibera Foundation we stand with the girls in their quest for a better future.

• 15- the total number of students who have graduated in high school through the CoKF Scholarship Program
• EIGHT of them are girls
• THREE are currently studying at United States International University (Nairobi), Kenyatta University and Stanstead College (Canada)
• FIVE are awaiting admissions to university

 WE EDUCATE KIBERA'S FUTURE. Help us in giving the girls a reason to feel as special members of our society as they truly are.
 

Schools have to lead the way to providing protective and productive assets to girls- 

Sajeda Amin, Population Council

Giving Back to The Society-Fred Juma's Story

By Aquinas Nyakundi. (Guest writer)

Fred at the Kenyatta National Hospital Pediatric Cancer Wards.

As Fred Juma sat for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams, he faced a tougher challenge than most students who merely suffer from exam-anxiety. But despite his cancer diagnosis, Juma has been able to score exceptionally well. 
Fred Juma was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer during preparations for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
He underwent a lot of challenges to complete his exams which included doing some of the papers halfway or under a tree due to the side effects from the drugs he was using that could not allow him to stay indoors for long.
When results were announced on 1st March 2013, he was proud to have scored a B plain which qualifies him for a course in a higher institution of learning. In an interview, Juma said he wishes to take a course in Mechanical Engineering or Fine Arts and thanked God for enabling him achieve the grade.
“I am good at artwork and sometimes I can do fantastic graffiti. Once I complete consultations with my sponsors, I will be certain which course I will be in a position to enroll for and in which institution,” he said. Juma hails from Kibera and has three brothers and a father who takes care of them but his education has entirely been supported by Children of Kibera Foundation.
He has tutored cancer kids at the hospital since he completed his KCSE examination in December 2012. For the time being, Juma continues volunteering with Hope for Cancer Kids by offering lessons to kids with cancer at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Juma says eight kids are under his care and their enthusiasm to learn new concepts each day gives him the motivation to attend to their academic needs. “Being a cancer survivor, I understand how it feels to know that you colleagues are studying while you are within hospital walls,” he said.
He said the kids have a challenge with text books as the few that they have are not enough to offer comprehensive study material to the kids. “The few books that were donated by a supporter from Children of Kibera Foundation are shared among the kids,” he said. Though Juma does not follow a laid down syllabus for the studies, he is optimistic that the knowledge they are gaining is relevant and as time progresses, the kids will also progress academically like their colleagues in formal schools.
Other than reading stories for the kids and giving them a chance to seek clarification through questions, Juma has occasionally tested the kids’ drawing ability in an effort to develop their creativity. He appeals for well wishers to donate more books to facilitate easy learning among the kids with cancer who he said are more than willing to learn new academic concepts.
The HCK director Wanja Mwangi said Juma is a bright boy whose willingness to help the cancer kids would go a long way in helping the kids advance their knowledge.
“His drawings are superb and I believe if he gets publicity, most people could have interest in them and he can make a good return from his artwork,” said Wanja.
Wanja stated that she was amazed at Juma’s performance given the challenges he underwent when preparing and during the actual exam period.