It Starts With a Girl

Over the last few days I've been volunteering with TechnoServe (TNS), the NGO Brian's been consulting with, in a program called, Young Women in Enterprise. Their goal is to reach out to young women in the slums, ages 15-22, and train them on business skills, entrepreneurship skills, money management, give them access to loans, and teach them about life skills like HIV/AIDS. On Monday, our first day, I headed out with the team of about 12 hired consultants and TNS staff into the Kawangware slum of Nairobi. We were looking for young women in the community who haven't been given the chance to thrive; house girls, child brides, primary school drop outs, prostitutes, young girls who have one baby strapped to their back and another one on each hand and she's only 17. So far we have been able to reach about 400 girls and spread the word to an even greater number of people in the community. Even though you may be able to reach the girl, who stands in her path? Her father, her brother, her mother, her employer.........her community. These are the gatekeepers to change.

Who greatly impacts future generations inside the home = women

Who can impact population growth given awareness and information = women

Who invests 90% of their income back into the home = women

Who is a saver of money = women

Girls are viewed as assets for their family. If money is needed, who is the first to be pulled out of school = a girl. If more money is needed, who will be sold as a child bride = a girl

How do we stop the cycle?

We have to start somewhere and that's what I'm witnessing first hand here in Nairobi. I have spoken to several girls now and looking into their eyes while I explain the free opportunity to learn how to start a business or learn how to interview to get a better job or a job, there is so much energy just waiting to be released. These girls are innovative, they survive in some of the worst conditions on our planet and yet they can come up with ideas on how to start a business so they can feed their family if only given the chance.

Give them this chance. Start with a girl.

http://www.technoserve.org/work-impact/locations/kenya.html

- See Entrepreneurship Training

www.girleffect.org