'Train-Coach-Mentor' Girls in Kenya

Girls in Mitumba Primary school (a small community school in Mitumba slums) in Nairobi-Kenya participate and benefit from 'Train-Coach-Mentor' Project.

Our teammate Lynda Banja in Kneya shares her experience hosting and facilitating the Empowerment training for the girls in Kenya.

I had announced that I would we would be facilitating Greight Fundation’s Empowerment and Social Change Initiatives debut training on this particular day. How to begin was the tricky part. I have never dealt with children before so this was just a ball game of its own. With the assistance of some family members we had volunteered to provide some second hand clothes that were in our wardrobes.

At around 1.30 pm Kenyan time we made our entrance, all were busy with their lunch as everyone’s eyes were fixed on their plates. Some of the boys had assisted us in carrying some of the items to the school.

We were a tad bit too early, my heart was pacing I was wondered and asked myself ‘ok how do we start with this young audience that is before me’? Thankfully I had to wait till the end of their classes at 3pm to proceed. This gave me the opportunity to go round the school. I asked a few questions and the first graders were more than eager to usher in this new teacher – “Teacher Banja” into their fraternity. I enjoyed their companionship- they showed me round and now I just like one of them.

The trumpet finally sounded, girls slightly taller than me were more than eager to usher me in just to discover what I had in store for them. I briefly introduced myself and requested that each of them (20 girls) do the same. Most were extremely shy and I realized we had a heavy task ahead. After the ‘Knowing me- Knowing –you’ session I requested them to identify issues that they felt I could discuss with them in our various sessions. They highlighted a number which made me realize that they were fully aware of their environment.

In closure and just to call it a day we gave the various clothes ,the joy and gratitude was clearly written in their faces and what other form of fulfillment would one request than this I bid them farewell looking forward to our next encounter after all 'I am because you are'