Miss Kibera
I met a community leader in Kibera who inspired me with her bright spirit. She is the reigning Miss Kibera, Zitah Jimoi who has become a role model in her community for young girls and is giving them tools to live a better life. Zitah educated me about the sad fact that opportunities are limited for girls in her neighborhood. Most girls are kept home instead of going to school. They are expected to be mother’s helpers; assisting with cooking and caring for their younger siblings. Being kept at home hinders them from gaining the education they need to change their lives. Many girls become dependent on men for money due to the lack of education. Feeling trapped by their academic insufficiencies many young women get married and have babies.
Zitah wants to change the outlook for young women in her neighborhood. She works with teenage girls at risk for getting pregnant and dropping out of school. She emphasizes the importance of education, teaches them that they have choices, and that their futures are in their own hands. She has created something she calls the “Princess Account.” That encourages girls to save even the smallest bits of money in bank accounts at a local bank. The lesson of the savings is that over time their small amounts saved will add up. As the young women mature they will have money from their savings available to them. They now have more options for their future and can make better choices. Having a bank account allows them not to have to rely on men anymore to survive. The knowledge provided by Zitah Jimoi – Miss Kibera 2011 empowers these young women to find their independence. All women need to feel independent and empowered. Education is so important for everyone in the world. Education empowers people to make changes to move forward in life and to help others.
I was impressed by how one person’s simple idea became an effective solution to a major problem. Zita takes tremendous pride in mentoring these young girls. By taking the time to connect with her neighbors, she is changing the lives of so many young girls in her community. Everyone needs a support system. I am grateful for all the people who support me in my life! I am very blessed for Zitah reminder that we all should reach out to each other and create support networks. Her unselfish giving spirit is a true gift for her community and for all the young girls lives she has helped to change.
My next post will be about my adventures in the rural areas of Kisumu Village.
Read more from Equipe Übersite
There are 12 comments to “Miss Kibera”
[...] milhões de pessoas ao redor do mundo: Soluções Simples e Sustentáveis, O Poder da Comunidade, Miss Kibera, Uma Longa Caminhada em uma Dura Realidade, Encontrando Maneiras Mais Eficientes para Cozinhar, [...]
I love this… thanks a lot… you really inspired me to, by visiting our home (KIBERA) i want to help girls in kibera so much coz they realy go trough a lot, i know it coz even me i followed the same rout… i want Kibera to have great women of integrity and leaders as much as hard life they are facing they can do better with what they have. i want a great future for our ladies in Kibera.. i love you.. and thanks.
Thanks all of you so much it really means a lot for this girls for the word of encouragement for you all, others they have drop out of school because of the fees that their parents are not earning enough to support them or others because of early pregnancy due to the poverty they are facing its very hard for girls here in Kibera due to day and a day hard life they are facing… what am trying to do is to give them moral support and tell them the risk of an idle mind it can lead for them to do bad thing , and also engaging in early sex which can be very risky and can lead to many diseases that can kill our generation. Your views are really helping me out because and i need advice too. thanks
Sua energia é realmente algo sobrenatural. Parabéns, partilhar estas experiências nos fortalece para seguirmos adiante. Um abraço
Já há alguns anos que recebo os lindos cartões de felicitações de aniversário, quero que saibam que já fico esperando por eles, são simplesmente fantásticos e me deixam muito feliz, eles carregam nossa bateria. OBRIGADA!
Lindo esse trabalho, estou lendo um livro “Metade do Nicholas D. Kristof e Sheryl WuDunn, que relata como a educação é fator de desenvolvimento, e na maioria das vezes a única chance de sobrevivência da maioria dos casos apresentados no livro, especialmente das meninas, que são marginalizadas pelo simples fato de serem meninas.
Nice,positive,inspiring people make the world go round!
Gisele esse seu trabalho é muito legal, gostei bastente. Manda um abraço para o pessoal de Fortalaza no Ceará!!!
You know it seems like invariably when great people are asked about their success they will point to a mentor like her, who was able to show them a path when they were in their formative younger years, to overcome their challenges and pursue their dreams. I think the savings account lesson is so important, not only for the financial independence, but also re-inforces the value of thrift, efficiency, patience, etc. all widely applicable virtues.
much love Gisele
Lindo o seu trabalho, Gisele! Quero acompanhá-lo a partir de agora. Parabéns! Que Deus a abençõe!
Me fez chorar, you got the best of both worlds. parabéns!
http://mhcmc.blogspot.com/
just beautiful inside and out.