l can’t believe that 2 years and seven months have passed since l joined ZanaAfrica as a junior facilitator in training. The training in the field to facilitate was not just an easy task because we had to do a lot of research in order to make our facilitation skills better. One of the requirements in the field was to make sure that we had to find atleast Three new schools. This called for good communication skills to the potential schools we hoped to work with. I remember one day when l went to this school and the principal looked at me from head to toe and asked me what such a young man like me would offer to his students.  l told him by engaging the students in his school in meaningful talk would give them the tools to make better decisions when faced with life dilemmas. Even after spending 2hours waiting and 1 hour trying to explain to him how the clubs would empower the students, he turned me away with no club in his the school.

All the schools we have been working with have been in Kibera slums and it was a great pleasure working there. Kibera being one of the largest slums in Africa is located less than an hour drive from the city center.  The schools that we worked with were located in different parts of Kibera this including Laini Saba,Kianda,Mashimoni,etc. in some of the schools we had a good co-operation from the teachers in charge of the clubs while it was difficult in others. This included teachers not having the clubs arranged in time.

My passion has always been to work with young people and it did not matter where. I joined ZanaAfrica and I was able to do that. I developed my facilitation skills while l was there and this gave me a better platform to become better in what l do.  l have been able to learn more in social media and other computer skills including blogging. Other meaningful, skills were office work, record keeping and basic accounting.  The greatest of this skills learnt was team work and leadership. The organization encouraged personal development, creativity and proactivity. This led to independent thinking and freedom in decision making. My boss always said that it is very important to always ask Why things are happening and not just to take everything that comes our way but challenge their genuine and if they would create impact.

For me just to hear transformational testimonies from the student’s that l worked with was what kept me going. The students were amazing and eager to engage in empowerment clubs. One of the student said that she was sharing to her friends at home how to use sanitary towels correctly as a result of our health education sessions. What do you call that? Empowering with a multiplier effect!!

We taught the young people that they are leaders among leaders and that the only change that they needed to make for their lives starts with them first then it extended to the community. They knew very well that you don’t give what you don’t have because they heard and saw it from us.

One of the parents said that she had left her daughter alone for the night as she was attending a friend who was sick and a guy came that night knocking at the door asking for the mum pretending to be a friend but the girl refused to open the door. Instead she told the man to come back when the mum comes back, the man did not come back. This is the kind of the empowerment that l am speaking about which liberates the young people to make independent decisions that safeguard them in their lives.

Our empowerment to the students included financial management education thanks to Population Council, Microsave and Faulu Kenya. This has seen girls as young as 10 to 17 years old open actual accounts with Faulu bank while learning how to budget the five or ten shillings they are given by their parents to buy mandazis (a small deep fried dough made of wheat flour), how to find safe ways of how to earn money in their neighborhoods during their free time. E.g. plaiting their friend’s hair, joining social youth groups that have small business enterprises at their areas, etc. The financial education enables the young girls to be responsible with their finances no matter how little and to have a culture of savings when they are still young. When ZanaA was introducing the projects in schools the teachers were always amazed with such a programme for young people. Some of them said that they wish they were taught such an invaluable skill in life and actually having an actual bank account. I wish I was too.

The good thing about being a facilitator is that you learn as much from the young people as they are learning from you and I tend to hold each session with open mindedness to learn. Thus have been empowered through the field as much while l have been with ZanaAfrica.

One of the things l believe is that though Kibera has a high rate of poverty in the country and even though things seem difficult, we can change the situation when you empower the youth. Having a focused and informed youth in the society is where you hit hard the poverty pandemic. You are sure to not only raise creative people and positive minded but you also raise morally upright, responsible and hardworking citizens. Wow!!

I have been privileged to be among the group of wonderful young men and women in bringing the empowering information in Kibera and as for me that has been a tremendous journey and l will be forever grateful.

ZanaA’s mission of raising up young leaders to be agents of their own change in their community has impacted me immensely and l must admit that l have been  all through  transformed as l have been working with the young people. Also ZanaA has exposed me to multi-cultural setting working environment with international working standards not to mention the business loan incentive that saw me import some tools for the electrical installation jobs .

Wow to ZanaAfrica!!

I have been privileged to live the two kinds of lifestyles that there is. I have lived a life where l didn’t know where my next meal is coming from and l have lived a comfortable life where my next meal was predictable.

Life is not the best teacher when you are learning the hard way because you have to become harder in order to live on life’s terms. It is in this juncture that you can almost take everything that comes your way without questioning the outcome.

In every kind of life we leave either good or bad, we have role models. We also have a choice to make which unfortunately will most likely be influenced by those we look upon as example. Imagine having being brought up in a community where you were not really guided on life, where drinking was not questioned because everyone drunk, where smoking was not a big deal etc.? What kind of models do you think this person will grow up looking upon?

By now you know that in such a community, the few good things that create and promise a future of a healthy community are out of sight e.g. schools, churches, and other positive social activities institutions. I see a community of anti-social activities, addicts, unwanted pregnancies, poverty, and absence of love. Low self- worth, low self- esteem and children growing up with little good things to say about life.

Now imagine such young people when it comes to issues that are of very importance. This is the people that will most likely be most insecure, constantly stepping on every good that their peers try to come up with. They won’t see any good thing in them of which they won’t see any good in other people.  Because they will be focusing on the negative stuff on life they will most likely be overtook by events thus becoming uninformed about the important issues in life. As a result they will be ignorant making them easy prey to manipulation and peer pressure.

It is unfortunate to say that these are the kind of leaders that we might end up having in our homes, companies, government etc. Without any sense of morality, justice, integrity, reasoning and understanding.

However, there is hope!

How do we fight this menace that is threatening the establishment of our society?

I think we as young people need to know that we have a big responsibility to play. We need to realize that even though those who started before us did not start right we must end it right. We have to know that even though those we looked upon to lead us were selfish and at some point un-informed then it should be our solemn vow to change the course and break the curse where it is. We should be aware that by having authority figures manning positions or because they are older than us does not mean they are necessarily good leaders and it is upon us to strive to create change positively.

We need to use the past as a learning experience so as to move forward. Let’s understand that no one will ever outlive the society.

We don’t need to wait for the government to come into place and rescue us, this change can start within us. By saying no to things that make us not to focus to a positive life. Let’s say no to drugs, alcohol, engagement in violent politics, and any other form of anti-social behavior.

Instead let’s focus on things that promote healthy living and community development e.g. joining positive empowerment groups, religious activities that promote peace love and unity, government initiatives for the youth etc.

Yes we can and we need to keep doing the right thing. This nation needs us and we should be there for it!!

We’re thrilled to share our video “ZanaAfrica’s PAD Project: My Story” with you. This video explains just how important sanitary pads and health education are, from a Kenyan girl’s perspective!

During iPad art workshops in our EmpowerNet Clubs in Kibera, girls learned how to express themselves through art and technology. They drew their homes, schools, friends, family… and anything else they could dream up. Then, our friends at Alphachimp Studio Inc. in Tennessee, used the girls’ artwork as inspiration to create this animated video. The whole thing was created on an iPad!

The bottom line is: sanitary pads + health education changes lives for girls in Kenya. And at ZanaAfrica, we’re committed to being a part of this solution. Click here to join us in empowering Kenyan girls through The PAD Project!

ZanaAfrica is dedicated to empowering girls through holistic support and affordable sanitary pads. Right now, we’re partnering with Faulu Kenya and Population Council to run a financial education curriculum in our EmpowerNet Clubs. Each girl is learning how to save with her own bank account at Faulu!

Read on to hear EmpowerNet Club Facilitator, Jayne Mumbanu, explain how financial education has made a difference for girls in Kibera—including her!
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Today’s generation talks about money as the key factor to earning a good living. True to that, without money your life is termed as “doomed.” You have no say and cannot act if you do not have money.

Everyone needs money to carry out their day to day activities effectively. The most important factor in money matters is how well one will spend his or her money. People have different spending habits, which is what determines how they spend their money. This brings me to the most important factor in dealing with money: FINANCIAL EDUCATION. Financial education equips one with the basic skills on how to plan, spend, and save their money.

Through financial education, as a girl, I have learned how to spend my money wisely. I am well equipped and know how to budget for my money before going ahead and buying anything. All thanks to ZanaAfrica for taking this important step of teaching girls like me on how to manage our money. As an EmpowerNet Club Facilitator, I have been going to the Clubs each week, where I help lead our discussion. Learning how to manage money is an important skill that girls will definitely use throughout their lives. ZanaAfrica has gone a long way in helping girls recognise their worth in the Nation.

Many people feel that one does not need to budget for small earnings. To pose a challenge to them, I want to let them know that right now many girls have opened accounts through ZanaAfrica and Faulu Kenya, and are saving the little money they can afford each day. Through this education, we will grow up to be responsible and respectable women and leaders in the near future.

People have different attitudes towards money hence the difference in spending habits. Some people are good at holding onto their money and will tend to spent it less often. Others are very good at spending their money immediately. But you know what? However you may be, you need financial education to be able to handle your money well!

Just a reminder about saving your money: always remember that saving is not putting aside the small amount of your money that is left, but rather keeping a small amount of your money before you start to spent. Your budget will help you know how much to save. Who can now deny the fact that money talks!

Who wants to buy stuff then come to notice, after all the money is gone, they forgot to get some important goods and they bought goods that were not necessary at the moment? Personally, I want to see exactly where my money is going. If I buy something, I want to see that it serves me right. I believe that no one wants to regret having spent their cash unwisely, you know why? Because my/your money matters!

Every week when we go to the schools in Kibera, I’m blown away by our students. These girls are enthusiastic, bright, and always ready to learn. Whether we’re talking about financial management and savings or drawing on iPads (check out Kajani’s post about that too!), the students are just excited to be learning something new.

But the students aren’t the only ones to admire.  There’s a group of unsung heroes at each of these schools: the teachers.

When we arrive before the club, the scene at the school can only be described as chaos. There are kids running around, students getting ready to walk home, lots of playing and shouting, and inevitably there’s a chicken squaking up a storm. Then, out of the crowd, a teacher will appear, and although the scene does not necessarily quiet down, there’s a tangible calm in the air.

The faculty advisors to our clubs are so crucial to the success of our programs.  We simply would not be able to have EmpowerNet Clubs without their endorsement and support. The teachers we work with are passionate about providing for their students, and it shows in everything they do. As soon as we arrive, teachers like Mr. Jared at St. Juliet or Ms. Kwamboka at Kicoshep greet us with smiles. We always chat for a few minutes and discuss that week’s topic and any issues or challenges we’re having. Their guidance and advice is an invaluable resource to us.

The school administration at our schools don’t just help organize the EmpowerNet Clubs—they’ll participate too. And the girls seem to really enjoy when their teachers come sit in the clubs and learn alongside them. When teachers invested in the program, so are the students.

It takes an extraordinary amount of time and energy to make these programs work. The teachers and school administration deserve a round of applause for  ensuring the success of the EmpowerNet Clubs!

The program started early this year and we have been having the girls learn how to draw using an application called the brushes. We started by having the girls know what is art, different forms of art, its applications and how it is important for the art to be able to communicate the intended message effectively.

We had them know that the goal of the drawing is to help ZanaA do an animated video that will help explain what we as ZanaAfrica are and  they are in the best place to help us do part of that because they have been with us and feels the positive impact of what we do.

We started by having the girls do some hand drawing exercises to warm up for the preparation of the actual drawing on the iPads. On the actual iPads we taught them how to switch on and then going to the drawing icon called brushes. After that we went ahead to have them learn the different tabs of the application. This includes changing different colour schemes, shapes and sizes when drawing.  Lastly we taught them how to do a playback and how to save their work using their group names.

The girls have been very responsive to the activities and they really enjoy drawing on the iPads.  Actually they are or might be the only of a few schools that have been able to use an iPad in the whole of Kibera and this makes them very proud. One of the great things l like about this project is that l am learning a lot more about the lpads and from the girls too.

The teachers in the schools that we work with have been very cooperative and keen on following and wanting to learn more on the lessons. One of the teachers from St. Juliet learned how to draw using the brushes in about 30 minutes and was so impressed with the application.

This drawing program is so easy that it took me like 15 minutes to learn the basics of the program and it takes an average of 1 hour to teach the girls the basics. After that the girls are all ready to do it themselves with just a few directions here and there.

The biggest challenge we have in the project is lack of enough iPads and we have the girls share the lpads in groups and have to use them in turns so that everybody in the group can have a chance to draw something.

This is a great empowerment tool for young people which can encourage creativity and bring out the talents that they have.

Me and the girls are eagerly waiting when the actual video will be out!!

The Problem:

ZanaAfrica is committed to helping girls stay in school through sustainable innovation. Over 800,000 girls in Kenya miss 6 weeks of school each year because these young women do now have modern ways to easily manage their periods. Sanitary pads are too expensive, and homemade rags are awkward, uncomfortable, and ineffective—causing embarrassment that keeps girls at home.

 ZanaA’s Solution:

But there is hope. Academic studies in Ghana and Kenya show that providing pads and health education reduces school absenteeism by 75%. This simple solution helps girls stay in school, and ultimately reach a brighter future.

In 2012, we will launch manufacturing for our own locally-produced, affordable, eco-friendly sanitary pad. Designed especially for girls’ preferences, our pad is also innovative by delivering health and hygiene education on every packet.

EmpowerNet Clubs

In addition, we host weekly EmpowerNet Clubs in Kibera. We work with 110 girls, delivering pads and covering topics including health education, self-esteem, positive decision-making, and financial management. Girls also learn to share their voices by blogging and tweeting from laptops and mobile phones.

We would like to introduce iPads to our Clubs because the touch screen is easy to use and provides a wide range of opportunities through apps. iPads are also similar to mobile phones, which is the most common way girls are accessing the Internet.

New Projects

We are proud to announce our partnership with the graphic visualization experts at Alphachimp Studio Inc. Together, we are creating a short animated clip to describe ZanaA’s impact.

And we’ve pooled together an amazing design team to lead the illustrations: the girls in our EmpowerNet Clubs! Using iPads, girls will create digital drawings to represent how ZanaA and sanitary pads have changed their lives.

But now we need iPads! Donating your iPad directly to ZanaA will help girls explore technology and art. There is no better way to empower a girl than to help her share her voice.

If you are interested in donating, please contact kimberly@zanaafrica.org for shipping and tax-exemption details. To learn more about ZanaA, visit us online, on Facebook and on Twitter. Thank you for your support!

Loitoktok is a small rapidly growing town situated on the south west Kenya and about 15 Kilometers from the Kenya Tanzania border. The famous mountain Kilimanjaro is just a few hours’ drive and one can see Mawenzi and Kibo peaks glittering above on a clear day.

The predominant people in the area are Maasai but there are Kambas, Kikuyus and Tanzanians.  The major economy of the area is agriculture and tourism with the place having a one season harvest per year. The major crops are beans, maize and onions.

The place has a rich cultural heritage from the Maasai community and it’s the gateway to the famous Amboselli national park. This makes the place to have thousands of tourists per annum.

The 100 Kilometer stretch from Emali to the town has now been tarmacked by a Chinese company and this has enabled so many businesses to boom in the area. The area boasts a good number of primary and secondary schools. It also has an airstrip for light aircraft landings. There is a police station with a criminal investigations department, anti-stock theft unit and a border control unit.

I went to the town on Thursday where I helped with the arrangements, planning and general preparations for the great race.

I and my team of volunteers went down to Emali town on Friday night to camp in preparation for the big day next day. More teams of volunteers arrived on the same Friday night.

Most of the teams that were participating had already reported that Friday into the camp led by David Kinja and Eldoret teams. The meeting point was at a hotel called Maasai lnn at Emali.  I have never seen so many cyclists gathered at one place and having a chat about cycling events that have been done before and how they wanted to work hard to beat some of the professional riders in the event.

We had a bit of challenges in the camp when  the owner of the camping site decided to hike the price at the last minute after he saw the turnout of people but we manage to help him understand that the race was a charity event  and he stopped asking us for more money.

The camping site at Emali was so warm at night and I ended up using my sleeping bag half way on my body. I just managed a 3 hour nap that night coz my friends at the camp were cracking jokes all over.

The event was headed by a very cool guy called Faddy whose leadership skills were something to admire.

Finally the big day was here and we were up at 5am. The camp was down by 5:30 and headed to the registration point at Maasai lnn. It was a beehive of activities by 6am with riders coming in to register and get their tags and putting their bikes to the final touches. The entire town was now awake by 7am and gathered to witness this great event. The officer commanding Loitoktok police force was there on standby with his team of officers including the local chief. We set the Public address and some local songs were played repeatedly to match the mood. I informed the crowd about the reason behind the race and about the Teule children’s home. The race director Faddy made the final announcements by 9am and the race began. There was 91 registrations the oldest being 60 while the youngest being about an 8year girl. This girl was able to ride about 40 kilometers to the finish. She was really cheered by the crowd because of her determination and efforts as she was crossing the finish line. I was really touched by the dad’s determination to bring the girl all over from Thika to the event. For me it was a dad’s belief and support to the girl and I was challenged by his love for her daughter and l saw that girl going far with her life as a result of the dad standing behind her and cheering her up in her endeavors. Actually the dad told me that he usually takes her around whenever there is a race around the country during the school holidays.

After the race was flagged off by 3 Teule kids we drove back to Loitoktok ahead of the cyclist so as to go and help with the setting up of the Public Address system and other final touches for the grand prize giving ceremony.

The cyclists took about 3 hours to complete the 100 Kilometer race. There were three categories of the bikes namely: Black mambers, Mountain bikes and race bikes.

There were about 8 people who did not finish the race as a result of minor accidents and inability to keep up with the 100 stretch endurance. Some of these only made it up to 25 kilometers only from the start. The finishing point was at the police station in Loitoktok and the grand prize giving event was done at the Teule School just 10 meters from the away.

There were so many people who turned out to cheer at the riders as they fought the last sharp hill to the finishing line including all of the Teule kids, staff and volunteers.

The winner was a guy from the Eldoret team though there were other winners in other categories. This team has vowed to beat David Kinja’s team of professionals which they did. However David Kinja himself was overall 5 but he had an injury earlier this year in the Mauritius cycling event which made him not in his best shape.

The prize giving ceremony was awesome with teams cheering their team mates and friends who have done well as they were getting their prizes.

This to me was a race to behold and lam glad to have taken part of it to help it become a success courtesy of ZanaAfrica and I can’t wait to be part of it next year!!

Now imagine having an additional four years of that in the secondary school system and have just completed it? It’s another big yeeeees!!!!

Now we have a wonderful 8-4-4 system and that means that even after the 8 and 4 years in primary and secondary school respectfully there is still 4 more years if not more or less depending on the higher education system.

It’s now November and the exams from primary and secondary have been finished in Kenya. The students are now already in the celebratory mood of the holidays. This holiday will be the longest in the Kenyan schools calendar. The schools might be opened somewhere in the mid- January.

It is however unfortunate though that this promising students who complete the primary and secondary education tend to be pulled by the powerful magnetic of negative influence. This is consisted by mainly peer pressure mostly brought by the lack of information and ignorance. These negative influences range from drugs to sex experimenting among others.

This causes many young boys and girls to be pregnant, sick, addicted, liars, thieves and above all they become a menace to the society they live in. They become a disappointment to the parents who really worked hard for them and a betrayal to a society that they were supposed to make proud. Not only do they become unruly and at times chaotic, they become defaulters to the rule of the land and many end up either in hospitals, jails or dead.

The significant others to this young people cry out loud, why is this happening!?? As the society around ask, where did we go wrong!??

As time goes by they realize that it does not only take  good advice and character to avoid influence from anti- social activities but it takes good parenting and support to their loved ones. It takes constant good choices to fight this monster of negative pressure. It goes from just saying l love you to the sons and daughters but by to simply living it. It takes more than just what you tell but what you are doing when they are around.

It does not help much when you spend most of your hours at work or in your social clubs when your sons  or daughters are consistently crying out for your attention, love and approval,  then you reward them  with maybe taking them out or buy them expensive gifts as a reward  to cover up for the lost time. Well!  What this makes them is party girls and because you can’t take them out all the time they get to find cute ways to make that happen before they go back to school .What happens is that not only do they find “cool” guys or ladies in some of those outings; they find their “role” models who show them how to drink and smoke while experimenting with sex. They also realize that there are cool guys out there  who can also buy them cool gifts better than their dads does.

What I am saying is that to create a good healthy son or daughter with a strong foundation to face the constant pressures of life, you need to be there for them and with them.

If they are looking for role models you should be their first choice, if it is a friend then you should be their best friends,

As much as good it is to let your loved ones to be looking up to teachers, spiritual leaders  and other positive resources as  their cornerstone and pillars to which they base their lives on, then let them have you as the foundation and the basement to which   you become their point of reference in their lives.

We need to come up with a long term solution to help our young generation.

Well, this is the way l see things. How do you see them?

Being a part of the team of Social Innovation Fellows at PopTech last week was a transformative experience. Over the next month I’ll blog more about what I learned and the amazing folks from whom I learned. In the meantime, listen to the incredible Fellows about what we see “social innovation” to be.

What does social innovation mean to you?