Girl Power Clubs Celebrates 2018 Global Mentoring Walk

Girl power club participated in the global mentoring walk that took place at the Sadili oval club,rugby pitch .The walk was also to commemorate the international women's day on Saturday the 10th of march 2018.The theme was press for progress.The mentor ship walk brought together  134 girls  from Kibera and the Kijiji which is an informal settlement in Langata.

The walk was coordinated by partnership  with Vital voices  with Dr.Elizabeth Odera being the flag bearer.This initiative comprised of  150 Global Mentoring walks that took place in  over 60 countries around the world.Vital voices has invested in women's leadership has a means to improve the world.The main objective of the walk was to create a platform where  mentee's can freely interact with their mentors at the same time creating visibility around women in sports, leadership and mentorship and most importantly motivate girls of different age groups who are from the informal settlements.

The day started at 8 am, the girls were picked from the various girl power schools.Girl power is a girl empowerment program which in Nairobi  the schools which have the club running are; Olympic High school,St.Aloysius gonzaga secondary school, Nazarene primary school, Kidstar Academy and St.Catherine Education Centre.The guest school was Ngei Primary School.

We most of the pupils arrived , we started with  warm up exercises at the rugby pitch followed by  the girls being split in four groups, the first group consisted of the high school pupils, the second group had pupils from class six to class eight.The third group had class four and five pupils the fourth group had pupils below class four.Each group had a mentor and they would all interact with all the groups formed.Therefore the had to keep time so that they do no overstay in one group.The sadili staff also took the opportunity to join in the groups.

Mentor samba and her mentees

Cherop encouraging the girls

Mentor Terry and her mentee

Olympic high school girls with mentor Terry

The little ones were not left behind

After the mentoring, we had a water break and  photo session.Followed by ribbon cutting to officially start the walk through the Langat'a civil servants estate  to old Uchumi ,clean shelf supermarket took a turn before the national housing corporations houses back to Sadili.

The pupils  walked in a big group and the police was available to offer security.The girls were carrying banners and placards with different  messages on them. The girls sang and chanted as we walked through the estate following our route.The staff on route management ensured that the route was observed  and all were safe.The girls faces were so bright as we were walked and their was  excitement and the joy in their faces.It was a team indeed, which had the aim for empowerment, inclusivity and the celebration of women across the globe.

After the walk we assembled back at the sadili rugby pitch for lunch.Lunch was rice beans and steamed cabbage.Juice as a refreshment .After lunch there was a brief vote of thanks.The students then escorted back to their homes.The event ended at 1:30pm

Girl Power Clubs Africa holds a Successful Vital Voices Mentoring Walk in Nairobi

One hundred and six girls and young women gathered at Sadili Oval in Nairobi on 11^th March 2017 to join thousands of women around the world in the Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk. Similar Mentoring Walks took place in 61 countries across nearly every region of the world, in commemoration of International Women’s Day. 

The hot and sunny weather in Nairobi was no match for the girls’ determination to participate in the Walk, be inspired and make their voices heard. The huge crowd of girls and young women drew everyone’s attention as they marched bringing the usually busy Lang’ata area to a standstill. Most of these girls (mentees) were student leaders in secondary and upper primary schools.

After the Walk, the girls were divided into small groups where they had a chance to talk to their mentors and be inspired. They freely talked about the challenges they face in their pursuit of leadership roles in a male-dominated society, shared experiences and many ideas on ways through which they can stand for themselves and boldly make their voices heard.

“This is the first time I have participated in such an event, and I am so glad I came. I have learnt much more than I thought I would both from the mentors and other girl leaders [mentees] from other schools,” remarked Grace Munini, a student at St. Christine Secondary School. “I am leaving this place more motivated to take up leadership roles now and in future. Thank you Girl Power Clubs for organizing such an event and for inviting my school.”

Ms. Peris Kabiru, a high school teacher and also one of the mentors, was equally challenged after her interaction with the girls. “It’s been a pleasure chatting with the girls and I would like to do this more often. Next time there is chance to mentor young leaders please let me know, I will be more than thrilled to participate!” She said.

The Mentoring Walk is organized annually as part of a global movement to inspire a rising generation through mentorship. This particular Walk in Nairobi was made possible by Girl Power Clubs Africa movement with kind support from Dr. Liz Odera, founder of the movement, mentor and also a Vital Voices fellow.

We as Girl Power Clubs Africa are extremely grateful to everyone who made the Walk possible in Nairobi, especially our mentors and mentees who came along and showed their support for the initiative. After this year’s success we are already thinking how we can make it even better next year and hope that more women and girls will find time to participate, and see it as an excellent opportunity to “raise a vital voice” by mentoring an aspiring woman leader.

Girl Power Clubs Africa Set to Participate in 2017 Global Mentoring Walk

Next Saturday 11th March women around the world will be taking part in the 2017 Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk. This will also be an event to mark International Women’s Day that will be celebrated on 8^th March 2017. As part of our efforts and objectives to empower teenage girls and train them to become positive agents of change in their communities, Girl Power Clubs Africa will mark the day at Sadili Oval in Nairobi, Kenya. Approximately 50 Girl Power Club members from various schools in Nairobi and 5 mentors are expected to attend this event. The theme will be "Be bold for Change", which is in line with this year's International Women's Day's theme.

The programme
9:00-10:00am - Arrival & registration
10:00-11:00am - Walk
11:00am-12:15pm- Talks from mentors to mentees
12:15-12:30pm - Closing ceremony
12:30-1:00pm - Lunch and departure

The Global Mentoring Walk is an opportunity to highlight the importance of women’s leadership, and to accelerate the impact of women leaders through mentoring. Organized by outstanding local leaders who are key members of the Vital Voices Global Leadership Network, the annual Mentoring Walk brings together established women leaders and emerging women leaders to walk together in their community.

Founded by Dr. Liz Odera, A Vital Voices Fellow, Girl Power Clubs Africa is a women leadership program that trains teenage girls to become agents of positive change through sport, culture, art and dance, addressing Action against violence; personal abilities; healthy lifestyles; HIV and AIDS; self-esteem; entrepreneurship; role modeling, and taking leadership roles. 

VV Mentoring Walk A Boost For Rural Kenyan Women and Girls

Hon. Angelina A. Ochiambo cuts the ribbon to begin the Walk

On Saturday 5th of March 2016, attention of Kenyans were drawn to a rural community in Sigomere, East Uholo, Ugenya in Siaya County, where 233 girls and 100 community women mentors gathered for the Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk, an international event that saw girls make life-changing pledges to their mentors that will dictate their individual and collective future. The mentoring walk was officially opened by Special Guest, Hon. Angelina Achieng Odhiambo, nominated member of Siaya County Assembly, who encouraged the girls to keep working hard and complete school as a first decision.

Girls and Mentors walk joined by the community

"This is the first time that such an important event has taken place outside of a city in Kenya", said VV Lead Fellow,  Dr. Liz Odera, on a phone call from Durham, USA. "I was very confident, and very impressed to see how well the whole community, including the leaders joined hands and embraced the idea of mentoring girls." Liz, who is the founder of Girl Power Clubs Africa, also said, "There are women in rural communities have a lot knowledge and support to lend."  And this was, indeed, an opportunity to let them drive the process on their own, under the able encouragement of County Lead for Girl Power Clubs in Siaya, Maria Okong'o, who ensured that she was inclusive and brought in both men to champion the girls' cause, ably bringing in more than 7 media houses to cover the event, which was also encouraging messages from the MP for Ugunja Constituency, Hon. Opiyo Wandayi, who was unable to attend, but sent a representative.

Hon. Christine Ombaka delivers the keynote speech

Our Guest of Honor, Hon. Dr. Christine Ombaka giving the keynote speech, she said," Men in our Luo community who understand our tradition, recognize the importance of women, and that is why in 1969, men chose a woman, Grace Onyango as the Mayor for Kisumu, and later as Member of Parliament. And that's why the power of men is important in ensuring girls grow up, and for that, we congratulate those men who are ready to boost our joint efforts, However, for those men who look down on women, the time has come, when girls must have the same opportunity as men. And that is why we will all continue to join hands as Girl Power on the 8th March, at the International Women's Day". 

The result of this exciting event was the launch of a mentoring program, called, "Ask Aunty" which brings together women from the community to encourage, inspire, and train girls. "Many of these women grew up in Siaya, but went on to live elsewhere to study, work and have families. We are now offering them a chance to support the girls too.", says Maria.

Maria Okong'o (seated) and Joy Akim

Girl Power Clubs National Coordinator, Joy Akim, who was fully involved in the preparations, and ensured that all the technical areas were covered, said, "I was very excited to see how well local women can organize themselves, and also how much the head teachers and patrons of the school clubs were supportive and ready to lend a hand. I find Siaya a unique and exciting place to work in, and see the opportunities for growth will be great here". Joy intends to carry our follow ups with the mentors and mentees for the rest of the year, and hopes to report progress.

One of the mentees, Helen Achieng, summed up the occasion in one sentence, "Now I know that everyone cares about my future."