St Michael Holy Unity Girls

I am seated with five girls from St Michael’s Holy Unity School. Elizabeth is 11 and in class 6. Viola and Sharon are also in class 6 but are 12 years old.  Pauline is 15 and in class 5 and Cynthia is 13 and in class 7. Sport is definitely a favourite part of their Girl Power classes. “My favourite thing about Girl Power is sport, just like playing football.  Not netball, just football” says Elizabeth. The other girls say they like football too, and netball and Cynthia says her favourite sport is volleyball.  All the girls live in Kibera, some with the mums and dads and others with guardians or other family members.

Viola says the best thing she has learnt from Girl Power is how to prevent rape and what to do about it.  The other girls say they have learnt about “peer pressure, how to be yourself, menstruation and confidence”.  It’s almost like a mantra with this group!

Brenda then joins the group from the soccer field.  “I have learnt to be confident and to be proud of yourself and not to be shy” she says of Girl Power.  I ask her if she finds it hard to go to school sometimes. “Yeah, sometimes it is hard to go to school, especially if my dad is sick, I feel uncomfortable because he is home alone.  But I like going to school because I learn more about the things I don’t know. Sometimes even I learn about the skills that I have.  The school might make me to know my talents, especially from my friends.  When I see them playing football I think “let me join that” and I will find my talent there”.

How about the other girls’ talents? “Football” says Elizabeth.  “Dancing” offers Viola.  Sharon says her talent is singing and Cynthia says she likes to dance and act.  Cynthia is lucky, she has recognized three talents that she has – “dancing and acting and volleyball”.  A creative bunch!

 Written by Hannah Collins, volunteer at Girl Power
Approved by Dr Liz Odera, Director at Sadili Oval Sports Academy

Veronica's Story

Veronica is 14 and goes to St Michael’s Holy Unity school.  She is attending Sadili for the Coaches Across Continents soccer clinic. “I have been in Girl Power almost one year.  I have learnt how girls should stay in Kibera and the way a girl can be clean, to know herself and to appreciate how she is.  I have learnt how if I go outside of the school I can teach other girls, my friends.  Even in school I have been teaching them.  There are some girls in the school who are not in Girl Power but they are here today, they are playing. It is good”.

School plays a big part in Veronica’s life. “It’s not hard to go to school, I love school.  My favourite subject is maths.  I like it because with maths you will use it with every  work you will do in the future”.  Very true!

 “My family are just good.  Girl Power is good.  They have teach me a lot. I and my sister in this school, when we joined this school, the teacher told us to join this group so we joined it and now we know a lot.  Even people will join us when we are discussing at school”.  Keep up the great work Veronica!

Written by Hannah Collins, volunteer at Girl Power
Approved by Dr Liz Odera, Director at Sadili Oval Sports Academy

Belinda and Linda talk to us

Belinda and Linda choose to be interviewed together – being the only ones to say yes to an interview of out a class 30, they are very brave! Belinda is 17 and Linda is 18 and they are both in form three.  “If I finish school, I want to be a doctor, in particular I want to be a surgeon” says Belinda.  “With me, I would love to be a business woman” says Linda.  “I would like to work in a restaurant, maybe own them.  I can cook a very nice meal!” she laughs. Both share favourite subjects of English and Swahili, with Belinda also liking Biology and Linda Geography.  Both girls like to read.

Both girls have been in Girl Power for two years.  “As for me, I have been here for now two years.  I went for the goal training and what I learnt was how to be myself and be proud of myself and know that I am beautiful the way I am” says Belinda. “It is the same for me, I have been here for two years.  I also went to the goal training, and I learnt to just carry on, keep pressing on” Linda adds. ”In Girl Power we have leant how to be ourselves, how to be healthy, how to be money savvy and how to nurture our talents” explains Belinda. Linda agrees. “I have learnt how to make use of my talent, and how to help others with their talent making their life better and I have learnt that I am special the way I am ad I should take myself how god created me”.

All this talk of talent leads one to ask what the girls’ talents are?  “My talent is playing football and reading” Belinda says, “mine is singing” Linda beams.

“Yes, we live here in Kibera, I live with my aunt and cousins – I have many cousins! I am an only child” says Belinda of their living situations. Life is hard.  For example sometimes you don’t have water and you don’t have that money to buy that water.  The same with food”. “I also live in Kibera, I have sisters and also cousins” says Linda. “Sometimes it becomes hard when you are living with an aunt or a relative and that aunt also has her kids and there is no money for school fees” she elaborates.

“For me, I would love to say that since my mother died in 2004, I was taken into an orphanage school.  I learnt there for a couple of years, like seven years, and when I was out of there, that is when I came here, my aunt brought me to this school.  Before this, I can say that school has helped me.  My old school taught me god’s word and I can say that I have been saved” Linda finishes up.

Belinda’s story is also sad. “As for me, I can say that my father died in 2004 when I was in class three.  He was shot with six bullets and died on the spot.  With the help of my mother and some well wishers, I have been able to continue with my education.  With the help of God I know that anything is possible”.

Mercline's Story

“My name is Mercline and I am in grade 8.  I am 13 years old.  I would like to say about my story. According to my family it is hard to get school fees and since I started my school I just started by learning. I also chose to play tennis because I play tennis in order for it to improve my future so that I can help my parents and if for example if I don’t have anything, they (Sadili / Girl Power) can help me so I can get what I need”.

“My dad does juakali, my dad used to work with those iron sheets.  If he sells them, he gets money in order for him to help us.  My mum makes stones for cooking.  I would like to be in secondary next year, form one, so that I can remove some stress related to my parents.  When we all sit at home we are not happy because they are just quarrelling or they not talking to one another”.

“I would like to say that in our home it is hard to get some things.  It is hard to get school fees to pay for school.  It is hard to get food.  It is hard for my parents to get money, for them to provide us with what we need.  I would like to tell you so that you may help me so that I can get education and learn how to protect myself and my family”.

Written by Hannah Collins, volunteer at Girl Power

Approved by Dr Liz Odera, Director at Sadili Oval Sports Academy

Irene's Story

Irene is 17 years old and has only been at Huruma girls for two weeks. “The reason I moved from the former school to this one is because at the other school girls did not appreciate other girls.  Like for me, I was a tomboy and I was taken in a negative light, not in a positive way.  I cannot stay in an environment where no one would interact with me because I am a tomboy. They would not sit with me. So, I just decided to change schools.  This school has been better.  I joined Girl Power today, it is my first day in this club.  Making friends is still a little bit difficult because of different attitudes and personalities.  But I am a new student so I will give it time”.

“I live with my parents but they are separated.  The issue is that my Dad had an affair with another woman and my mum realized.  Though we all live in the same roof, they do not talk to each other in the best way.  A lot of the time my Dad is not at home, he is travelling or I do not know where he is.  It hurts me so much, but I cannot interfere.  But it really hurts”.

“I have a big brother and he is in Dubai, and an elder sister who is in college at ZETECH and I’m the third born.  Our last born is in class seven.  When I finish school I want to be a lawyer.  Most likely I will travel overseas and work in Kenya.  The purpose of my decision to be lawyer is because of how men treat women, that is why I decided I want to be a lawyer.  So that when I grow up and have my own life I can stand up for the women and fight for their rights because often in our society women are looked down upon. I want to fight for women’s rights and the girl child”.

Written by Hannah Collins, volunteer at Girl Power
Approved by Dr Liz Odera, Director at Sadili Oval Sports Academy