Entrepreneurship Survey: Siaya Girl Power Clubs

In January 2015, 101 girls from 7 Girl Power Clubs in Sigomre, Siaya County, answered questions in a survey that sought to know their understanding about business and their basic understanding about women's ability to run a business. These girls have been members of the Girl Power Clubs for the last one year, and it was hoped that they could now express themselves without fear or shyness.

This are the results of the survey.

Questions Asked in the survey:

1	Both boys and girls should have equal opportunities to become leaders in their communities .
2	I enjoy play sports, it make me healthy.
3	Business women are well respected.
4	Violence against girls and women is a problem in my community.
5	I would like to have a female mentor/counselor to whom I can turn to for help with a problem.
6	Women can do business alone without men.
7	I know where a health facility in my community is located.
8	I know a woman who runs a business well.
9	I am not able to cope with stress and difficult situations .
10	I live with both of my parents..
11	Having a business is possible for women.
12	I plan to continue with my education.
13	I would be willing to lead a community activity /event.
14	I believe I can run a business in the future.

 

This chart shows that a majority of the students agreed with the statements in the questionnaire

97% agree that both boys and girls should get a chance to be leaders.

92% enjoy sports and it makes them healthy but 3%do not.

62% believe business women are well respected while 17% do not.22% don’t know

55%agree violence against women is a problem in the community, 22% disagree ,the rest do not know.

85% wish to have mentors, 22% don’t , 7% are not sure.

79% agree that women can do business alone while 18%dont and 4% do not know.

8% do not know where health facilities are located, 80% do and the rest don’t understand.

67% know a woman who run a business well. 16%percent don’t know. The rest are not sure

29% of the population are not able to cope with stress while 60% can.

34% of the girls do not live with their parents while 63% do.

80% of the girls believe its possible to own business as women while 8% don't, and 22% do not know.

97% of the girls wish to continue with their education while 2% don’t and 1% are not sure.

90% are willing to lead in community events, 4% don’t and 6% are not sure.

90% believe they can run businesses in the future 7% don’t believe so and 3%are not sure. Conclusion Violence against women should be taught  since a good number seams not acknowledge  its in the community. The number of students not living with their parents is considerable why is this so and is there an underlying problem? Though insignificant, there still are a few girls who do not plan to further their education raises concern. Why is this so? Health facilities are a big resource in the community and their location needs to be known to all. There is a positive out look toward business and most students feel like they are capable of pursuing it now or in the future. There is obviously a strong need for girls to have mentors.

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”.