Building leaders using education & local projects

February 2014

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for supporting the PATHWAYS scholars.  Today we want to report on the progress Jemimah  has made with her community water project as well as the progress of two more junior PATHWAYS scholars, Justus  and Eric.

Justus

I am now working with two projects. My initial educational promotion and mentorship is the one dealing with the students (youth) who are mostly in secondary school. Over last holiday,we had 35 youth who attended our meetings,15 were ladies and 20 were men. Members have been a lovely group showing enthusiasm and co-operation in the weekly meetings. Community work that we managed to do includes visiting the family of one of us who lost a brother (as I reported earlier).

We also had a get together party over the Christmas festive season which was facilitated using the funds contributed by the members. To mark the end of the holiday meetings, we normally conduct a motivational talk aimed at empowering the members and encourage them as they go back to school and embark on their studies (most of whom are in secondary schools).

In addition, I work with a women group who work in the irrigation project, 9 women in total. Income from the project is quite helpful to the members.

Thank you for all of your support

Justus

Jemimah

Besides the poultry project that is doing quite well, I introduced another project to the women during the short Christmas holidays. I managed to teach a few of the women how to make bags. I only had a few materials for that and so they made three big bags and two small ones. It was amazing how fast they grasped the skill and they are willing to teach the rest and continue with it as part of their overall income generating project. The big bags were going for one thousand  five hundred and the small ones for three hundred shillings and the demand is so high.  It is very encouraging for the women who can use the funds to help pay their childrens’ school fees.

Thank you

Jemimah

Eric
I am working with the organization my cousin founded that helps rescue girls who are at risk for or who have experience female genital mutilation.  Recently, 14 girls were rescued.  Most of them were rescued during the long December holiday when the high season of FGM and marriage occurs. A few are total orphans and very needy and are at risk of getting married if they don't join form one after performing well. All the girls have admission letters to different high schools across the country. Josephine is trying all her best to make sure they join school although she is still looking for support.

One of the girls, Sarafina had this to say "Despite the fact that i had passion to study,I never thought that I will ever study since my parents were rooted to culture. I don't mean that our culture is bad but some of the practices e.g FGM,beading and early marriage are evil. I am very happy to have attained 343 marks but all my gratitude goes to Josephine Kulea who have been a good mother to me and who rescued me from early marriage. My dream is to become a doctor and an activist of women in our community and I am working hard to it. I am angered by some of our educated friends who despite seeing the light are still supporting this evil practices. I hope after some time we will have change in our community where all women will have freedom."

With sincere appreciation,

Eric