By Sijenej Florence | Programs Leader
Finally, we have moved into the new (though incomplete) Girls Empowerment Center!!!
The Girls Empowerment Center (GEC) of the Nyanza Initiative for Girls Education and Empowerment (NIGEE) is finally a reality. We started the journey in April, 2017 with only $37,523 from the French Embassy in Kenya to do the foundation. To date, we have raised and spent an additional $122,250, thanks to generous donations from you all through GlobalGiving and small profits from business opportunities NIGEE sources for locally.
We officially moved into the building on February 28, 2019. Even though it’s incomplete, to save on rent we moved in anyway; the rest will be done while we are inside. We’re e excited that soon we’ll be able to consolidate our activities in one place. The building has 8 large rooms, 3 of which are complete. The balance needed to complete the building is $65,193, and we’ll be home and dry! We continue to look for funds locally and externally and are super positive we’ll get there!
Your generosity has made this possible!! We are forever so grateful for the continuous support of our donors and volunteers.
Below are some of the girls’ reactions to their new facility:
“I thought after the graduation we had in January (2019) the current Center would be closed down because project funds dried up. But when I saw the new Girls Empowerment Center, my hope was raised. Seeing the Center means we are here to stay and our dreams are still valid (smiles)”.
“On behalf of my fellow girls, we thank you for supporting girls reclaim their future through the Girls Empowerment Center. Thank you for making my schooling possible. Your dedication to us has inspired me to work hard”.
“My favorite thing about our new Girls Empowerment Center is that as much as the building is incomplete, it still looks amazing and I am glad we are all going to be under one roof as NIGEE family”.
The relocation did not halt our services. In March and April 2019, the following have been going on at the old GEC:
20 girls enrolled for computer classes, 25 for hairdressing and 11 for the dressmaking classes; the rest completed and graduated in January 2019.
Every Wednesday, NIGEE mentors continue to use the life skill training manual to provide life skills sessions to girls, to build their self-esteem and confidence.
The GEC safe space/hostel continues to offer a temporary haven for 10 girls and young women who have been exploited or sexually abused and are in immediate danger; we provide ongoing counseling and investigation with a goal of reconciling them with their families.
As we approach the completion of the new GEC, we plan to officially launch the facility in the 3rd or 4th quarter of this year.
Thank you again once again for walking the talk with us in this project – you have made a tremendous impact in our girls and our community at large. Thank you!!
GEC at various degrees of completion but we just moved in to save on rent. $65,193 is needed to complete everything.
It was really an amazing experience – truly a dream come true.
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