Girls Clubs in Kisumu, Kenya Receive Their Solar Lanterns!

Our Girls Clubs in Kisumu, Kenya recently received solar lanterns from our youth ambassador, Ben Hirschfeld, who started the LIT! project. The educators in Kisumu believe that the solar lanterns will go a long way to help the students read and do their homework back at home.

Our Girls Club liaison in Kenya, Lois, had this to say:

"I gave the Litworld Clubs at Nanga and Migosi their lanterns and will visit the remaining two schools tomorrow. The girls are very happy!  Sharon said her mother will be pleased to receive the lantern and today supper may be early for she will not have to hurry and buy paraffin. Catherine, also from Nanga Primary, was excited as she turned over the lantern and asked her friend to join her for studies at home."

Check out the photos below!

Here's to a BRIGHT future ahead for girls all over the world!

Nanga Girls Club in Kisumu Kenya Skype with LitWorld in NYC!

Last week, the Nanga Girls Club in Kisumu, Kenya, skyped with LitWorld team member Jen Estrada, and as you can see from the photos, they were so excited!

Lois Owiti, their facilitator, said that though it was long past their time to go home, they stayed on to chat. They will miss Jen, and will always remember her from her last visit. 

They sang together through the computer screen, teaching other new songs. We love bonds across the oceans, which technology makes possible!

Special Guests of Our Summer Girls Club in Harlem

This summer, we shaked things up a bit with our Harlem Girls Club: we decided to hold them at the HueMan bookstore, inviting new Girls Club members to join us. We've also had special guest speakers visit us each week, powerful female role models who have inspired and ignited the girls to think big, follow their passions, and lead.

Check out some of our special guests:

Deborah Gregory, creator and author of The Cheetah Girls:

A successful author who has built an empire of books and multiple films, Deborah Gregory came in to talk with the girls about her childhood history as a foster child, and her moments as a teen finding solace in the Bronx Zoo, where she would sit and write next to- you guessed it- the cheetahs. She spoke about books and reading as her escape, and encouraged the girls to journal, as it helps us all process the human experience.

Karen Tom, Editor and Writer:

Karen Tom, a poet by nature, was committed to making it as a full-time writer. During her earlier years, she edited an anthology of teen poetry entitled "Angst", which one of the girls had read previously! These days, she makes a career doing something she loves: writing horoscopes. While horoscopes don't come up instantly when you think of having a writing career, she certainly makes a great living out of it, penning horoscopes for big magazines such as Teen Vogue, and guest starring on the Tyra Banks Show.

Elvita Dominque, LitWorld Board Member:

Elvita Dominique is a member of our Board, a former attorney, and now does work with New York's court systems. She came in to speak to the girls about preparing for college (how to choose the right one, what one needs to do in the present moment to prepare) and what it takes to lead a successful college career. We also spoke about the importance of nurturing our friendships with women, having a strong female network, and the necessity of uplifting other women through sisterhood.

It has been an inspiring summer, and the girls have been learning and growing more and more each week. I am excited to share our grand finale for our summer girls club session next week!

-Ruby

A LitWorld Girls Club Member.

She is strong. She is bold. She is fearless.
She can look forward, see herself in a future that has a future.
She is a litworld girls club member.

-Pam Allyn

Litworld has already hugely impacted the community of women and girls in kisumu and will only continue to grow as a force for literacy and empowerment - the two have never felt more connected than they are in the eyes of this unstoppable young woman. - Jen E.

A Message from Lois Owiti, Our Girls Club partner in Kisumu, Kenya

Dear LitWorld,

It is with such humility that l say ASANTE SANA. You came. You saw. You conquered our hearts with your love, sincere care, and affection for the work that you do- to spread the gospel of LITWORLD family.  The energy and time-  you gave it your all, and to your team- EROKAMANO (thank you-luo).

During the first day, I came down with some terrible allergy, but you made me feel great despite my pain and how uncomfortable l felt, and all went well.

During the second day, I was touched by the response from the mothers. And remember the one father who came? They listened and you felt the change that is coming. All we need to do is follow-up sessions. Wow!  There was so much learning going on.

Bless you all who made this training a success, to the facilitators, our friends from Bugoma and Amilo, teachers at Migosi, and the dear children, who left the session feeling greatly loved. Let's move forward and impact the lives of these little children, they have HOPE that we will make that happen.

To the entire team that came, words cannot describe how we feel here in Kisumu, l pray that we put all that we discussed into practice and by the end of this year we should celebrate our achievements. Yes, we can do this.

Travel safely and hope to see you again!

-Written by Lois Owiti

Introducing Our New Summer Girls Club at HueMan Bookstore

Girls Club Girls with Guest Artist Speaker, Tova

The Hue-Man bookstore is a beautiful space in the heart of Harlem, housing books that reflect the soul, history, and spirit of the neighborhood's rich legacy. It is one of the few bookstores in the United States that is dedicated to the African-American community, welcoming authors, speakers, and influential leaders to spark dialogue and inspiration for the people of Harlem and beyond.

For these reasons, we found it to be the perfect place to hold our Girls Club meetings, inviting our girls from Polo Grounds, as well as brand new girls to join in. It was beautiful to watch the Polo Grounds girls, our veterans, welcome the new participants in. I witnessed firsthand the way they blossomed, their confidence and demeanor much more certain and open compared to our first meeting exactly one year ago.

One of the newer participants, Crystal, is thirteen years old, the baby of the group. Immediately, the older girls ensured her that they would take care of her, staying true to our mission of sisterhood. I was inspired by their openness, their eagerness to belong to a new community, and most of all, their words. Their words are wise but curious at the same time, willing to offer stories, but take in new knowledge.

We have an exciting few weeks ahead, filled with exciting guest authors and powerful female leaders coming in to speak with us. I can't wait to share the upcoming stories from Harlem this summer as the new group of girls find the common passion for books, words, and stories in each other.

-Ruby


A Message from Pam from the Girls Club in Kibera, Kenya

LitWorld Team Member Jen E. with the Girls Club of Kibera

Dear Special Friends of LitWorld,

Over these last days here, working closely with our LitClubs for Boys and Girls in Kibera, we have been deeply moved by the impact the Club concept has on them. I was recently reading a book by Thicht Nhat Hanh in which he says the concept of "I am here for you" must begin first with the "you" being yourself, then your friend, then your community.

The girls clubs embody this every day. The Clubs have been the first time they have gotten to think about themselves, reflect on their lives, and take care of themselves in any way. As a result, they are making friends for the first time, loving them, and are emerging as wondrous, dynamic, extraordinary voices together, desperate, hungry, craving school and the life that is suddenly seeming possible to them through education. 

As we walk through Kibera we see hundreds of women by the sides of their shacks with babies and hours of grueling labor to make sure their families will eat. The girls want a bigger chance now; with the support of one another, they are emerging into the world.

-Pam

Lauren B. writes:

  "The girls in the LitWorld Girls Club today spoke with us about this idea they have to stay at school 24 hours a day, because the 10X10 shacks where they live (with no fewer than 10 family members) is an impossible place to read or do homework or study. They said they would do all the cooking and cleaning themselves since they do this at home anyway. They were serious. They are 10-12 year olds."

Girls Club at Migosi Primary School Meet for the First Time

The girls and teachers met this morning to get to know each other before next week. It was refreshing to watch the young ones talk to new friends and share stories about school and home. Migosi students carried their notebooks to show their writing and work. The teachers encouraged the girls to work hard in school and be the best they can be. The girls shared on what they would wish to be when they are through with primary school, sang songs and recited poems.

We extend our special thanks to our Girls Club facilitators at the Migosi Primary School, Lois and Beldina! (photographed above)

Girls Club in Bungoma, Kenya Trace Their Roots

Last Thursday I took my girls to Nabongo Cultural Centre in Mumias to study about the Luhya culture. I wanted to encourage them to trace their roots because we have been covering the theme "Who Am I?".

The girls are learning. The kingdom first existed in Egypt, moved across Sahara to what presently is Cameroun, traversed Sahel to Ethiopia, and from there moved to present Kenya and Uganda.

Nabongo Kingom existed right before being annexed under colonial British rule, the area in East African Rift Valley from River Nile and Lake Victoria, along the border of Ethiopian Empire, and in South along the Northern Masailand to Naivasha and Aberdares. The kingdom ruled through monarchy, councils of elders in the subjugated tribes and provinces, and a supreme court which settled all matters.

We are seated in a traditional hut. It has clay walls, and a grass-thatched roof supported with wooden poles. It is a chief's or a nobleman's hut, where traditionally receptions take place.

The girls eating their picnic lunch

Going on this trip allowed the girls to have some time away from the normal routines of school and work, and breathe a different kind of air. Some of these girls have never been anywhere else but their homes and school. It was an amazing experience.

Written by Rose Mureka, Girls Club Facilitator in Bungoma, Kenya

Girls Club at the Red Rose School Are Set to Transform the World.

It has been an exciting month for the LitWorld girls.  Putting their heads together and exhibiting great teamwork, the girls have been busy with their poster collection project. They collected posters with images or writings that they felt depicted various social problems as well as their possible solutions. They also came up with very interesting magazine and newspaper cuttings that had variety of pictures that portrayed global issues ranging from environmental consciousness, poverty, women and children’s rights, illiteracy, health and sanitation among others. These are common problems that are experienced in all communities and societies around the world. From the posters collected the girls learnt that the whole world would be in a crisis if everyone did not live and act responsibly.

 

The girls also took time to discuss each image, what global issue it represented as well as the social political and psychological aspects that revolve around that issue. The girls felt that lack of education is the most glaring problem in relation to their circumstances. This, they felt, called for greater emphasis and should be accorded the importance and prominence it deserves. They singled out the need for basic education as this would essentially help offer solutions to the nagging social and economic problems. Each of the girls also wrote a statement, sharing what they felt they would do if they had a chance to change a particular thing about the world.

The team was motivated by this exercise and was greatly encouraged. Having a desire to transform the world, they clearly demonstrated this by pinning posters that had images of personalities they admired onto an inspiration board.

 

At the end of these sessions each girl also wrote a letter to the world. In their letters to the global community and government representatives, they expressed their concerns and suggested solutions to what they considered common social and economic problems. Each girl read aloud their letter to the group and felt happy to share their views with the other LitWorld Girls club partners. The club proved that indeed every small voice, every whisper can indeed turn out to be the collective voice of conscience that this world so much needs.

“We truly can change our world.”

- Written by Brenda Ochieng, LitWorld Girls Club Facilitator, Red Rose School in Kibera, Kenya.

Photos of Nanga Primary School Girls Club in Kisumu, Kenya

The LitWorld Girls Club facilitators sent over these brand new photos of the girls at the Nanga Primary School in Kenya, and we are thrilled to share them with you. The facilitators reported that the girls have become more confident, and are glowing with a new sense of determination. Members of our LitWorld team are headed to Kenya this Friday and will meet these wonderful girls firsthand. We can't wait to see those photos, but until then, enjoy these wonderful images!

Special thank you again to LitWorld Girls Club facilitators, Helen and Florence!

Girls Club in Kenyasi, Ghana, Sing Songs of Strength

We are pleased to share news about our Girls Club in Kenyasi, Ghana, that we've been able to set up with our partners at Agsu Secretariat. The girls have been meeting, singing songs together, and sharing their work with one another. The Clubs are being led by facilitator Ernestina Sablah. Below are some photos of their most recent meetings:

Ernestina, center, with the Girls Cub in Kenyasi, along with Collins Boateng (male leader) field worker from the University of Ghana, Legon

The Girls Sing the Hello Song

Writing and Reflecting During Session

Thank you Ernestina! We look forward to hearing more of your reflections during your experience leading Girls Clubs.

"What We Care About" by the Girls at the Red Rose School in Kibera, Kenya

The Girls Club at the Red Rose School in Kibera, Kenya completed an activity that help them explore what social issues they cared about. The activity comprised of using different images (newspaper articles) that displayed certain issues (AIDS, environment, women's rights, etc.) , while the girls reflected on the images that resonated with them most. The images that spoke to them helped them identify what issues they were keen on championing. They then wrote about their roles in impacting the world positively, in their own ways.

Here's a short excerpt from the interim Red Rose Girls Club facilitator, Brenda Ochieng:

The girls talked about ways they could show compassion in their community. These were some of the suggestions they gave:

Planting trees, helping the poor, building houses for the slum people, giving aid to those who have no food by offering them clothing and shelter, volunteering in community outreach (like helping with community work, helping to raise funds for the vulnerable street children so that they too can have an opportunity to gainful education), volunteering to play and share their time with the abandoned kids at the children’s homes, caring for our old parents.

 They also discussed where they have been practicing the act of compassion and these were some of the responses they gave:

 “I help my neighbor with her baby while she is busy working.”

“At school I assist other girls with their homework and in subjects that are difficult for them.”

“I went to help plant tress with my scout team club in the community.”

“When my relative fell ill, I volunteered to stay with her up to the time that she got well.”

Here are some of the images used in the exercise:

One of the Girls Club Participants reflects:

"Girls too, have a right to get an education. Educate more girls for a better nation. Girls can help solve problems. If you don't give them an education, you make them suffer."

 Thank you to Brenda Ochieng, for your work helping to develop the visions of these young female leaders!

Writings from Nanga Primary School, Kenya

Florence and Helen, LitWorld Girls Club facilitators at one of the 4 Girls Club sites in Kisumu, Kenya, graciously sent us some writings from their girls, and we are thrilled to see how beautifully they write. They are learning expressions of our seven stengths, all the while writing with courage and determination.

As one of the girls write, "We are bright pupils, like stars in the sky. We know that hard work pays, so we put more effort in our school work becuase we hope for a brighter future. For our dreams, we would like to be lawyers, doctors, newscasters, and presidents."

We are very proud to share their words, as they are devoted to their roles as learners and future leaders, determined to reach their fullest potential!

Girls Club in Kenyasi, Ghana Participate in District Games!

 The Girls Club in Kenyasi, Ghana (in white jerseys) played a football match against the Roman Catholic Junior High School-R/C JHS (in green jerseys). Before the match started, the Reverend Sister Dora Wilberforce, Headmistress of Our Ladies of Apostles (OLA) Girls Secondary School, kicked the ball for the commencement of the match. She is the Head of the R/C JHS girls team. Rev. Sister Martha Davies, the Patroness, who heads up the Girls Club Kenyasi, was also in attendance.

The match ended with the Girls Club of Kenyasi as the winning team! Congratulations team!

"8th Grade Superzero" Author Visits P.S. 8 Girls Club

A few weeks ago, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, author of the acclaimed book, 8th Grade Superzero, paid a visit to the Girls Club at P.S. 8 in Brooklyn, NYC. Her book has been named "A Notable Children’s Book for a Global Society" by the International Reading Association, and has garnered fans from across the world.

That being said, it was truly a special event to have her come and do a personal workshop with our Girls Club, and we're happy to learn that it was a good time for all! 

Thank you so much Olugbemisola, for sharing your wonderful energy to our Girls Clubs! We hope to see you again soon!

Special thanks also goes to P.S. 8 Girls Club Facilitator, Marybeth Gazlay, for all your work with the girls.

Girls Club Kibera Visit A Children's Home

The LitWorld Girls Club in Kibera took a trip to a children's home that bears an apt benevolent name - New Life Home Trust. The centre, located a few miles away from the sprawling Kibera slums, hosts abandoned kids, most of whom are HIV positive.

It is in this centre that the children get the enviable opportunity to have what is closest to them as a normal upbringing, to help them cope with their otherwise difficult circumstances. Their backgrounds and life stories are shared here, giving them the strength and hope they so much need amid the wish that they will one day be adopted into new families in order to get the parental and sibling love that they so desperately need.

The girls from LitWorld Girls Club joined the children at this centre as they went on their daily activities, played with them and helped with their feeding. The bright looks on the excited kids’ faces told it all – they had a marvelous time and such visits does a lot to boost their morale and undoubtedly their physical, mental and spiritual health.

The girl’s club too, living up to their credo, left with new experiences firmly etched in their minds. It was an opportunity to give back to the community by spending time with those who needed their love most.

At the end of the day, as the compassionate girls trooped back to take their transport home, it was evident that their handlers were keen to do this again –soon.

Written by Jeff Okoth, from our partner at the Children of Kibera Foundation

Harlem Teens Join Campaign to Stop Violence Against Women

Stephanie, 14, displaying an "X"  to advocate for women.

A few days ago, we learned of a campaign being put on by the UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict, who is leading an advocacy movement called "Stop Rape Now". The UN Action is a concerted effort by the UN system to improve coordination and accountability, amplify programming and advocacy, and support national efforts to prevent sexual violence and respond effectively to the needs of survivors.

Aisatou, 16

The "Stop Rape Now" campaign seeks to mobilize people around the world to contact government officials to end rape as a weapon of war. It also invites people from all over the world to join the campaign by displaying a photo of their arms crossed like an X (like Stephanie, Aisatou, and Daija) as a symbol to stop violence against women. Like the Harlem girls, you can join global advocates by uploading your photo on their website here.

I thought this was an urgent topic that needed to be discussed, so I invited the Harlem Teens at Polo Grounds to learn more about this issue. After reading an article that reported 48 women in Congo are raped every hour, we were all moved to speak out. We talked about this global issue being very much a local and personal problem that could be felt by every one of us as women. We spoke of our strength of Sisterhood and the importance of standing in solidarity with women across the world.

Daija, 16

To support and learn more about the cause, follow the hashtag on Twitter at #endrapeinwar visit their website, or watch the video from Nobel Laureate Jody Williams here.

Written by Ruby Veridiano, Girls Club Facilitator at the Harlem Polo Grounds

Compassion Speaks from the Girls Club in Baguio City, Philippines

On Saturday, May 28^th, the Girls Club in Baguio City gathered to discuss the value of compassion and its significance in our lives, in our families, and within our greater communities here in the Philippines. It had been a while since we last gathered because it is summer vacation for the teens, so it was a great time to catch up with one another! School begins on June 6^th for many of the girls, and they all shared their excitement for their new classes and new experiences to come!

We began our day by brainstorming on the idea of compassion and some of the words that came to mind were: caring, love to others, concern, understanding other people, and HELPING others (since that is the action!)

Afterwards, we looked through pictures from a BBC website, which pertained to children’s rights.

 This was very helpful because we got to discuss issues that may not necessarily affect the Philippines, but are more prevalent in other areas around the world. Reading through the captions underneath the photos together, we were able to discuss compassion in further detail.  The slideshow of pictures can be found here.

From there, we came up with a list of other social problems that we wanted to appease, after witnessing many of the issues in our own local communities which included child abuse, child labor, illiteracy, poverty, access to basic needs like food, money, and shelter, and environmental responsibility.

When asked the question, “If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?” Here are some of the responses:

§       An end to corruption

§       Education for all

§       Peace on earth all over

§       No vices: cigarettes, liquor, drugs

§       Love for God

§       A clean environment

We ended our time together by reading through some of the entries on the Girls

Club blog and recognizing the scope of the Girls Clubs all over the world! So exciting!

The girls especially enjoyed the pictures of the Girls Club from P.S. 179, where the girls wrote Valentine Day cards to the Girls Clubs around the world. We may just have to respond!

Sarah Kay: If I Could Have a Daughter....

This TED video of Sarah Kay is a beautiful story of a woman who discovered her power through spoken word. A performing poet since she was 14 years old, Sarah Kay is the founder of Project V.O.I.C.E, teaching poetry and self-expression at schools across the United States. Watch the video below, and listen to her poem during the introduction, entitled ""If I should have a daughter, instead of Mom, she's gonna call me Point B ..."

I use poetry to help me work through what I dont understand, but I show up to each new poem with a backpack filled with everything else I've been. - Sarah Kay