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MY HEART IS IN
Kenya
Have you ever been blessed with more than you asked for, more than you dreamed of?
In 2019, on a humanitarian trip to Kenya, that’s exactly what happened. Before the trip I prayed that I would experience a deep connection with the people there. One woman in particular was on my heart. Veronica is a mother of five and a widow. After losing her husband in a car accident she became homeless when the company he worked for repossessed their home. Their living conditions were harsh, and it wasn’t uncommon to go without food. She did everything she could to provide for her children, but at one point she had to send the two oldest boys to live with friends. Although she has been through so much, she is still hopeful, radiant, and strong.
Upon arriving in Kenya, I learned that her village was not on our travel route and meeting her would be impossible. However, I was able to write her a letter expressing my admiration for her resilient spirit and that brought so much joy to my heart. After returning to the States, I shared the story with several friends, including a dear Kenyan friend named Alice. A few days later, unbeknownst to me, Alice drove two hours to Veronica’s village and spent 4 hours searching for this woman whom she had never met, but who meant so much to me.
Miraculously, she found her! Their living conditions were worse than we thought. They only had small mats to sleep on and had been without food for a couple of days. Also, Veronica had been unable to pay her children’s school fees for the upcoming year.
I knew immediately that I wanted to help. And I felt in my heart that the Universe would provide all the resources that we needed. I crafted a letter to my friends, choosing my words very carefully. I knew I didn’t “need” their help. Somehow, I knew that everything was already handled. So instead, I started the letter with “I would very much welcome your help”. Within a few hours, donations started pouring in. Every time I opened my email there was a notification of another donation. In the first 36 hours, we raised more that enough money to cover their needs and more was still coming in. So, we began to dream bigger!!
Alice runs one of the Days for Girls enterprises in Kenya. Days for Girls is a charitable organization that increases access to menstrual care and education and provides reusable feminine hygiene products, shattering stigmas and limitations for women and girls. They started out as a grassroots effort and have become a global movement. Alice and I decided to use a portion of the extra money for a Days for Girls training and invited 75 women and girls from Veronica’s village. That day women received education about their menstrual cycle and went home with a reusable kit that will last 3-4 years.
Our next dream was to help Veronica create a reliable and sustainable income for her family. Although we were helping her through this crisis, we did not want to make her feel dependent on us. To become self-reliant, people need a vision of their own strengths and capabilities. We asked Veronica what her skills were and what she would like to do to earn an income. She told us that she dreamed of being a seamstress and owning her own business. With the additional donations, we helped her get into training and are supporting the start of her business.
My vision for Veronica is that one day, very soon, she will be a leader in her community. She will share her knowledge with others and inspire them to reach for higher goals. Beyond the financial support, the most valuable gift we will give Veronica is empowerment. Sustainable economic growth is unthinkable without empowered women. Women tend to invest more in the health, education, and nutrition of their families than men do and therefore are the backbone of growing stronger communities.
Since 2019, I have returned to Kenya two more times. Veronica and her family continue to progress and we are expanding our work there. I've learned so much from Veronica. Her resilience is inspiring. Her kindness is enormous. Her faith is unwavering.
Each year, women in Kenya are supported through coaching and business development in a movement I call Kenya Rising.
"Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope."
-Maya Angelou