Women Empowerment

As per the African proverb `` educate a man and you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate a nation``.

 Despite of the above African proverb, most girls and women in Africa do not have the chance of going to school and are less educated than the boys and men in their societies. In my country, there are policies and programs that have been set up to ensure free education for both boys and girls. This is a great step in ensuring that girls and women have equal chances and opportunities as boys and men.

Just like the above proverb, I believe that if we empower a man we empower an individual, but if we empower a woman, we empower the whole community, society and nation at large. My group ``Shitungu women empowerment group``, is set to voluntarily educate women in Kakamega County on entrepreneurship and how to use the readily available resources to earn a living.

On 6th July, 2019, we held a very successful workshop to empower the women in Matungu Sub County in Kakamega County. We trained them on entrepreneurship, how to identify economic opportunities and how to form and work in groups.  The turnout was over 200% as we had anticipated training 30 people but over 70 people turned up.

We did not leave men out as we had a few of them attending the workshop. This is because for the women to succeed men have to understand what they are doing so that they support them in achieving their objectives of creating self employment, earning income and reducing poverty.

From the workshop, we found out that the community was doing so many economic activities to counter the high level of unemployment and poverty levels. What they needed more was training, guidance and mentoring, which we shall continue offering them.

We will continue to do follow up to the groups, visit them at their places of work (farms etc) to see what they do and give them practical expertise. We intend to empower the women and the community with skills, knowledge and expertise so that together we bring a positive change to our community and have an impact by using the readily available resources.