It's still valid

'My name is Mercy or Mama Ian. I am in class six and when I grow up I want to be a lawyer.' 'My name is Brenda or Mama Angel. I am in form two and when I grow up I want to be a neurosurgeon'

One of my friends sent me a message many months ago telling me about this rescue center called Wings of Hope in Nairobi. He told me that the home rescues girls who've been forced into teen motherhood through sexual abuse. Many of them having been assaulted by their family members .

Months later, in September, as I thought of the next place to have our health education and skill development sessions Wings of Hope came to mind. When I visited with the beautiful girls and their children on the first day the above words are what I heard from 17 of them. Children in their teen years identifying themselves by motherhood. It broke my heart. 

My heart did not only break on that day. It also got a spark by these girl's dreams. From the confidence in which they spoke of these dreams. Like they knew without doubt they will achieve them. Like they are the lawyers, pilots and journalists they professed to be. I promised myself to be part of their journey. To remind them that despite their current circumstances their dreams are still valid. That it's all still valid. 

This Saturday we had a career day with them. We brought together professionals from different fields to share with them the dynamics and details we never get to hear in school. What is the future of journalism? What are some of the soft skills I need to thrive better as a lawyer? What are some of the agencies that offer funding for women in aviation? We got into all of it. 

Thanks to strangers, friends, family and people I connected with along the journey of change my girls got to have a new- brighter hope for their dreams. We laughed, ate chapati , delved into the reality of our professions and ate cake made by the girls specially for us . I also discovered that to be able cook more than 150 chapati's you need to be at the venue six hours earlier. Haha. 

This is to keep impacting in our simple little ways for it goes a long long way. Keep sharing love(◠‿◕).