The Oroko Househelp Phenomenon
Apr 8, 2019
Story
Over and over, my friends and even acquaintances when in need of a house help (house girl) will say to me “Please look for me a house help from your area, I hear that’s where most people go to get house helps”.
At a point in time I had to stop and ask myself; why do people have this notion of my tribe’s girls? Are they only fit to make an exodus to urban areas as house girls? Do people really know the potentials of Oroko girls?
So I decided two things need to be addressed:
1- The Mindset of Girls in our Communities
Girls from our communities need a change of mindset and mentality through formal and informal education. Those of us who have seen “The Light” need to light up the minds of girls from every other community where girls are living in ignorance and still being blocked from reaching their utmost potential by societal ills such gender discrimination, child marriages, female genital mutilation, sexual assault, violence on women, amongst others.
Our Slogan at Welisane Foundation is “A New Light for the Girls and Women”. It all begins in the mind…..we want to shine a new light in the minds, hearts and lives of girls and women so that they live a purposeful life and have a positive impact in their communities.
2- Valorizing the Potentials and Achievements of Girls from our Communities
I am sick and tired of people telling me you don’t look like an Oroko girl, of course I do look like an Oroko girl. Infact! I am an Oroko girl 100% and where I come from there are plenty like me. We need to be proud of who we are, where we are coming from and make every other person feel proud of who they are .
Welisane Foundation has come to bring to limelight those girls and women from our communities who are doing amazing things, yet unearthed. Girls and women are looking for role models, they are looking for you to mentor them, come on board and make a girl dream and work towards being just like you when they grow up. #Iamoroko