Economic Empowerment | Half the Sky | Independent Lens | PBS

I just watched a program on PBS called Half the Sky.  It was comprised of several segments concerning a variety of women's issues in third world countries around the world.  I read the book this summer, and found the video version of these stories to be compelling.

One in particular held my attention, it had to do with empowering women in Kenya through microfinance loans and education.  While this was filmed in the slums of Nairobi, the story is the same throughout Kenya, throughout much of Africa.  Women are generally the ones who care for and provide for their families.  Lack of work and education create a hopelessness in the men that often leads to drinking and narcotic use, which further disengages them from their families.  The women, however, work hard to provide whatever they can for the sake of their children's futures.

You can read the article about by clicking on the link below.

Economic Empowerment | Half the Sky | Independent Lens | PBS

If you would like to view the first episode of Half the Sky, you can watch it at http://video.pbs.org/video/2283557115

The second half of this series will air tomorrow night, October 3, at 9:00 p.m. MT on PBS.

In our work in Kenya, we realized early on that empowering women is a key factor to making change happen.  Girls now fill our schools, we have girls being educated at the secondary and university level through scholarships.  We have taught sewing skills and provided a sewing workshop at the BTW workshop in Mnyenzeni.  We have several small microbusinesses that are run by women.  We have encouraged women to deliver their babies at the dispensary rather at home, which creates a safer environment for them.

I am passionate about the necessity to empower the women of Kenya, as I see them as the future of the country.  They have the same desire as mothers everywhere: to provide a better future for their children, with opportunities for them to seek and find success.  I have seen the improvement in the lives of those women who have embraced the opportunities we have given them.  The challenge we face is to continue to find and share opportunities with women, to give them the start, the key to lifting themselves out of poverty.

"Talent is universal, opportunity is not."  Nicholas Christof

Koins for Kenya is dedicated to providing opportunity to those whose opportunities are limited.  If you would like to help, we welcome your thoughts, ideas, and contributions.  All funding goes directly to the work we do in Kenya.  Join us in our work to change the lives of those who, through no fault of their own, find themselves with limited options to improve their lives.  In the process you will find your own life changed.  Contact us at info@koinsforkenya.org

Asante sana

IVL