Mentor HER.
Educate HER.
Support HER.

Dear Linda,

I hope you are well. To say that I am okay would be an understatement. I am extremely exhilarated, and as I draft this thank you note, I must confess that I am in tears.

I remember with a lot of nostalgia the day the Starehe Girls’ Centre secretary read out my name as part of the new lot of beneficiaries under the Global Give Back Circle; it was quite a moment. That was back in the year 2008. As I look back eight years later, I can confidently say that that particular day set the pace for a future that becomes clearer by the day.

Through the Circle I have become a woman of substance and I bet the wave of change that you once dared to dream of shall see the light of day through us, the Alumni. I became more confident in myself and an affirmative decision maker. I also acquired numerous soft skills including public speaking. The lessons from the workshops we have served to make me a cut above the rest of my peers.

So, today, I did not intend to overemphasize what you know too well, but to start off by telling you that you can now call me Dr. Lavender Otom. I have successfully completed my five-year course and graduated on the 2nd December, 2016. The best part is that I was the Best Female Student in a class of 339 doctors, I also graduated as the best final year student in Pediatrics, Best Final Year Student in Medical Microbiology, and the best final year student in Pathology. The valedictorian medical school class of 2016!

I don’t know how it all happened, but I know the Global Give Back Circle played a big role. During my years in school, I never worried about upkeep, neither about school fees and whenever I needed a book or any other implement all I needed to do was get a quotation for the same.

As I go out to the world I hope that this is just the beginning of a great career. May the Lord Almighty bless you and may many more come to realize their dreams through the Circle. Thank you, thank you, thank you…..

Yours Faithfully,

Lavender

I was born in Ruiru and my parents came from Thika. After my parents passed away I was taken to Tereza Nuzzo Children`s Home in 2000, where I had the chance to attend a top primary school. The challenge was always how to pay the school fees, but I thank God my school fees were paid for by the owner of the home.

In 2006, I joined the Global Give Back Circle. At the time, I did not know what it was about, but I felt something good was coming. I can now state, with confidence, that my life has never been the same again. For me, it has really been a journey of transformation.

This journey began in high school with my mentor, Catherine Griffin, from the USA. When I think back, I first remember vividly the difficulties I had in writing letters to her. Fortunately, I was soon able to improve on my writing skills. Along the way, I also received workshop traininghree times a year, including reproductive health and financial literacy. Through the guidance of our instructors and facilitators, I started developing confidence, slowly improving my communication skills and learning to think bigger and better.

I began using these skills to communicate with my mentor, Catherine, who has always been there for me, encouraging me in many ways. We have a very strong and lovely relationship, which I describe simply as ‘awesome.’ She is such an amazing woman in my life! We communicate several times a month and truly share a lot with one another.

I was so grateful the day KCDF, the implementation organization of the Global Give Back Circle in Kenya, told me that I would receive a scholarship from the MasterCard Foundation and Microsoft, to a 9-month ICT Lab, where my peers and I received ICT skills and invaluable life-skills. This helped me master the Microsoft applications and get my Microsoft Certifications. I also improved my communication skills, and learned how to repair computers. It also brought us together as a community of girls, to learn from one another, as we lived as “sisters” together in an adjacent dormitory.

The biggest blessing throughout this time was being told that upon graduation from the ICT Lab, I would also have a sponsor for college. It was the happiest day of my life!

This is how my new family became a part of my life…the Tierney family, an amazing family from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the USA. They made the decision to sponsor my college education. I am so grateful!  As a family, they communicate with me each month. Maureen specifically has been like a mother to me. We are having the best relationship, sharing a lot and writing to each other several times a month. I am blessed with two mentors in my life, Catherine and Maureen.

When I look back at my journey, being part of the Circle truly transformed my life. Everything the program provided has been useful in my transformation, whether the workshops I attended, the mentorship I received, or the IT skills I acquired.

I am now studying for my Bachelor of Commerce degree (Finance Option) after having completed a diploma in Business Management section II of the CPA exam.

Today, I strongly believe I am amongst the leaders of tomorrow. As I receive, I shall also give. This is the greatest opportunity we have and we are so very proud of being able to give back so much of what we have been given.

As a way of giving back, and of my appreciation, I have committed my time to mentor girls at the orphanage where I grew up.  I walked in their shoes when I was their age. I know what they are feeling and the kind of love and encouragement they need.

I am also grateful to be working as an Intern and Product Advisor at the Bank of Africa. This has been an incredible opportunity, which has enabled me to gain an immense amount of experience.  I love my job and my co-workers.

I would like to give my greatest appreciation to my mentors, Catherine and Maureen. Thank you for supporting me. I believe through your support, I am moving far; through your leadership, I am moving from beneficiary toward becoming a benefactor of tomorrow.

– Ann

I learned early on that life is not fair, and that change is a constant. Two years after I was born, my mother passed away. As an infant, born out of wedlock, I was thrown into a world that was fraught with difficulty and left to tackle this on my own. I was an orphan in the Ebuhando village, and it was not an easy life. This explains why today I have a special place in my heart for our street children here in Kenya.

I hardly remember having an actual childhood as I started making decisions early on in my life. As I matured, I began to realize that problems are exactly what you make of them. My path was hardly a straight one, and I veered from it on more than one occasion.

As a very young girl I was lucky to join St. Martin’s Primary and Secondary School located in the Kibagare Slum. This school became the beacon in my life. My turning point happened there when the school Principal selected me, amongst other orphans, to join the Global Give Back Circle in 2006. I felt so blessed to have joined the Circle because it was the first time that I was able to foresee great things ahead. I wanted to become an inspiration to others, to share my story and show them we can overcome adversity. I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to be a doctor, lawyer, businesswoman or politician; but I knew that whatever I set my mind on doing, the program would help me achieve it.

When I reflected on what was most important to me, I knew that I wanted to be involved with promoting people’s wellness and health. I often think about my darling mother and wonder whether she would still be with me today, had she had opportunities to better her health earlier on in life. I admire the nurses and doctors, who help and save people’s lives, and knew that this would be one of my life callings.

The year I joined the Circle I was matched with my mentor, Marge. Since our introduction she has been a big part of my life, and although we are far from each other physically (she lives in the USA), she has inspired me to fulfill my goals, especially to become a nurse. I recall times when it was difficult to balance my emotions, and she asked me to demonstrate diligence and to focus on my studies. She encouraged me to be a strong student with a good work ethic, and thorough time management, to always show commitment. All these were crucial measures in my success.

Thanks to a scholarship from the MasterCard Foundation and Microsoft, I eagerly completed a 9-month IT skills and communication course after my high school graduation, which put me a step ahead in my education, as I awaited the start college, still not knowing if this dream was even possible.

When I learned that I was also selected to receive a scholarship to attend college through the MasterCard Foundation, I was over the moon with excitement and joy. The scholarship also allowed me to attend various workshops, such as the financial literacy and reproductive health workshops which I loved. It was here that I learnt the importance of saving and family planning. Life lessons that have transformed my outlook and helped me prioritize my future goals.

My current Give Back Commitment is titled, “Save One Life you are a Hero, Save 100 you are a Nurse.” With the help of Shallom Hospital, I have been able to give back my time and skills at the maternal child health care clinic, educating women on the importance of their pre-natal visits, immunizations, postnatal care and family planning. Helping educate the women about the importance of a hospital delivery and family planning has been an eye-opening experience. I have had to battle many traditional beliefs and have been constantly challenged. Yet, when another healthy baby is safely born, I know that it has been worth all the efforts possible.

When I think about how my life could have turned out, I know I am truly blessed to have been a MasterCard Foundation scholar and a part of the Global Give Back Circle. I am also grateful to KCDF for implementing the program in Kenya. From a helpless orphan to a competent health professional, my transformation is nothing short of amazing. I’ve been empowered to be the leader of my life, and plan to inspire other orphans and disadvantaged girls to never stop aiming higher.

– Margaret