"Life Journeys": Emerging Kenyan Heroes!

Capturing and sharing the essence of leadership, change, inspiration, courage, and progress beyond normalcy, in our country!

30 January, 2012

Beyond State House, Into The White House.

Congratulations to Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg for being honored by the President of the United States as a "'Champion of Change' and Trailblazer in American Diaspora Communities". She is the Founder of Akili Dada, "A leadership incubator investing in high-achieving young African women from underprivileged backgrounds who are passionate about social change."

Read more about her and her program

http://www.akilidada.org/
http://vibeweekly.com/home/news/2028-white-house-to-honor-a-kenyan-dr-wanjiru-kamau-rutenberg-as-a-champion-of-change-.html

23rd November, 2011

"Look at me now!"

It is so easy to forget that we are all human beings, and no one is above another. But we all know, it's hard to deviate from the social mentality of hierarchical order, which places others above the rest.

Eva Kasaya has just won the prestigious Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature, in the Youth Category, for her book, Tale of Kasaya. It is a chronicle of her life; the highlights of the book being working as House-help for 10 years, and how she was able to transcend her predicament to live a life of worth and purpose.

"...

Never in her wildest dreams would she have pictured herself in this elegant room at the Serena Hotel, rubbing shoulders with the elite of Kenyan publishing and writing, people she would ordinarily just see on television or read about in newspapers.

...

Eva has now started a new chapter in her life. No longer a househelp, she uses her tailoring skills to teach HIV-positive women in Kaimosi, Western Kenya, how to design clothes.

...

Eva’s dream is to go to university, where she will probably take a literature-related course.

..."

This story is reminiscent of Nyota Ndogo's in "Life Journeys: Seeking Destiny".

Read more of this lady's incredible journey, written by Joseph Ngunjiri in today's Nation

http://www.nation.co.ke/Features/Living/Look+at+how+far+this+former+housegirl+has+come/-/1218/1277312/-/item/0/-/kubdte/-/index.html

22nd November, 2011

"Welcome to the World"

Perhaps this is what Pamela Achieng' Sombe, this year's UN Person of the Year, says to every infant she helps deliver. With limited resources, this nurse has made it possible for these young ones to breath the air called life.

"Touched by the plight of pregnant women in the area four kilometres away from the Bondo-Kisumu road, Ms Sombe dedicated herself to alleviating the hardship and anguish encountered during child birth."

Read more of this touching story by Valentine Obara

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/UN+trophy+for+village+midwife/-/1056/1277176/-/12j8p42/-/index.html

16th November, 2011

WATER IS LIFE

This young achiever decided to be proactive, rather than passive. Joel Mwali was hospitalized in hospital and was diagnosed with Dysentery, which was brought upon by consuming contaminated water. While in hospital, he decided that no one should go through what he went through, thus, his decision to start Skydrop, a company that specializes in purifying and bottling drinking water.

"I should do something," he said to himself. "I'm not just going to sit back and watch things happen."

Read more of Joel's story through this link

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/14/business/skydrop-kenya-water/index.html?hpt=iaf_t2

11th November, 2011

Marketing the potential that our human capital has in Kenya, and honoring those who are making a difference within our country and beyond, is absolutely necessary and overdue. However, we are making progress as we move towards the direction of creating our own heroes, mentors, leaders and inspiration for the upcoming generation. Sheida Mutambi-Mutuku is one of those individuals who have decided to set a precedent by establishing the Pillar Awards Africa, which will honour outstanding young women in Africa.

Facts about Pillar Awards Africa - from today's Business Daily:

Pillar Africa Awards was conceived last year during The Feather Awards Kenya
The brainchild of the awards is Sheida Mutambi-Mutuku.
The awards will recognise African Female youth making a mark not only in their personal lives, but in the larger society.
The awards categories include: Entrepreneur, Humanitarian, Business Icon and Arts and Culture and Heritage.
The winner of each category will be going home with recognition, a trophy and Sh1 million.