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Have you felt that tug at your heart this week?
This week has been amazing for the 10 mom bloggers in Kenya. If you followed the posts, you know just a glimpse of the tragedy mixed with hope they are witnessing. Reading the tweets and their personal posts is eye opening and inspiring.
Every day the 10 women visited a different part of Kenya – from home testing for HIV to the dilapidated schools. After each post was a call to action – ONE asked you to do something in response to the tug on your heart.
Today, the moms visited with women entrepreneurs. They heard stories of hope and vision for a better life.
Emily shared what she learned from a Kenyan mother:
In Kibera, we met Mercy, a single mother of a four-year-old daughter, Nicole. Her walls were made of mud and her entire house was about the size of an American bathroom. And yet, there she was happy and content with her life and her ability to sustain herself and her child. Mercy wasn’t clamoring to get out of Kibera, yet she is striving for a better life for her daughter. She lost both her mother and father and subsequently had to become the head of household and guardian of her little sister. Through Carolina for Kibera’s Binti Pamoja program Mercy has rallied a support system around her and has learned financial literacy and leadership that has helped her become a better mother.
Change. There is hope for change. These mothers, sons, daughters and fathers are making for themselves a better life. And it is all thanks to programs set in place to give them the tools and confidence they need. The Kenyans already have the spirit in the face of complete tragedy. Now with government-funded programs they have the ability to use their hard work to truly have a better life.
Daily Action:
Today the bloggers are meeting with women entrepreneurs in Karen, Kenya who are leading in building their communities’ economies and providing opportunities to others. Check out ONE’s report “Africa’s Future is Female” to learn more about how women are leading a revolution on the continent:Â Then, using hashtag #ONEMoms tell us (@ONECampaign) one thing that surprised you. Or leave a comment on our Facebook page (http://facebook.com/ONE)
Giveaway
The ONEmoms campaign has 5 mobilization kits for 5 lucky winners.
In the kit:
- “It Only Takes ONE Mom” t-shirt
- Tote bag with the ONE logo on it
- Our women’s report (Africa’s Future is Female)
- ONE Silly Bandz
- ONE bands (similar to Livestrong bands, but they are white and say ONE)
- Accordion pamphlet on Living Proof.
To enter: Please leave a comment below about your thoughts on the ONEMoms campaign or the situation in Kenya.
This giveaway will close on Monday, August 8th and we will announce our winners on or after Tuesday August 9th. This giveaway is open to both US and Canadian shipping addresses and is void where prohibited. Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions for more information.
Written by Annie, mother of 3, author of MamaDweeb, and managing editor of 5 Minutes for Parenting.
Giveaway ended! The 5 winners are LaVonne, Lyn H, Mia, Mama Zen, and angie. Congrats!
Mama Zen says
I have found these posts so inspiring. It will be moms that bring change, I think.
stephanie says
Awesome! Made me cry when i watched the news. Thank you for leaving your families to take care of others.
Mia says
WOW! These moms are very inspirational!!! (the ONEmoms and the women they help!)
LaVonne says
I think this campaign is great. I like hearing the stories. It is inspiring to see women making big changes for an entire country!
angie says
I think it gets others to thinking what a wonderful time to open the hearts of others whether here at home or Kenya love is needed
[email protected]
tennille says
looks like a great cause!
hollowsins says
I think the project is great and it is nice to see people doing something about it.I hear so many people say things like, It’s not my problem or I don’t care and if we all thought that way the world would fall apart.
michelle hill says
I think this is amazing! My brother in law is from Kenya and had to visit him mom and sister a couple of months ago to supply them with a water filter for them as they have become deathly ill from the drinking water there. So glad there are some amazing people helping out.
Lyn H says
The ONE Moms visit to Kenya has come at just the right time for me. I recently finished reading “Global Soccer Mom” by Shayne Moore, who is one of the bloggers on the trip. I feel so stirred to do more to help eradicate world poverty and blogging and tweeting about Kenya has opened a door to me that will never close. I have appreciated reading the bloggers posts about the different communities and people they have visited. They have, between them, blogged with such honesty. The women have managed to convey all that they have seen, in a way that has made me feel like I have been in the home, on the bus, in the school and danced the dance with them. The situation in Kenya is not the best, but I actually feel really encouraged for the country. Things, such as USAid, are making real improvements to peoples lives and with continued effort I see real hope for Kenya’s rising generation. There is a lot still to be done, but there is hope. The real thing that has struck me the most is the joy and life in the people who the ONE Moms have met. Thank you ONE Moms for opening up my world, thank you.