Little Hands Making
Big Differences. The Power of ONE
Today I would like for us to discuss the challenging
question of, “I’m just one small person. What can I do?”. I would like to answer that question with a
story of one person who didn’t let her age, size, gender, or number stop her from making
change happen around her. She is my daughter but she did not allow herself to
be in my shadow. She stood tall and has turned tragedy of her own into hope for
others.
At the age of eleven, Kay traveled to Kenya with me for her
first humanitarian aid experience. She has always wanted to help and I felt it
would be good for her to experience firsthand what I had been trying to convey
to my entire circle of friends and family for a few years. Plus it would be a
huge lesson for any pre-teen growing up in the land of abundance. 
She seemed to be unscathed by the culture shock most
volunteers experience within their first week of work in East Africa. It seemed
to be normal for her; as well as the cold showers, no electricity, unusual
meals, and being witness to conditions that cannot be described. She jumped at
the chance to help in the medical clinic, dental clinic (only fainting once),
and in class rooms. She even helped
comfort children who were waiting to go into the clinic, during procedures, and
would watch the little ones while their families were getting checked. She
simply dove into the work and didn’t see any limitations while making best
friends for life in one of the secondary schools we served. 
Kay continued to travel with me several times and witnessed the
birth of Tabibu Africa, Inc to what it is now. She also served as Education
Coordinator for the first year, helping to create our most successful hygiene
class for students as well as villagers. I would see her tear up at the some of
the tragedy we witnessed but it was short-lived and followed by, “what are we
going to do to make this better?” sort of statement.
At the young age of 14 Kay was the victim of rape. It was by someone
she knew and someone she trusted in a place she was supposed to feel safe while at home in Utah. She
didn’t tell anyone at first and tried to work through it the way she worked
through the suffering she would witness while working in developing countries. She suffered terribly in silence. Kay
soon started showing odd and self-destructive behavior which finally lead to
her telling me what had happened. Fortunately, because of where we live we were
able to get Kay the help and support groups she needed. I can’t describe the
pain, anger, and helpless feeling a mother feels when she holds her child who wants
to end her life because of what one person thought he could take from her.
Today, I’m happy to say that Kay has healed, continues to
heal, and will not allow this tragedy to define who she is. She is not rape and
she is not the feeling it leaves behind. It’s something that happened to her
and will not define the soul or heart of who she is. She is now 18 years old and will be
leaving for college this year. She’s back to making plans on how she can make
the world a better and safer place.
Kay has now turned this tragedy around to hope and has developed
a workshop for young girls and young women who are at risk as well as a support
group plan ready for those who come forward as victims of sexual violence. Our
upcoming spring 2015 humanitarian expedition will be the first time Kay will
teach her empowerment workshop at a school and health center in the Maasai Mara
to young Maasai women. Rape and sexual assault is not spoken about in most
third world cultures in fact there are no statistics to report on the percentage
of rape in Kenya.
Kay’s empowerment workshop focuses first on goal setting for
your future, basic anatomy and physiology so the girls know their own bodies,
then a discussion on what is appropriate and what is not. The class ends with the
empowerment to say, “NO!”. She hopes to give back the power to these young
girls that their bodies are theirs, they can keep their goals in sight, they are
worthy, and they have the right to say “NO”. If any of the young women come forward, Kay then has a support group plan in place to help them through the process
of healing. She’s a living example to them. This will be a challenge but one we
know that Kay can meet head on.
Here Kay is being adopted into a Maasai tribe in the Rift Valley as a warrior and given the name "Naserian" which means "bringer of light".
Kay’s message to you, yes you: You don’t need to go to another country to give back, no matter where you are there’s always a need for aid. Volunteer at your local soup kitchen or shelter, make hygiene kits or head a food drive, start a workshop, or help your neighbor. Check with your church, schools, or local groups in your area because there’s always something that can be done. The power of ONE is in everyone, it is inside of you and YOU can do SOMETHING!
For more information
on how you can help Kay’s program please contact: TabibuAfrica@aol.com
To send encouraging
words that Kay can take and share with the Maasai girls we will be working
with please email TabibuAfrica@aol.com
or mail to our Tennessee office
PO BOX 597
Westmoreland, TN 37186
Asante Sana
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