WOMEN of WORTH

Women of Worth is a mentorship program for boys and girls in Kenya. It aims to provide support and mentorship for youth as they bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood. This is a time that is very confusing for children as they enter a new chapter of their lives filled with complex choices and decisions. Women of Worth provides mentorship and assistance as they are confronted with these tough and life changing decisions. 

MEET NKATHA:

Nkatha is a public health specialist who specializes in HIV/AIDS. Nkatha first got involved with Tree of Lives when she was working at Nazareth Hospital with HIV+ patients and met the Brown family. She has constantly stayed in contact with the organization and Nazareth and has even visited Virginia. She moved on from Nazareth and worked for the Catholic Medical Mission Board helping them gain HIV/AIDS funding. She currently works with the Africa Christian Health Association Platform which works with HIV+ patients in a number of different African countries. They work for advocacy, prevention, and education towards the complex medical issues facing the people. Even with that full time work, she still assists in running the Women of Worth program with colleagues and has been a major player in Tree of Lives Kenya where she will have a position on the board. Her positive outlook on life and her hope for Tree of Lives is pivotal in the continued growth of the organization. She cares for each and every person she comes in contact with and overall has an amazing attitude and heart. 

Women of Worth Mentor Program

Following the completion of Class 8 (8th grade), children in Kenya face the daunting task of continuing on to high school. For boys this transition to adulthood happens easier than for girls. Due to this gap, the mentorship program was established as a way to mentor girls to help them succeed beyond Class 8. The organization has partnered with 10 other churches to gather participants for the program. Each year 100-150 girls convene following their school year. They follow a curriculum called, “It Takes Courage”, to help empower them to take control of their lives. They are also paired with a mentor who has gone through the program before. As their first year of High School progresses, they meet with their mentor again during breaks in April and August to check in and discuss how everything is going. The program is designed around a platform of sustainability as each year there is a new group of girls who can serve as mentors for the class under them. Since the creation of this program, the communities impacted have seen less girls dropping out of high school. Community leaders have shared great praise for the work done within this project. 

1. Funding to create educational materials for the mentorship program.

2. Facilitates partnerships with other churches to create awareness surrounding the program.