Leadership Institute for Girls

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, And if you dare to dream of meeting Your heart’s longing. It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool For love, for your dream, For the adventure of being alive. It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, If you have been opened by life’s betrayals, Or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain. I want to know if you can sit with pain, Mine or your own, Without moving To hide it or fade it or fix it. I want to know if you can be with joy, Mine or your own, If you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes Without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, or to remember the limitations of being human. It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint an

I have not moved an inch. It's been busy -  between my studies and office work. And. Believe me when I say not a day goes by without me thinking about this dream. I whisper a prayer throughout the day for this dream. I dream about this dream at night. Until next time, let's never stop dreaming and believing in our dreams. Here is to every girl who will receive education to empower her community.

"Every girl should be empowered to create her own future" Melinda Gates

I dare you to live out your God-given dream I dare you to dance in the rain In every season I dare you I dare you to live out loud To love fearlessly To give without reservations I dare you To give I dare you To sing I dare you To dance I dare you To live I dare you to live out your God-given talent If it's your passion to create go ahead and dare to do so I dare you To create I dare you To scream I dare you To laugh I dare you To write I dare you To run I dare you To cry I dare you To be you I dare you To ask I dare you To speak I dare you To stand Sis, I dare you To know who YOU are Know who you are Know who you are Know who you are created to be Know your destiny Know your purpose Know your dream Know who God is I dare you ©Petunia

Dear Petunia, It’s been a little over 15 years since you celebrated your 15 th birthday. You may not remember much of your teen years as you made a vow to block most of that out. You always felt left behind and never wanted to be part of anything.   You had serious issues with your body and as result had a very low self-esteem.   You covered well your low self-esteem with your loud squeaky voice, always seeking attention.   You were most of the time misunderstood and a laughing stock of your peers.   You never talked about your emotions to anyone.   You never cried at  least not in public.   You never complained.   You will not even tell anyone if you were sick. You had inquisitive mind and always asking questions.   You always said the wrong things at wrong time.   You never wanted to upset anyone but you were always in trouble with the ‘law’. You got easily lost in a good story book. Reading for long hours made you the happiest.   You read everything you could get your h

As I journey into and through this dream of reaching out to girls in my community – I realize it’s a huge dream.   This dream involves real issues, real people and real life – it’s that big. Some days I am more than ready to dive in and reach out in every possible ways.   And, some days I am really petrified – the kind that leaves you paralysed. Today, I had an honour and privilege to meet with one of the girls am intending to mentor.  Her name is Alinah and she is the sweetest girl.  We laughed and talked like we’ve known each other for a very long time. The next thing I know, she starts crying, right in the middle of our conversation.  Prior to our meeting I expected anything to happen but I did not expect her to get emotionally overwhelmed.  It was our first meeting and we had ice cream and talked about school. Without going into details of Alinah’s emotional reaction, once again, I’m convinced that we can be the change we wish to see in the world.  I certainly cannot change t

The more I think about my dream of reaching out and making a difference – the more I realise every single step counts.  A journey of thousands miles begins with a single step.  On my own I won’t change the world but I can do one thing to make it better for me and for you. It is indeed true – we cannot change everything but each one of us can change something.  What if we all did one thing that burns deep into our hearts. I’m convinced that each and every one of us has a dream. When I worked for my local newspaper as a photojournalist – one winter morning I sit outside few blocks from my office.  I was outside in the cold for few hours having a chat with two street kids. These two boys shared with me their dreams; chances of them achieving those dreams are very slim.  Regardless of their circumstances they still had dreams to become medical doctors.  I walked away that day and to this day I still believe each and every one of us has a dream of becoming someone who ca

By Adriana Alvarenga At the Rio+20 Conference on sustainable development, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake asked the world to consider what equity can do for development and children. RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, 25 June 2012 – Throughout Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development held last week in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake argued that a development model that leaves behind millions of the poorest children is both wrong in principle and unsustainable in practice.  “A recent IMF staff discussion note shows that as societies become more equitable, economic growth is more sustainable over time,” said Mr. Lake, speaking on Wednesday at the ‘Sustainable Development in an Unequal World’ side event. “If we can increase vaccinations so that fewer children die of diseases we know how to prevent, if we can provide more micronutrients so that young brains and young bodies grow strong, if

  [What is on my heart right now for the girl child programme - song by Nicole Brit ]  Set The World On Fire I wanna set the world on fire Until it's burning bright for You It's everything that I desire Can I be the one You use? I, I am small but You, You are big enough I, I am weak but You, You are strong enough to Take my dreams Come and give them wings Lord with You Nothing I can not do Nothing I cannot do I wanna feed the hungry children And reach across the farthest land And tell the broken there is healing And mercy in the Father's hands Take my dreams Come and give them wings Lord with You Nothing I cannot do Nothing I cannot do My hands my feet My everything My life, my love Lord, use me I wanna set the world on fire I wanna set the world on fire, yeah Take my dreams Come and give them wings Lord with You Nothing I cannot do Take my dreams Come and give them wings Lord with You There's nothing I can't d

The more I think about what Mahatma Gandhi  once said " Be the change you wish to see in the world" the more excited I become. It excites me immensely that beyond my wish and dream I can BE the change in my world. My wish list is long. And at the same time my only wish is to BE the change. I recently had the privilege to interact via the cyberspace with three remarkable individuals. This encounter led me to wish even more and strive to see the change. I cannot wait a day longer to REACH out to the girls and let them KNOW they are VALUED. My dream with this project is to mentor young girls and let them DREAM beyond their villages. Until then I'll never stop wishing to BE the change in my world. Source

I’ve been looking forward to reading Half the Sky ever since I read the reviews . A year later am having a chat with one of my lecturers when she quickly scan through her bookshelf; and handed me the book “ Half the Sky ”. I was so thrilled to finally hold the book in my hands. It took me over three months to read [there were long pauses in between].   A very slow and intense read – I must have cried and cringed with every story.   So many touching, heartbreaking stories and yet filled with pure hope.   Half the Sky for me it’s about hope and the power we have to change the world for better. Like Mahatma Gandhi rightly said “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”   It goes without saying, after reading this book I feel even more compelled to be the change I wish to see in my world. I wish to see women be empowered in every possible way.   I wish to see girls go to school and receive the best education. I wish to see boys respect girls fo

Through the trials and tribulations we face each day, often there remains the unanswered questions: Why? Why me, Why now, Why not? Question: a request for information or for a reply on a specific topic. To raise doubts about something, especially its truth, genuineness or usefulness. And as we wrestle with trying to find answers more often than not we feel that the questions are left open-ended, like an arc destined to never become a complete circle. Many just do not bother with trying to find sense in things, but the majority of us tend to think beyond, we want to grow, understand, make sense of things, explore possibilities and test boundaries. It is to you that I speak today: "Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart" "Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language. Do not now look for the answers. They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them. It is a ques

I dream therefore I live. Destined – being purposeful, certain and intentional Devoted - being dedicated, ardent and steadfast Daring – being audacious, fearless and brave Share your heart, your hopes and your dreams… Lives are waiting to be inspired by your story Ordinary girls living extraordinary lives

Sometimes in our daily walk someone says something that strikes a chord. Yesterday, I had the honor to hear from one of our lectures the most amazing truth wrapped in four words ‘replace fear with love’. These words sure resonate within me more so as I think about the future and my dream of running this project. From this day on, I vow, to replace fear with love.    I dare to start dreaming and believing IT CAN BE DONE!!!   ps! Thank you so much C for sharing this gem with us - much appreciated.

I have never stopped thinking and dreaming about this concept ever since I got the twinkle. If all goes as planned, I’ll be starting with mentoring one girl in our neighboring township soon. All I can think about is - never ever underestimate the first baby steps. I’m super excited about the prospect and at the same time bit nervous (this dream is bigger than I can begin to write about it). I promise to share this dream here as it unfolds. I’ll always be grateful to God our dream-giver. I have read and talked to so many people and each person dares me to never stop dreaming. To God be the glory!!!!

  The Leadership Institute for Girls in Rural Communities© it’s my dream projet that is unfolding and it keeps reoccurring. I’m currently working on a school assignment for my Applied Project Management module. This assignment is to draw a project proposal for possible ‘funding’.  It is during this time of extensive research for the assignment that this dream once again reoccurs to me. The thing is, I have had the dream to be the voice to the voiceless, to bring hope where there is none for some time now. When putting this assignment together naturally my project  was set out for me only this time I had to put a name to it the results = The Leadership Institute for Girls in Rural Communities©. I’m handing in this assignment on Wednesday but I can only pray that this dream lives on until such day that it becomes a reality. The plan is to use this blog space to keep unfolding the dream and who knows it might come a REALITY sooner than I think.

The Leadership Institute for Girls in Rural Communities© project was established to bridge the gap between class room learning and real life education.   The project is specifically aiming at girls between ages 17 and 22 from rural communities. Given the current situation in South Africa whereby there is increase in teenage pregnancy based on various reasons.  One of many ways to address the issues it is by educating and training girls from young ages to make informed decisions. The Leadership Institute for Girls in Rural Communities© is of a firm believe that by exposing girls to other options and making it possible for them to dream beyond their villages there can be a positive change in our society.