The Power of Love is an insightful piece that voices perspectives of the daily lives of young girls living in Kibera, an extensive informal settlement in Nairobi County, Kenya. It captures poetic descriptions of “Love” as narrated from the view point of these girls.
The poems are an expression of hope from girls that daily confront formidable socio-economic challenges, while striving to optimize available opportunities to attain their full potential. Obviously each perceives and has experienced love in different ways but there appears to be universal consensus (amongst them) that in an atmosphere of love, their confidence and self- esteem is assured;
feeling safe and secure they can tackle each new day! Adolescents, aged 10-19 years are a significant proportion of the population comprising 16% and 24% of all people in Nairobi County and Kenya respectively.
They are confronted daily with a broad range of daunting challenges that seek to exacerbate existing inequalities. This population nevertheless incubate limitless potentials to contribute immensely to national strategic objectives, potentials that can be harnessed through a range of adaptive measures in and out of school including through basic education, empowerment, and mentorship. Young girls, more than any other demographic represents this enormous untapped potential and present a most promising “return on investment”.
The innovative approaches of the Polycom Development Project, Kibera has nurtured the voices of these young girls. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is therefore pleased to support the amplification of these “voices” as they reach out to us in love and through love, inviting our love, our encouragement and our investment to bring to birth their dreams