A LETTER TO THE AFRICAN GIRL CHILD - THE DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD 16TH JUNE

Dear Sister,

Take it easy.

The world isn’t about to end yet, you have a life time ahead of you to work on your goals and dreams. I know how you feel; like the whole world is on your shoulders. Trust me, that’s a heavy burden for a young girl like you to carry. So put it down, it is not your responsibility to carry the burden of the world. You are only responsible for your own life and your own goals, the rest will piece itself on its own.

I felt like that too a few years back. I remember feeling so discouraged by my background. We did not have much and my parents were doing their best to support five girls. Whenever I was sent home for school fees that was less than $10, I felt like my world was turning upside down. I would feel like my dreams were being shattered. Now I look back and I wonder why I put that much burden on myself. My responsibility was to trust that my parents did their best, work hard, and take advantage of the opportunity to go to school. Things will always work out as long as you do your part.

This is how you achieve your goals; by learning from your mistakes. Whenever you fall or fail, it is only to teach you, so try again. Let it push you to be better. Write down your goals, think about who you would like to be when you grow up and work hard towards it. What career would you like to pursue? Every day write down something new you’ve learnt about it to remind you of what you are working towards.

Lastly, do not let your background put you down, it does not define you. Instead, let it be a motivator; to have a better future. Only you can define your future and it is all in your hands. Remember, you are the very definition of success; you are a girl, you are strong, powerful, and you are a force to be reckoned with. You can do anything you set your mind to and the world knows it, so never give up on your dreams.

I am Purity, a girl just like you from a village in Kenya that even I fail to spell sometimes. As I write to you, I am at the heart of Kenya’s Capital City, Nairobi, doing what I love and living a life I never dared to imagine I could attain at the age of 23. And I haven’t even started yet!

If I made it this far so can you! Take one step at a time, breathe, you’ve got this!

From one girl to another, I believe in you.

Purity

Purity Kemei is AMPLIFY Girls Social Media and Communications Intern. You can reach her at purity@amplifygirls.org