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International Day of the Girl Child

Leila’s story starts in the dusty outskirts of Nairobi, in a neighborhood where life didn’t hand out favors, especially to girls. Opportunities were slim, dreams even slimmer, and most girls barely made it past primary school before life cornered them into early marriages. But Leila? She wasn’t about to let life call the shots.

At 16, her world came to a screeching halt when school fees became a luxury her family couldn’t afford. Dropping out wasn’t a choice—it was a necessity. For many, that’s where the story ends. But Leila? She picked up her grandmother’s old beadwork skills, sat under the nearest tree, and started creating. It wasn’t just jewelry; it was a lifeline.

Her designs—bright, bold, and unapologetically African—started catching attention. A local women’s group noticed her work and invited her to teach others. That invitation was her spark. She dove in, teaching girls her craft while soaking up every bit of entrepreneurial wisdom she could get from these women.

Every coin she earned went back into her growing hustle. She saved enough to pay for school part-time while juggling her beadwork orders. By 18, Leila wasn’t just a high school graduate; she was a full-blown boss with her own workshop. She hired women from her community, creating jobs in a place where they barely existed.

But Leila didn’t stop at just making a living. She turned her workshop into a lifeline for other girls. Partnering with youth groups and community organizations, she started teaching skills—crafts, business, and hope. The kind of hope that turns “I can’t” into “watch me.”

Leila’s journey isn’t just about resilience; it’s about rewriting the narrative. She didn’t wait for opportunity to knock. She kicked the door down, painted it with her beads, and invited the whole community in. What started as survival turned into empowerment, not just for her but for the girls and women who now see her as living proof that the road less traveled is worth the struggle.

Leila didn’t just rise above her circumstances—she lit the way for others to follow.

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