Trade As One

On Wednesday, June 9th in Nairobi, Kenya, the Vice President delivered a major speech underscoring the importance of the United States-Kenya relations at Kenyatta International Conference Centre. In his speech, the Vice President discussed Kenya’s great promise and the need to work together to meet regional challenges…
    At the same time, his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, was on a journey of her own, a journey that put aside the political agenda and focused on the heart and soul of the people. She traveled to the Beacon of Hope facility in Ongata Rogai, Kenya. 
    Beacon of Hope Founder, Jane Wathorne, spoke about the visit in the most recent Beacon of Hope newsletter saying, “It was beyond our wildest dreams and such a great honor.” Beacon of Hope focuses on women empowerment and walks these women, particularly women who are HIV positive or suffering from severe poverty, through a process of psychological, spiritual, and economic transformation. This foundation is what has brought them success and recognition from such prominent leaders as the US vice-president’s wife. She is on a global mission to raise awareness and implement action steps towards greater women empowerment, and of all the organizations she could have visited, it was Beacon of Hope that she chose.
    Dr. Biden toured the facility with Jane Wathorne and she was able to see first-hand how this organization was making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. Women of all ages were helping one another, taking care of their children, hand-weaving baskets and other products, and truly engaging in a life-changing community. All with the hope of gaining confidence in who they are now rather than being trapped in the cycle of insecurity they had lived in before.  Dr. Biden had this to say about her trip to Beacon of Hope: “I can see that Jane has done such a wonderful job in empowering women.”
    At the Vocational Training Center Dr. Biden was able to see these women at the facility receive training for a set of skills and then make the final product come to life; whether it be a hand-stitched rug or a delicate piece of jewelry, these women were actively earning a living in a respectable job that provides them with food, clothing, and stability. Now, these women are not cast-offs because of their low economic status, or their deteriorating health. They are not labeled “HIV positive” as if that defines them. They are not ignored or belittled. They are heard.
    The visit from Dr. Jill Biden was something that significantly impacted the women at Beacon of Hope. It was an amazing testament to the leaders at Beacon of Hope that their efforts have not gone unnoticed. If you’d like to see the beautiful rugs woven by the women at Beacon of Hope, click here.