Kakenya Ntaiyaat: A girl who demanded school

Sometimes we take what we perceive as the most basic of things for granted. Growing up in Ireland, going to school was something that we did. This was never questioned. There were good days and bad days, but most important of all there were school days. 
Living in Kenya, life was not so straightforward. Kakenya Ntaiya presents to us a life on her TED talk that seems to be world away from those traditional days growing up in Ireland. The reality for Kakenya was her norm was something that could not have been even considered in Ireland or the United States in modern times. Previous generations in Ireland and the United States grew up with the now sexist and dated perception that the woman’s place was in the home. However, growing up these women were still treated as children and all were entitled to a fair and free education. While the perception may have been that the man was the ultimate breadwinner and head of the family, the woman was still treated as an equal in the classroom through elementary school and beyond. Sadly, the same cannot be said of Kenya.
From the earliest of ages Kakenya shares with us that her role was to serve her husband. From the age of five through to the age of twelve her role was all about preparation for a time of service to her future husband. She shares memories of being promised to her future husband since the age of five, and catching glimpses of him. The time until puberty was about learning and training for the role of being a wife. What would be considered a traditional education and childhood was nonexistent. At the age of twelve, Kakenya would experience severe genital mutilation, which was the norm for young girls growing up in her area. Despite her challenges, Kakenya still longed for further education. She wanted to become a teacher. What is more inspirational is that she developed a goal of service and wanting to give back. From seeing a student who had attended university in the United States, she developed a goal and target to attend university. Through perseverance she built her relationship with the elders in her community and would attend university in Virginia.
While living and learning about the norms in the United States, she also learned more about equal rights. What was considered the norm in Kenya was no longer so straightforward. A child did not have to be subject to a prearranged marriage. A woman was entitled to own her own property. No woman was subject to serving her husband and needing to suffer at his hands. Genital mutilation was wrong at all times. Kakenya was inspired to act. She would take her education and experiences and give back to where she grew up. She returned home and built and developed a school for girls.
To date she has changed the lives of 125 girls. She has given back and helped to reduce the terrible injustices that she has suffered herself. From a beginning of great suffering and injustice, Kakenya has used her energy, skills and talent to make a true difference in her society. She has used her negatives and become a positive. Once again this demonstrates the individual skills, talent and drive that is not the norm in Kenya or the United States or Ireland. Kakenya has become an inspiration and the reality is that her story has inspired her local community, but this video demonstrates how she has inspired society as a whole also. 

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