Empower a girl, transform a community | Kakenya Ntaiya

To empower girls,

譯者: Zoe Walmsley 審譯者: Yanyan Hong

要賦予女孩子能力，

you need to educate them.

首先得提供她教育。

That was my dream.

那便是我的夢想。

And so I built a school,

因此我建了一所學校，

and in the process, I learned something much bigger.

在過程中我學到了更重大的一課。

When you empower a girl, you transform a community.

你幫助女孩強化自身能力時， 也同時改造了整個社群。

School is just a start.

學校只是一個開端。

I grew up in rural Kenya

我出身於肯亞的農村，

in a small village called Enoosaen.

一個叫做伊努賽恩的小村子。

I was the first of eight children,

我是八個孩子中的老大，

and I spent my childhood helping my mother cook, clean, farm

所以我的童年就是幫忙母親 做家事、煮飯、打掃、農活，

and take care of my siblings.

以及照顧我的弟妹們。

Like other Maasai girls,

跟其他的馬賽族女孩一樣，

I was engaged from a very young age to be married.

我在很小時就被配婚。

But as I reached puberty,

一進入青春期，

I underwent female genital mutilation,

就被安排做了女性的割禮，

known as FGM.

簡稱 FGM 。

This picture shows some of the tools that are used to perform FGM on girls.

照片上是用在女孩 FGM 割禮的部分工具。

FGM was supposed to mark the end of my childhood

FGM 儀式為我的童年劃下句點，

and, by extension, my education.

也同時代表我的教育到此結束。

But I negotiated with my father in order to stay in school --

我想辦法說服了我的父親讓我

even after going through FGM.

做過割禮繼續上學 。

Years later I went to university.

幾年之後我上了大學。

And in order to get my community's support,

為了得到我的故鄉人的支持，

I promised to come back one day to repay that support.

我承諾未來會回鄉報答他們的支持。

But years later, when I went back to my village,

幾年後，當我回到我的村子時，

not much had changed.

看起來跟之前一樣。

Girls were still going through FGM,

女孩們一樣要經歷 FGM 割禮，

still leaving school,

割禮後輟學，

still getting married to men older than their fathers

嫁給比她們父親還老的男人，

and still having children when they're teenagers.

一樣在十幾歲就開始生育下一代。

I did not want to see any more girls go through that.

我希望可以幫助她們逃脫舊習的魔掌。

That's when I knew what I needed to do to give back to my community.

就在那時我知道了我應該 做什麼來回報我的族群。

I built a school just for girls

我蓋了一個女校，希望藉此

so that they can be free from FGM and early marriage.

幫助她們免除割禮及早婚的命運。

At my first enrollment --

在報名的當天——

(Applause and cheers)

（掌聲及歡呼）

At my first enrollment,

原本我預期

I had hoped for 10 girls.

頂多只有十個女孩會來報名。

100 came.

結果來了 100 個。

(Cheers and applause)

（歡呼及掌聲）

I started to realize just how big this dream was,

我開始意識到這個夢想有多大，

and soon I learned that my school could be the foundation --

而且很快地，我發現我的學校 可以作為一個基礎，

but it wasn't going to be enough.

可是這樣還不夠。

So that first year, I enrolled these 30 girls.

這 30 個女孩是我第一年的學生。

Some had been abused, others were orphans,

其中有些是遭受過虐待的兒童， 還有一些則是孤兒，

and some came from families that are very traditional,

還有一些是來自非常傳統的家庭，

that had never sent any girl to school.

這是第一次讓他們的女兒去上學。

So school started.

我的學校就此開始。

Though the girls seemed excited to be there,

這些女孩們來上學都顯得很興奮，

they were having difficulty staying awake.

可是她們卻常常昏昏欲睡。

What was going on?

到底怎麼回事？

They had a teacher, they had books,

她們有老師，有書本，

there was a new classroom on the way,

還有正在蓋的新教室，

but ...

可是，

They were determined to be there, but they had no energy.

雖然她們都來了，卻沒有體力上課

Then I realized they were hungry,

然後我發現原來是因為飢餓，

so I quickly found a cook and food.

於是我很快的找了廚師，還有食物。

Soon thereafter, I learned that a classroom was not enough.

不久後，我意識到光有教室是不夠的。

I needed a boarding school.

我的學校需要有宿舍。

Not only were the girls tired and hungry from chores

女孩們幫忙完家務又累又餓，

and long walks to school and back home,

從家裡到學校的長途跋涉也是問題，

they were also not safe.

同時她們也不安全。

It's a sad truth,

這是很悲慘的事實，

but girls are often assaulted, raped and even kidnapped

女孩們會在上學途中 受到毆打、強暴、甚至綁架，

on their way to school.

層出不窮。

So before a girl could learn math or history,

在一個女孩可以開始上數學歷史之前，

she needed to feel safe,

她必須先能安全到校，

she needed to be rested and be well-nourished.

她也必須得到足夠的休息 及營養的食物。

So let me tell you about some of my girls.

讓我介紹一下我的女孩們。

This is Faith.

這是費絲。

Faith comes from a very traditional family in the community.

費絲來自一個非常傳統的家庭。

Her older sister had already gone through FGM and already married,

她的姊姊早已行過割禮也結了婚，

but Faith was so determined.

可是費絲很有決心，

She really loved learning,

她真的很愛學習，

and she wanted to come to my school when she heard about it.

她一聽說我的學校，就打定主意要來。

So she asked her father, her mother --

她問了她的父母親，

anyone to bring her to my school.

可不可以帶她來。

They all refused.

他們兩個都拒絕了。

Faith did something very brave.

費絲做了件非常勇敢的事。

She stole an egg from her mother's house,

她從她母親的房子偷了一顆雞蛋，

went to the market,

拿去市場賣，

sold the egg and bought a single pencil.

用得到的錢買了一枝鉛筆。

Then she walked five miles,

然後她把那隻筆緊握在手心，

clenching that pencil, trying to enroll.

徒步走了五英里來學校。

She arrived --

她走到了。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

She arrived tired and hungry,

她雖然又飢又渴，

but determined.

可是她決心很強。

I listened to her story, and we enrolled her in my school.

我聽了她的故事，收下她這個學生。

But getting into my school was only just the start.

可是進入我的學校只是一個開始。

Faith needed food, she needed medicine,

費絲需要食物，她需要藥品，

she needed counseling --

她需要諮詢輔導，

all of which we provided.

這一切我們都提供。

And she also met adults who already believed in her.

她在這裡也遇到了 願意相信及肯定她的成年人。

Supported by this community,

有了這一切的支援，

Faith was ready to learn.

費絲才能真正開始學習。

This is Faith.

這就是費絲。

Six months of schooling,

入學六個月後拍的照片。

now she's a happy sixth grader who dreams of becoming a pilot someday,

她現在是一個快樂的六年級生， 夢想有一天成為一個飛機駕駛員。

and her family now supports her,

她的家庭現在也支持她，

and best of all,

更好的是，

her younger sisters will follow in her footsteps.

她的妹妹們也有機會跟她一樣上學了。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Child marriage is expected to cost the global economy trillions of dollars

童婚被預測在接下來的 15 年中耗費全球經濟

over the next 15 years.

幾兆美金。

We can talk numbers,

我們可以談論數據，

but in a real lifetime,

可是真實生活中，

what child marriage will cost my village is the doctor, the teacher,

童婚會讓我的村子裡損失掉 許多未來的醫生、老師

the entrepreneur,

及企業家，

the true partner our men will need in the future ...

以及男性所需的真正伴侶，

real ways women can help us lift out of poverty.

這才是女孩們幫大家 從貧困中解救出來的方法。

So I came to realize once again,

所以，我再次地了解到，

as I did when I needed help to go to university,

就像當年我得到部落支持去上大學，

that while I could dream or have a dream,

我所夢想要達成的，

I could not make it come true all by myself.

也不能光靠我自己。

So I went back to the elders who helped me more than a decade ago.

所以我回去找十多年前 支持我的族輩們。

I needed their support once again if I was going to be successful.

我需要他們的支持幫我成就大事。

So I formed a community board with religious leaders, parents

我成立了一個委員會， 其中有宗教領袖、學生家長，

and some teachers from other schools.

以及一些其他學校的老師。

I needed allies in the government and in the community

我需要在政府部門 以及我的族群中有一些盟友，

to help advance my goal.

幫我達成目標。

I needed especially the support of the chief

我特別需要的是我的酋長的支持，

to help me enforce the no-FGM policy in my school.

幫助我讓我的學生免受割禮。

At first he was resistant,

他剛開始很抗拒，

but I persisted --

可是我很堅持。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

and now he's our greatest ally.

他後來成了我最棒的盟友。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

I also needed the fathers.

我同時需要學生的父親們的支持。

That brings me to Linet.

講到這，我得提一下李菍。

Linet's father, Momposhi, did not believe in the education of girls.

李菍的父親，孟波胥， 並不認為女孩該受教育。

In fact, he himself never went to school.

事實上，他本身也從未上過學。

But Linet's mother believed in Linet and brought her to enroll in my school,

李菍的母親相信女兒有潛力， 所以她將了女兒帶來我的學校，

and I knew she belonged with us.

我也相信李菍應該來上學。

I just had to find a way to get Momposhi to believe in Linet, too.

只是我得想辦法讓孟波胥 也肯定李菍的能力。

So I used the pretense of revealing Linet's grade

我假藉要與孟波胥談李菍的成績，

to get Momposhi to come.

請他來學校一趟。

He came, and he started noticing his daughter being promising as a student.

他來了，也開始注意到他女兒 原來真的可以讀書。

With each visit, he built a strong relationship with his daughter --

每次來過學校後， 他與女兒的關係就又牢固一點。

noticing not just her grades

他注意到的不只是她的成績，

but also accepting her as someone with full potential.

他也接受他女兒 就跟任何人一樣有潛力的事實。

So when Linet was accepted in one of the top national high schools

所以當李菍念完八年級後， 得到全國頂尖高中的入學通知時，

after eighth grade,

Momposhi was bursting with pride

孟波胥又高興又驕傲，

and went around the village

他跑遍全村，

telling everyone how proud and how smart his daughter was.

告訴每一個人他的女兒有多聰明。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Can you imagine?

你能想像嗎？

He brought Linet to the new school himself.

他親自帶李菍去新學校入學。

It was the first time either of them had ever been to Nairobi.

那是他們第一次去到奈洛比。

Today Linet is studying at university in Australia --

李菍現在在澳洲念大學。

(Applause and cheers)

（掌聲及歡呼）

and Momposhi is our greatest advocate in the community.

孟波胥現在是我們 在地方上最大的支持者。

I also brought mothers to the table,

我同時也需要所有母親們的參與，

including my own.

包括我自己的。

That's my mother in one of our training programs.

這是我的母親參加某次的訓練課程。

And our mothers are involved in the education of their own children.

母親們參與自己孩子的教育。

I also brought grandmothers into the mix.

我還把祖母們也加了進來。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

In my community, grandmothers are the proud keepers

在我的族群裡， 祖母們是驕傲的守護者

of our stories and cultures,

守護著我們的故事及文化，

and I wanted my girls to learn and embrace our rich Maasai culture.

我要我的女孩們學習及擁抱 我們豐富的馬賽族文化。

Today, grandmothers do story time with the girls,

現在說故事時間由祖母們負責，

and it's a beautiful way our community remains connected.

用這個美麗的方式 將我們的社群連結起來。

I also ...

我同時

started working with the boys!

也開始了教育男孩們！

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

What would happen

如果男孩們在成長階段中，

if the boys grew up with the same mindset as their fathers before them?

也養成與他們上一輩一樣的心態呢？

I'll tell you, not much will change.

我說，不會對現況有改變或幫助。

So I enlisted support from an organization called I'm Worth Defending:

我得到了一個叫做 「我值得捍衛」的組織的支持，

a group of young, progressive leaders led by Alfred and George.

這是阿佛雷德及喬治帶頭的 一群年輕積極的領導者。

Together we created a training program for boys and girls

我們為那些無法上學的孩子們

who could not attend my school,

設計了一個新的訓練課程

sharing vital information about gender equality,

分享男女平等的重要觀念，

health and human rights.

以及健康還有人權方面的訊息。

Today we have reached over 10,000 boys and girls and counting.

至今我們已經推廣接觸到超過 一萬名孩童，且數字持續上升。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

It turns out it truly does take a village to make this kind of a dream come true.

結果證實，要夢想成真 的確需要動員整個村子。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

That's what you're seeing today,

這就是我們目前所看到的，

where nearly 400 girls have not gone through FGM

我的村子有將近 400 名女孩 沒有行過 FGM 割禮，

in my village,

in a region where nearly 80 percent of women have been cut.

但是在我們村子所在的地區，

還是有 80% 的女性得接受割禮。

Believe me, these girls,

相信我，這些女孩們，

they are sharing their experiences

她們將經驗分享給她們的姊妹們、

with their sisters, their cousins and their friends.

表姊妹們還有她們的朋友。

They're so interested.

她們覺得很新鮮。

Over time, this is becoming the new normal

隨著時間，這會變成一個新的常態，

and it's being embraced by the same, same community --

被同樣住在這個地區的大家接受，

my community.

我的地區，我的族群。

So what does transforming communities mean to Kenya?

所以改變社群給肯亞帶來什麼呢？

President Obama visited Kenya in 2015,

2015 年歐巴馬總統造訪肯亞，

and he met with representatives from organizations

他會見了許多組織的代表，

trying to help improve communities.

希望可以幫忙改善社群。

Guess what?

你猜怎麼樣？

He met Linet!

他見了李菍！

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Together they talked about a Kenya

他們聊到新的肯亞

where all girls have the same opportunities,

是一個女孩們有著同樣的機會的地方，

where Linet is a leader

李菍是它的領袖，

and where communities like Enoosaen are thriving

所有在這個肯亞的社群， 類似伊努賽恩的村子都蓬勃發展，

because its members --

因為這個肯亞的成員——

all its members -- have opportunities.

所有的成員——都有同樣的機會。

Helping the communities see that each daughter is a treasure,

幫助族群意識到每個女兒都是寶，

every sister is full of potential,

每個姊妹都充滿潛力，

and helping every single girl see that value in herself.

同時也幫助每個女孩認識本身的價值。

There is no limit to what that future will cost.

我們應該不計成本去 達到那個理想的肯亞。

Not every girl who comes to my school will be a PhD,

在我學校裡的女孩不見得 每個都能拿到博士學位，

but every single one of them will achieve her full potential

可是每一個都能充分發揮她的潛能，

and will become an advocate for her children

成為她的下一代最大的支持者，

and her grandchildren for years to come.

還有她的下下一代的支持者。

Today my dreams are informed by what I learned from them

今天我的夢想揉雜了 我從她們身上學到的，

and what I've learned from you.

還有我從你們身上學到的。

My journey led me out of Enoosaen and back again.

我的旅程帶我走出伊努賽恩， 又再次將我帶回伊努賽恩。

And in the process,

在這個過程中，

I was embraced by the world,

我被世界所擁抱，

and you have become my village.

你們所有人成為我的社群。

So I make a new promise to you,

我今天在此承諾，

my elders, my sisters and my friends,

對我的族輩，我的姊妹及朋友們，

that I am going to keep dreaming and keep going

我承諾會持續我的夢想，繼續努力

until girls like Linet and Faith achieve their dreams

直到像是李菍還有費絲這樣的 女孩們實現她們的夢想，

and I see mine:

那時就算達到了我的夢想：

that all communities give every single woman

所有的社群能夠給予每一個女性，

and every single girl

每一個女孩機會，

their dreams come true.

讓她們去實現她們的夢想。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause and cheers)

（掌聲與歡呼）

Thank you, thank you.

謝謝，謝謝。

(Applause and cheers)

（掌聲與歡呼）