Every once in a while I am asked where Beatrice is now.
Wendy Stone the photographer for this book I wrote after visiting Kenya sees Beatrice about once a year.
Here is what she has to say:
I see Beatrice every
year and I am in close contact with her via email. I am going to Kenya
in February and I will be seeing her then.
She is doing so well. She graduated
from Utali Hospitality School last year, after a two year course in
cooking and hotel hospitality.
She was unable to be accepted in
University for nursing or teaching since
her high school grades were
not high enough.
Considering her background, she is incredibly
accomplished. She and I visited many schools
together and she decided
that Utali was the best choice for her.
Her story continues to be
truly amazing. Shortly after she graduated,
the terrorists El Shabab,
started attacks in Kenya.
All tourists cancelled their trips to Kenya.
In addition to that, Ebola broke out in West Africa,
so most people
who had planned to visit Africa,
cancelled their trips. Many hotels have
now closed and thousands of Kenyans,
who worked in the
tourist/travel/hotel industry,
are now unemployed. So Beatrice was
unable to find a job.
She made a very smart decision to go back to
school again and is now
taking a two year course at Moi University.
Check back for recent photographs of Beatrice and
more about her story when Wendy returns from Kenya
in February.
In the meantime see what Wendy Stone has
been doing in her photo workshops with
young girls in Kenya. www.wendystonephotography.blogspot.com