David Omondi, An Advocate for Girls in Kenya

by | Jul 9, 2016 | Archive

Born and raised in a Western Kenyan slum, grantee David Omondi knows first-hand what it’s like growing malnourished, how it feels living in a single room with his whole family, and the difficulties of trying focus on completing school work in a crowded and often unsanitary environment. Despite these challenges, David graduated from school then went on to earn a scholarship to pursue a Medical Biochemistry Degree from the University of Nairobi. Upon completing his education, David chose to take his gifts and skills back home, to make a difference for those less fortunate-those barely surviving, but still hoping for a better life.
David started Akili Library and Information Technology center in fall of 2010, and Akili Preparatory School for Girls in Jan 2012 and has seen the growth of his planted seeds through the expansion of the library and the school over the years into a center of excellence supporting 85 underprivileged girls and adding 15 more every year as the school expands.
In 2014 David was awarded a seed grant from TPP for his Girls for Girls Digital Skills Project, where he is working to digitally connecting the girls of the Obunga Neighborhood with students at the Columbus School for Girls in Ohio, providing interactive lessons on health, sanitation, math and art. Columbus students make the lessons with youth-friendly programming software, which the students at Akili Library use to make their own simulations and games.
Recently, David shared that Akili School for Girls had won the 2016 Patricia Monaghan Grant of $5,000 from Sunflower Foundation Australia for providing a safe haven outside the slums for students, including support for food and uniforms for its student. With this grant, David will be able to build showers for students who have had to shower outside (which is dangerous for young girls), and be able to utilize the recycled grey water for operating the school’s eco-toilets, its biogas digester, which creates energy from the toilet waste and chicken manure to provide fuel for the school kitchen, and with irrigation of its vegetable garden. This environmental vision was inspired in part by David’s work on our application review team.
“When I was reviewing the Kenya docket Applications in April, I was so inspired by Pauline Murithi’s Fruit and Tree project  that sought to plant fruit trees in schools to improve nutrition for pupils and generate income for the community through sale of surplus, while enhancing the capacity of school going children to initiate and promote environmental conservation initiatives in their schools and homes, that I decided to start an Environment Club at Akili School and do the same.”
I love seeing grantees inspiring other grantees, cross-pollinating through sharing their journeys, networking, and of course adding more value to our TPP Family by joining us in the grant making process as Advisors, Ambassadors and Flow Funders!

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In our first episode, our Natasha Reilly-Moynihan meets Tracy Glover of @sweetpeepsmicrosanctuary, a haven for chickens rescued from animal agriculture. Tracy shares the transformative journey of these sentient beings from being seen as mere food to recognized as unique individuals with their own stories. 

This series aims to showcase the ripple effect of TPP's seed grants through powerful narratives of change and compassion. Tune in to be inspired and to see the world from a new, hopeful perspective.

Watch it now and let us know iff you like it 🧡👇
Please, meet Maida Šabeta-Lemajić , our Heartivist of the Week!

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a landmark document from 1948, marked a pivotal moment for humanity by acknowledging inherent rights for all individuals, regardless of origin or circumstance. However, while humans have seen progress in safeguarding their rights, the same cannot be said for other inhabitants of the planet. Maida Šabeta-Lemajić, a passionate advocate for animal welfare, is tirelessly working alongside the Global Animal Law GAL Association to extend universal protection to all sentient beings.

Born and raised in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Maida's journey into animal advocacy began during her college years when she discovered the pervasive issue of animal cruelty. Since then, she has been instrumental in shaping animal protection laws in her country, leading to significant reforms such as banning animals in circuses and curtailing animal experimentation.

Maida's dedication to animal welfare has taken her to various organizations, including PETA Germany and Cruelty Free International. However, it is her involvement with the Global Animal Law GAL Association that has allowed her to pursue her dream of enacting global animal protection laws. Under the leadership of figures like Dr. h.c. Antoine F. Goetschel, the association is working towards establishing the United Nations Convention on Animal Health and Protection (UNCAHP), a monumental initiative aimed at legally safeguarding animals worldwide. 

Maida and her team are spearheading efforts to raise awareness and garner support for the UNCAHP through initiatives like video production and outreach campaigns. With support from organizations like The Pollination Project, they aim to amplify their message and build a global coalition for animal rights. 

Read the interview on our website [https://thepollinationproject.org] 

@global_animal_law_gal
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🌱 Introducing the Healthy Hands Initiative (HHI) 🌱

Born from fieldwork in Jharkhand, #India, the HHI saw a need for sustainable water solutions. With a $1,000 grant from the Pollination Project, HHI is installing Afridev hand pumps in Siyaljori village, ensuring year-round access to clean water. Through community feedback surveys and long-term maintenance plans, HHI aims to break the cycle of poverty and disease, one drop at a time. 

@hhinitiative
#WorldWaterDay #waterforall #humanrights