You have probably heard me mention my Kenyan partner, Juanita Opot, aka Madhe (“mother” in Sheng). She is our Kenyan Country Director, and together we co-founded the JCO Children's Home. Without her generosity, wisdom, connections, and dedication, Restore Humanity would not have accomplished nearly as much as we have. She is the key to our success
How we met and joined forces in this work is a story you may already know, but if you are a newbie or need a refresher, then take a few minutes to watch our Tale of Two Women video. Our partnership, mutual respect, love for each other, and dedication to our kiddos at the JCO have been the foundation on which Restore Humanity has grown and strengthened over the years.
We had known each other for almost a decade before she invited me to come to Kenya to work together and open a children's home. My first trip to Sirembe was in 2007, and now, almost 20 years later, I have spent years of my life there. It is very much my second home, and Madhe is very much my second mother.
She is also a mother to her 6 wonderful children, all of the kiddos at the JCO, and so many more. Madhe is a respected elder in her community, and her front door is always open and often full of people coming to her for wisdom or advice or to ask if she can help them. What blows my mind is that no matter how tired or busy she is, she always takes time to sit and listen and help however she can. She treats everyone with dignity and respect and, in return, is one of the most revered members of her community.
She may be patient and respectful, but she is no pushover; she can spot a lie faster than anyone I have ever met. Everyone knows that they'd better have their story correct before coming to her. In fact, I can't even tell you the number of times someone has asked me for money, or if I could buy them something, and it is usually paired with a dramatic story about how bad things are for them or their children. I listen and then say, “You should really talk to Madhe about that,” and their reaction tells me everything I need to know about just how serious the need actually is.
Madhe is loving, kind, and warm, but she has no time for nonsense, and that combination might be my favorite thing about her. I am like that too, but she is next level. That is just one of the ways in which she has mentored me, and countless others. She was a primary school teacher in Nairobi for 22 years and loved her work, but after working with her for the past 20 years I can say that she is an exceptional leader and could have succeeded in just about anything she put her mind to. Her community knows this about her too, which is why she serves on advisory boards for everything from her church, to the local clinic, to multiple high schools in the area. Her role on these boards is almost always treasurer because her reputation for using money only for the mission at hand is well known. Her integrity is something I can personally attest to as well.
Her calm, steady presence and the fact that she is ten steps ahead of anyone she is talking to are equally impressive qualities. Let's just say you wouldn't want to play chess with her! Her keen political acumen and emotional intelligence are innate skills that have served Restore Humanity and our benefactors well. Having Mrs. Opot as my partner, my second mother, my mentor, and one of my closest friends has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. Our partnership over the past 20 years has made all of our work possible.
Yesterday was International Women's Day, and there is no more deserving woman to highlight and celebrate. She wakes up every day, thanks God, and then spends the day caring for others and making the world a better place. She is a phenomenal woman and a godsend to everyone who knows her. We love her dearly and are so thankful for the blessing she is in our lives.
Happy International Women's Day to you all! Celebrate yourselves and all of the wonderful women in your life today and every day! And remember to support other women--one of the best ways to do that is to provide maxi-pads for Kenyan school girls. We are trying to raise enough to provide 1000 girls with year-round period protection by the end of this month, and we are almost halfway there! Check out our Support Other Women Period campaign and join us!