Start up and a big thank you!

Before heading to Kenya I had a few projects going on already. However, I got a a lot of funds raised from you guys - thank you so much. As you saw before some of the money went to the projects I already had planned for when I was there, and it made a huge impact on many peoples lives

However, it was important to me to find a long term project to invest in to create something that could actually change some people lives forever, not only in the moment.

After seeing and understanding more of the life in Kenya, it was hard to decide where to actually start helping, when you want to help everybody. Also beacaue you actually want to ensure that the money is used for its purpose.

The girls at Familia and their background had a big impact on me. To understand that there is no help to get if somebody is getting raped or abused it is sad - and sadly, this does happen a lot. There is no place for people to be taken care of in circumstances like this, or anyone to follow up the case to take the person that commited the crime- at least it is very limited. So togheter with Julie Hellon and Emily West, we decied to make the start up of a rescue center happen.
It will be a process to get it up and running, but it will happen now.
It is amazing to be a part of something that can have a important impact on peoples lives. Im very greatful that I got to meet amazing people on this trip, Julie, Lottie, Emily and Dawn, and be able to create something even more amazing with them.

I will keep you posted on the development of this. And again thank you so much to everyone that made this happen ❤️

It is been very hectic the last few days after coming home from Kenya and New York. First off, because the jetlag has been crazy. Second, my Birthday was saturday so I got an amazing surprise party from my friends! So happy!
These days I am working super hard on my presentation video which is due on Sunday. It is a lot of work to get it perfect, but that is what we want! I decided to make the video in English, so all my International friends and supporters can watch it too.
I am having so very intresting meetings with my sponsors this week and Im excited for the following months.

Today is the national women's day, and this is something that is very relevant for a Miss Norway or Miss Universe and are one of the reasons I choosed to attend Miss Norway.

In the world today it is a big difference between men and women. In most countries today men have more power than women and are seen as the strongest sex. They earn more money in the same jobs or they have more political power to mention some. After living Abroad and travelling a lot this is actually the real life of many women.

Norway has come a long way to equal the right of women and men. They both have right to the same jobs, the same education and salary. Both can take the same amount of maturnity leave. I am proud to be Norwegian in today's soceity, Where we promote equal rights for men and women.

I belive a Miss Norway has an important task by promoting this and the Norwegian culture. We need to share or culture and political perspective and fight for womens right world wide. By being a role model and an example, we can help women in other countries fight for their rights.

When I was in Africa recently, I was able to teach young girls and kids in school about the importance of education and work. Where you can follow your dream and goals and have ambitions. I told them about a life where you have the oppertunity to choose for yourself. This is something that is an of course to us Norwegians, but not to many girls around the world.

As a part of Miss Norway or as a Norwegian girl I want to be good role model and promote equal rights for men and women. Women can be and should be strong and independent and be able to take care of themselves and do what they want without anyone deciding for them.

For our last day before heading home. We were invited to the annualy Miss Prison Pagneant in Cartagena Women Prison.

The prisons here are here for many reasons, murder (often self defence for children or self because of mistreat), robbery (to provide for her familiy) or voilence (which i have no tolerance or excuses towards).

It was first a little shocking to see, so many women and white and black striped dressed and orange sweaters. It is little wierd becasue you do not know what they are there for. But the reasons they to the pagneant is to give them hope and motivation to not give up - which is a good thing.

Since there was some rumors that have went around, saying that I was participating in Miss Norway 2018, They invited me to be one of four judges. It was such an honor and i felt like a celebrity.

It was so fun to be a part of this and they had preapred a lot in advance. Some audince is allowd to attend and I think it was approcimatly 200 people there. It was very exciting and intresting to see.

Unfortunatly we were not allowed to take Any pictures beacuse there is a govermental institution and also a prison.

I am happy and thankful that I have been able to see so many differnt institutions and some many different way of living here in Africa. It has really made an impact and I dont think I am able to retun back with the same mindset I had when I came.

Saturday was our last night in Kisumu. And we wanted to make it something special for the girls we have been spending the past weeks with.
First, they took us to their school for an open day. Which was very intresting to see. But at night Emily and I made a party for them!
Beacuse of donations of clothes from our friends and from us self, we decided to create a fashion show and beauty event with the girls - something all little girls love.

These girls dont get much and do not have anyone who spoils them. So we wanted too. We had got some beautiful girls cloths and asscoiers donated and we dressed the girls up like small pricesses. We had brought glitter spray and glow sticks to really make then shine. We practiced catwalk and we had a mini Photo shoot with them. Its been a long time since i have seen so big smiles and happiness.

Another thing we did was to talk about goal and education and how important it is to work hard to reach goals. These girls are coming from nothing and need role models and dreams - we tried to be that for them and give them that. Maybe one of them will be Miss Kenya one day? We teached them that beauty is something that comes from the inside, and the most important thing in life is to have a beautiful heart.

After the motivational talk and fashion show, Emily and I was cooking for them. We had been the city around to shop for What could remind of Norwegian tacos. (Trust me, grocery shopping in Kisumu can take hours- so can cooking).
Everything eventually turned out to be a FIESTA! We danced and sang with them. And it was sad to say bye. But its not a goodbye, only until next time. We will come back.

On Friday we had a mission in the slum of Kisumu. I was surprised when I first came to Kenya how much poverty it actually is here. Sometimes when you visit a country, when it is only vaction, you dont really see the real life of a country.

We were supposed to visit a few families and see the slum life. Some of the girls that is living at Familia, the girls home I have been working at, are coming form this slum. They came from very poor circumstances. In many cases there is singel moms that need to take care of up to 6 children alone. Often the husband (if she had one) could be dead from HIV, be an alcoholic or don't be around. And the only way a mom can then feed her children and get money to provide for them all, is to get into prostitution. This will also put her in a risk of get HIV and be sick and then cant take care of her children, and will also lead to more children. Kids that loses their parents or get abandon from their families as a result of little money, become street kids. It is a very bad circle.

This is not the life of everybody in the slum, but for many it is. In families it could be living a mom, dad and 6 kids in one room. The houses are mad of mud and cow poop, and get easily ruined in bad weather. They live with no electircity and have so limited resources. It is hard to belive this is their everyday life.

We bought a lot of groceries and gave it to all the families we could. They were very thankful. That kind of action may not solve long-term problems, but it does make a difference in their life for a few days. It gives them some home and a little more to live for.
We also bought some candy and ballons for the kids to play with - They loved it.

I am still overwhelmed about the life we saw in the slum and it has made huge impact. I can not come back to Norway and not think about this. I dont know what to do for now, but something needs to be done for these people.

Love,
R