- The conference marked a significant milestone in the global pursuit of civility, equality and collaboration.
- By fostering a community with civility, she noted that the domino effect would be an environment where everyone thrives and unleashes their full potential.
- Through their interactions, the civility icons sowed the seeds of inspiration, fostering a sense of hope and empowerment as they showcased their genuine commitment to cultural understanding, bridging gaps and creating a sense of unity among diverse communities.
In a remarkable event that highlighted the power of civility and empathy, influential leaders from around the world came together in Nairobi, Kenya, to address the crucial issue of menstrual health and support young girls, particularly in leadership.
This ground-breaking initiative not only aimed to break the silence and revert the ignorance surrounding menstruation but also provided much-needed sanitary products to underprivileged school-going girls.
The five-day long tour in Nairobi commenced on July 14, 2023, with an elegant gala held at Trademark Hotel, setting the tone for a weekend of impactful discussions and actions.
With the gala as a remarkable prelude, the conference marked a significant milestone in the global pursuit of civility, equality and collaboration.
Promoting civility, positive change
The following day, the conference unfolded, gathering renowned leaders and authors who have dedicated their lives to promoting civility and transforming societies using the 4Cs (Civility, Community, Creativity and Climate Change).
Dr. Anana Phifer-Derilhomme, a trailblazing World Civility Ambassador, transformational woman leader and Founder of BlessedGirl Global, pioneered the tour and led the conversation on civility.
Her unwavering dedication to championing the rights of young people, exclusively young girls, stems from the profound understanding that despite their tremendous potential, young girls and women face significant challenges and marginalization.
“At BlessedGirl, we are all about young people; more importantly, our girls, and young women. They are typically the most marginalized yet they have the most impact on our community and our future,” said the visionary leader.
She noted that in today’s increasingly interrelated world, the value of civility has never been more critical.
Recognizing its profound effect on society, Dr. Phifer-Derilhomme, a distinguished leader and world-renowned civility advocate, passionately championed the significance of the 4 Cs in our daily lives.
“The 4 Cs is really about giving a voice and giving a platform for young people and young girls and women to speak, to be the experts, to dialogue, and to create sustainable change,” she says.
She insisted that the youth have to be involved and have leaders get their perspective entirely in different decision-making processes that include them in their respective countries.
As she exhorted young people to embrace civility, Dr. Phifer-Derilhomme was joined by two esteemed authors, Tamia Louissant and Tamika Thomas, who have contributed to the first and second editions of the 4 Cs framework, respectively.
Through their experiences and insights, these distinguished speakers shared inspiring stories, strategies, and practical steps to enhance civility and make societies better for everyone.
Championing decent menstrual health
Recognizing the challenges faced by young girls in Kenya, the leaders organized a donation drive for sanitary pads similar to another held before, which saw the initiative reach approximately 3,000 Kenyan girls in secondary schools.
Their generous contributions allowed for the provision of essential menstrual supplies to a girls’ school in Makueni, a region where access to such resources is often limited.
Among the guests honored to drive the conversation on Menstrual Health and Hygiene was Carol Tudor, a Kenyan Champion for menstrual health and the visionary Founder of Talitha Teens Foundation.
Ms. Tudor emphasized the urgent need to break the silence and dismantle the stigma surrounding bedeviling and menstrual health.
“Our period is such a natural process in our bodies. It affects you mentally, your self-esteem, affects you in class and also affects your social life because you don’t feel so good about yourself,” she noted in her address.
As the founder of the Talitha Teens Foundation, Ms. Tudor explains the need to break the stigma collaboratively so that when a girl stains her clothes in school, she is not stigmatized but rather covered by her peers without discrimination.
“Availing the products is not just sanitary pads; you touch the self-esteem of the girl, her mental wellness and her confidence,” she said.
Jane Kamau, the Founder of the Burundi Community Outreach Mission (BCOM), in her remarks at the conference, stated that through her collaboration with BlessedGirl, the BCOM has become a beacon of hope for young girls by demonstrating the power of education, community engagement and empowerment.
“Through BlessedGirl, we are able to reach out to many girls now. They are more determined and I can assure you that most of them have finished high school and excelled,” the woman leader stated.
In Burundi, BlessedGirl Global has an outreach program donating pads and panties to over 300 girls.
A promising outlook
Dr. Phifer-Derilhomme pressed the need to invest and help create the leader in the young girls to keep the promise of a brighter future ahead.
“We have mentored and we continue to work with young people; our future is looking bright, looking real, and is real bright,” the civility leader expressed enthusiastically.
While giving her address on how to forge forward collaboratively, Pastor Koatiki Anderson recognized the power of creativity to uplift others.
She implored the young leaders present to harness the power of their words and beliefs moving forward by speaking positivity and purpose into existence, thus creating a ripple effect of change within their communities.
“Don’t forget about your community; go back and help somebody else up. Because that is where your blessings come from,” she stated.
By fostering a community with civility, she noted that the domino effect would be an environment where everyone thrives and unleashes their full potential.
Further, Anderson embodied the spirit of giving back to the community and harnessing their innate potential to transform their communities.
“You never leave your community abandoned, you should go back and do the same thing that we’re doing for you here. What you learned here, let it be a domino effect; go back and lift somebody else up,” she concluded.
In the realm of civility, Kenya has a bright future as Ms. Tudor’s invaluable contributions in the third edition of The 4 Cs will enrich the framework, ensuring that it resonates with the diverse audiences of Kenya and beyond.
Dr. Phifer-Derilhomme disclosed that Ms. Tudor will be among the young leaders whose insights on civility will be referenced within the pages of the forthcoming masterpiece.
Fostering a supportive community
The conference successfully cultivated an environment of open dialogue and collaboration.
During the five-day visit by BlessedGirl Global, they embarked on a transformative journey, fostering meaningful connections with the local community and laying the groundwork for comprehensive support.
One of the notable highlights was their interaction with girls from Huruma Girls in Makueni on Sunday as they rolled out their donations of pads and panties.
Additionally, Dr. Phifer-Derilhomme promised to continue with the visits as a demonstration of their dedication as a foundation to uplifting young girls and women in the country.
Through their interactions, they sowed the seeds of inspiration, fostering a sense of hope and empowerment as they showcased their genuine commitment to cultural understanding, bridging gaps and creating a sense of unity among diverse communities.
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Other transformational leaders and delegates accompanying Dr. Phifer-Derilhomme were Ronnise White, a certified spiritual life coach; Cecile Clark; Gabriella Wayman; Dr. Tamika Thomas, an author of the second edition of the 4 Cs; Tamia Louissant, co-author in the first edition of the 4 Cs; Tara Louissant and Lekeita Alexander.
