As a classmate and I were discussing our final reactions to Odede/Posner, one thing that we were both wondering about was where SHOFCO is today. Through some quick internet research, we were able to answer this question. There is one video of a SHOFCO student walking through Kibera, and the effect of the crisp, colorful uniforms in contrast to the somewhat bleak surroundings evokes exactly what it was meant to—the little girls are beacons of hope for their whole communities. One interesting thing we found out was that Jessica no longer works for SHOFCO, but Kennedy is still the CEO. Also, we were wondering what SHOFCO’s plan was for students that age out, because it is hard to believe that they would leave them to face the world without the support they may have grown accustomed to, especially considering Kennedy’s experiences with members of religious communities who would help him and then leave. Based on the website, it seems like SHOFCO has expanded through 8th grade.
From the story itself, I would have loved to know more about the day-to-day of running SHOFCO, and also about Jessica’s time in Kibera. We get a lot of information about how she adjusts, and what she learns, but I am curious to know what she was actually doing, and more about how her program ties into the work she was doing in Kibera.
As for Jessica’s character, I think that her writing is trying a little too hard to emphasize that she is not a “white savior” figure, but as a result, she comes off as very naïve. It is a very fine and difficult line, and probably not a concrete one, but overall, Jessica is clearly an amazing person, who has dedicated her life to great work. Kennedy is the main hero of the story, and his first-hand account of the horrors he has witnessed is the most important narrative, but I get the impression that they underscore Jessica’s involvement a little too much. For example, they casually mention some awards that she wins that probably deserved some more appreciation. Based on her own accomplishments, she is probably not as naïve as she comes off, and it is hard to believe that she didn’t do the necessary research to understand what she was getting into. I would have loved some insight into her decision to study abroad in Kenya in the first place.
As I mentioned in another reflection, I would love to know more about the history of Kibera, and how slums developed around Nairobi. I also would have loved to hear more about Kennedy’s education here at Wesleyan. What did he major in? What kind of classes did he take? I do, however, understand that this is probably an interest specific to Wesleyan students, and probably would not add to the impact of the book itself. Also, knowing that there are people at Wesleyan with similar stories is very inspiring. I would love the opportunity to get to know any of these people, and to hear their stories, if they were willing to share.
My main takeaway from this book is inspiration from Kennedy, and hope for grassroots organizing. The sheer number of grassroots organizations doing amazing and necessary work all over the world is quite daunting, which can make it difficult to find specific groups doing the kind of work one wants to support, so I am very grateful for the opportunity to have learned about Kennedy’s story and SHOFCO.
