In a recent conversation on Mwelekeo TV, host Beryl Grace had a one on one talk with Josephine Florah, a teacher who now manages education programs and founded Bright Path Kenya.
They talked about a better way to support young women, one that goes beyond just school grades and certificates.
Josephine explained that many girls in Kenya do well in class but still face big challenges later in life. The usual focus on books and exams is not enough. Young people also need skills that help them build confidence, make good choices, and stand up for themselves.
Josephine shared how her organization works with children from vulnerable families. Traditional schooling often leaves out important things like speaking clearly, working in teams, handling emotions, and learning to decide for yourself.
Bright Path Kenya tries to fill that gap through short mentorship camps held during school holidays in April, August, and December. During these camps, the children leave their usual environment and meet different professionals.
They take part in career talks, play sports, and practice communication. Josephine said these activities help ignite a spark inside the kids. One girl even wished her mother could join the sessions because she felt so free to speak openly for the first time.
The discussion described how girls in some communities are raised to stay quiet and follow instructions, especially from men.
This can lead to problems even for bright students, such as unplanned pregnancies because they struggle to say no or express their needs.
Josephine pointed out that empowerment should not ignore boys. Her programs bring both girls and boys together so they learn to see each other as equals from an early age.
This way, girls grow up knowing they can lead and make decisions without feeling limited by their gender.
Josephine also spoke about the current situation for women in leadership. In Kenya, women hold around twenty-five percent of seats in parliament. In many companies, the numbers are even lower, close to twenty percent in boardrooms and decision-making roles. While this shows some progress, she noted that women are sometimes chosen just to fill a gender quota rather than because they are seen as truly qualified.
She believes real change happens when women feel safe to share ideas, when their voices are valued, and when they are given chances based on what they can do, not just because they are women.
She drew from her own life to explain how support at home matters. Her father raised her without putting gender limits on her.
She played football with boys and was constantly told she was capable of anything. Her mother supported this too. That upbringing gave her the belief that she could try new things without fear.
Today, as she runs Bright Path Kenya, she sees many women who still doubt themselves when it comes to taking bigger roles. They feel they must work harder or prove themselves twice as much as men.
Changing deep-rooted community views is not easy. Josephine mentioned cases where local leaders openly oppose girls going far in education, leading to far more boys applying for scholarships than girls.
Her team works around this by listening first, understanding the culture, and sometimes requiring balanced applications from boys and girls to slowly shift mindsets.
The goal is to create ripple effects where empowered girls grow into women who lift others up instead of pulling them down.
The conversation touched on how mentorship helps young women find their purpose. It is not something you discover by sitting and waiting. You try different activities, learn from others, and notice what feels right. Josephine herself moved from teaching to running programs after seeing the bigger impact she could make.
She advised girls to start where they are, speak up, and put themselves out there even if they do not feel fully ready. Closed mouths, as she put it, do not get fed. Small steps like joining activities, gaining skills, and learning from failures help build the confidence needed for leadership.
Both speakers agreed that true empowerment creates space for everyone. Men and women have different strengths, and when they work together with respect, society benefits.
Parents also play a big role by teaching emotional values, showing love openly, and encouraging both sons and daughters equally.
A child raised with balanced support from both mother and father often develops stronger confidence and a healthier view of life.
The talk made it clear that helping women succeed is about building whole people who know their worth and can contribute fully, whether in families, workplaces, or leadership positions. It starts with small, practical changes in schools, homes, and communities rather than waiting for big systemic shifts.
Mwelekeo TV continues to bring such open and thoughtful conversations that help Kenyans reflect on important social issues and explore practical paths forward.
