the yes! effect - can one word change the world? yes!

Western Union has been there for people like me, making it easy to send money to cater for stuff which couldn’t be sent as easy, as cheap and as fast as sending money through Western Union! My cousin who is currently studying in the United States said yes to me, but before that Western Union said yes to him. While still doing his college application process, he was able to pay his SEVIS fee through the Western union – my first encounter with Western Union. His life is changed and now is changing mine too. I believe in Education, that’s why I’m spending my of my time now advocating for availing education for all, be it education for a little kid who needs to be thought family values, the elderly who just need to learn how to read and write or the marginalized (especially the physically challenged) who are locked out of education mainstream. It is through education that I have come to meet most of my current friends and a few people who have impacted my life. I have been able to fight for educational rights for all including inclusion in curriculum revision, tasks I wouldn’t accomplish without education. It’s in the pursuit of education that my loved cousin is now far miles away from me – a big challenge trying to live without his presence, but on the positive has been able to send me money to take care of my stuff while he is away!

Saying yes mean a lot to me, try getting a digital camera from USA to Kenya, its going to cost more than the value of the camera without guarantee you’ll ever get it, and for how long will you have to wait? But saying Yes through Western Union, I can be in a camera store, call my cousin and get the camera ‘in minutes’! Most of my work is voluntary but requires a lot of travel and special accommodation, sometimes accompanied by a guide, without somebody saying Yes to me I wouldn’t be able to achieve most of what I have accomplished or started so far and would just like many – wishing the world was a better, fair place without any action!

Today many people look at me and they see a strong woman who has stood up for what she believe is right as opposed to a girl who locked herself up for almost a year mourning the loss or her sight while opportunities pass me by. This solid ground is built on the foundation of self-belief and people saying Yes to me through Western Union. As a yes ambassador my life speaks much for itself than could be read on paper!