Charity offers help to women in Kenya
EVERYONE knows there is suffering in the world, but only a very small number have the motivation to do something.
Gold Coast woman Carey Westwood is one of the determined few, starting a charity called Manasprings that helps women living in poverty in Kenya.
“Experiencing what it is for someone living in poverty, actually seeing it first hand, challenged me living back here on the Gold Coast,” Ms Westwood said.
“Experiencing those difficult hardships, while at the same time being in the home of beautiful, generous, poor people, the beauty of that, I saw in them.”
More than 20 years ago Ms Westwood went on a volunteering trip to the African nation. She says she returned a different person.
“You often hear Africa touches your heart. And for years, that’s what that trip was. That’s how I felt,” she said.
“I would come back home, fundraise and go back over (to Kenya).
“I was helping people in inner-city Nairobi, and that just grew. I wanted to continue the work I was doing part-time in to full-time.”
Now spending most of the year in Kenya, Ms Westwood runs a charity called Manasprings that helps to connect and inspire women facing hardship in the developing country.
“I would always see women living in the innercity slums, living in remote, rural areas of Kenya. They were the ones who were very compassionate and caring, helping people who were vulnerable and marginalised.
“Those women were in need. The burden was always carried by women.
“I run Manasprings events. (The women) hopefully always in a green space, away from the inner city slums.
“I say ‘come to Manasprings. It’s a time when you will be refreshed in body, mind and spirit’. It’s a safe space where women can share their own stories of burden, challenges, overcoming hardship.”
Despite her home and family being in Australia, Ms Westwood said stories of adversity inspired her to continue helping the women who never asked for help themselves. “Miriam had shared her story, her husband had just passed away, with her own children and 45 orphaned and vulnerable children they looked after,” Ms Westwood said.
“A lovely lady has a daycare centre for many of the women who have to work in prostitution. She cares for their kids. It’s the common experiences, collective wisdom, learning from one another is really important.
“Working with those who are living in poverty, I hope it’s taught me to be more grateful for what I do have in this country.”