NAIROBI, Kenya — There was some trepidation from the U.S. Department of State on NCUA traveling to Kenya given the unrest in certain parts of Africa, but those fears were quickly extinguished when NCUA Vice Chairman Rodney Hood and Policy Advisor Carlton Hoskins arrived in Nairobi.
"We saw a complete antithesis of what is shown in the media. We saw folks that have hope and inspiration," said Hood, who first traveled to Africa shortly after college during a missionary trip to build churches. "It was the most incredible experience and it ran counter to everything we may think about Africa."
During one of the highlights of his trip, Hood spoke with young African students during a workshop hosted by the $2.5 billion United Nations Federal Credit Union, which has a liaison office in Kenya. The youth live in Kibera, one of the largest "slums" in the world with one million residents, Hood said. One youngster had started a community newspaper while another group formed a private garbage collection company. It moved Hood to see that the youth in Kibera believed economic empowerment was indeed achievable.
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Despite the poverty surrounding them, "they're not sitting around saying 'woe is me,'" said Hood, who spoke to nearly 100 people at the workshop. "We talked about economic empowerment and they talked about some of the things they would like to see [happen in Kibera]."
Hood praised United Nations FCU for taking the Kibera youth under its wing. The credit union is currently building a soccer field as an outlet for the youngsters to channel their energies and has created the Kilimanjaro Initiative, a hiking trip that aims to build teamwork and instill a sense of accomplishment.
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