Find Me Unafraid tells the uncommon love story between two uncommon people whose collaboration sparked a successful movement to transform the lives of vulnerable girls and the urban poor. With a Foreword by Nicholas Kristof.This is the story of two young people from completely different worlds: Kennedy Odede from Kibera, the largest slum in Africa, and Jessica Posner from Denver, Colorado. … Denver, Colorado. Kennedy foraged for food, lived on the street, and taught himself to read with old newspapers. When an American volunteer gave him the work of Mandela, Garvey, and King, teenaged Kennedy decided he was going to change his life and his community. He bought a soccer ball and started a youth empowerment group he called Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO). Then in 2007, Wesleyan undergraduate Jessica Posner spent a semester abroad in Kenya working with SHOFCO. Breaking all convention, she decided to live in Kibera with Kennedy, and they fell in love.Their connection persisted, and Jessica helped Kennedy to escape political violence and fulfill his lifelong dream of an education, at Wesleyan University.
The alchemy of their remarkable union has drawn the support of community members and celebrities alike—The Clintons, Mia Farrow, and Nicholas Kristof are among their fans—and their work has changed the lives of many of Kibera’s most vulnerable population: its girls. Jess and Kennedy founded Kibera’s first tuition-free school for girls, a large, bright blue building, which stands as a bastion of hope in what once felt like a hopeless place. But Jessica and Kennedy are just getting started—they have expanded their model to connect essential services like health care, clean water, and economic empowerment programs. They’ve opened an identical project in Mathare, Kenya’s second largest slum, and intend to expand their remarkably successful program for change.
Ultimately this is a love story about a fight against poverty and hopelessness, the transformation made possible by a true love, and the power of young people to have a deep impact on the world.
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1/24/21 – A really interesting story taking place in Nairobi’s biggest slum. The story is told from two perspectives, Kennedy’s and Jessica’s, which eventually intertwine. The story of how Kennedy grew up, and the horrors he faced, coupled with everything he accomplishes are absolutely amazing.
If you want to know real problems and real issues and real people solving them, read this book.
Perseverance and commitment to improve on overwhelming poverty with an amazing and lasting path starting with one youngster.
I’m not sure actually. It is a very realistic look at Nairobi’s slums, which I have visited. But it is also a very personal story about two young people. And it was worth reading, although it did not grip me like it should have, Maybe that was just me.
This is a story about helping others.
I found this book so inspiring! It amazed me to see a person like Kennedy lift himself from a place of so much pain and abuse to become such a powerful leader for his people. I believe we all have something to give and this story shows the power of serving others to heal yourself. As a white woman I have often felt burdened by the privileges I have been raised in and the shame of the ways that white colonizers have oppressed people of color. I feel that Jessica’s service is helping to heal the wounds of colonialism and I pray that both will have much success in their work.
An unlikely young couple and their amazing accomplishments
This was one of my all-time favorite books! It was fast-paced, eye-opening & highly inspirational!
This book is about hope no matter how dire the situation and the power of community. You will cry, laugh, cheer and hope on this couple’s incredible story.
I thought it was an excellent portrayal of current world events and it’s issues of human welfare.
Definitely a very rewarding story that restores your faith in humanity. A good read for anyone.
A well written unsentimental account of 2 people making a difference in the world. This story should have a wide audience. I admire Jessica Posner and Kennedy Odede deeply. Their love story along with their accomplishments helping their community are amazing. Not only is it a window into their personal lives, but a window into life in a Kenyan slum. Disadvantaged doesn’t begin to describe the circumstances of the inhabitants.
What a story ! Amazing couple, unbelievable hardships. Helps expand ones world view for sure
Unexpected great read. Starts a bit slow, but certainly held my interest and had me rooting for the two lead characters and their work with the poor in Africa.
It shows what can be done when a person has a dream and the stamina to make it come true.
This is a true story about Jessica and Kennedy’s love story. In part one Jessica seemed to be trying to paint herself as the brave, spunky heroine. But to me, she was foolish, naive and took dangerous chances. When she insisted on living in the slum with Kennedy, a community activist, she put herself in danger and caused him great inconvenience.
In part two, she redeemed herself in my eyes and truly became the heroine. The book is well worth reading. I would have given it 5 stars had it not been for being turned off by Jessica’s depiction of herself in part one.
I absolutely loved this book. It has restored my faith in humanity.
Amazing eye opening inspirational story of love. And how much it can do to change lives.
Amazing to read what one couple have accomplished under extremely difficult circumstances.
Inspiring and challenging, the story of this unlikely pairing of a college girl from Denver and a young man from Nairobi’s largest slum is extraordinary. We’ll written and not sugar coated, the realities of their bond, the obstacles they faced and the trajectory of hope makes this a great read. I learned so much and feel very connected to their journey.