Hello! My name is Tor.

In 2014, I met a remarkable young woman named Farida. We were both students at a folkehøgskole in Gjøvik, Norway — a unique school focused on music and performance arts. That year changed many of our lives, but perhaps none more so than Farida’s.

She was the only international student at the school, having come all the way from Nairobi, Kenya. Despite being far from home, Farida brought warmth, humor, and a fresh perspective on what it means to shape the life you’re given. Over the course of that year, we became friends — and I had the privilege of witnessing the very beginning of Farida’s journey and the birth of what would become the Farida Girls Foundation.

Before returning to Kenya, Farida was encouraged by our teachers to take everything she had learned — not just about art and performance, but about leadership, courage, and change — and use it to make a meaningful difference. And she did.

Shortly after returning home, she founded Farida Girls Foundation — a grassroots initiative dedicated to empowering girls in her community through education, mentorship, and creative expression. What began as a spark of inspiration in a small Norwegian town has grown into a beacon of hope for many young girls in Kenya.

Now, Farida needs our help.

The past 10 years have been filled with progress, challenges, and constant evolution. Farida has worked tirelessly to serve her community, and she’s come a long way in realizing her dream. But for the foundation to keep growing and impacting more lives, she can’t do it alone.

Let’s support Farida — and the many young girls she reaches — by donating to the foundation.

We’re raising funds to help Farida Girls Foundation expand its work in these key areas:

Empowerment of Adolescent Girls and Young Women

Promoting gender equality, leadership skills, and self-confidence to help girls realize their potential and become active, empowered voices in their communities.

Menstrual Hygiene Management and Dignity

Breaking taboos around menstruation and providing access to menstrual health products, education, and safe spaces — helping young women stay in school and live with dignity.

Performing Arts and Skills Development

Using creative platforms like music, dance, and theater to nurture talent, build essential life skills, and create economic opportunities for youth.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR)

Educating girls and young women about their sexual and reproductive health rights, supporting informed decision-making, and fighting stigma around SRHR topics.

In addition to program development, funds will also go toward:

By contributing to this fundraiser, you’re not just donating money — you’re investing in a vision born thousands of miles away that’s now changing lives on the ground. You’re helping a generation of girls believe in themselves, their futures, and their power to lead change — just like Farida did.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for your support.