Invite an inspiring speaker to your group!

Presentations are accompanied by slides and videos to help your viewers enter into the world of these heroic women caring for orphaned children.Learn about this unusual orphan care project in the slum community of Kibera. Explore how women and youth are empowered to rise above extreme poverty.

Possible Range of TOPICS:

An overview of the project; The importance of empowering women in developing countries; Micro-loans: the components necessary for success; Family-based care for orphaned and vulnerable children; Fundraising for small grassroots organisations; When helping becomes a barrier to success; Student Mission Trips: harmful or helpful?

Click here for more details TOPICS 

To request a speaker, click SPEAKER REQUEST

FEES:

We don’t have a specific fee for speaking to your group- we’re just thrilled to be able to share the story of Village of Love- but a small honorarium to support the project would be deeply appreciated. We can also bring some African crafts for sale, if considered appropriate.

SPEAKERS:

Click here to see full SPEAKERS’ MINI-BIOS

See synopsis of mini-bios below.

Rev. Linda Levin

Retired United Church minister. Chair of Village of Love Canada. Grew up in Africa. Leads fundraising initiative. Responsible for Communications. In regular conversation with the project founders and administrators, Andrew and Leonora Obara.

Sue Eason

Retired Social Worker, Humber College Field Coordinator and instructor with particular interest in community development, fundraising and agency administration. One of the leaders of a church youth mission trip to Kenya. Village of Love Canada Council member.

Laura Rossall

Retired teacher (from kindergarten to training student teachers at Ryerson). Visited Village of Love to lead children’s summer camp art classes. Village of Love Canada Council member.

Robyn Salter

Retired child and family health social worker at Sick Kids Hospital where she specialized in psycho-social issues of people living with HIV/AIDS. Has visited Kenya twice.  Robyn’s friendship with Leonora Obara, founder of Village of Love, sparked the formation of Village of Love Canada. A Village of Love Canada Council member since its formation.

Brenda Gibson

Retired Educator and School Principal. Much experience in resettlement and advocacy for refugees, primarily from Africa. Has visited the Kenyan project. Village of Love Canada Council mermber.

Christine Stenton

IT Project Manager. Masters in Political Economy, specializing in African Studies.  Lived and worked in E. Africa, including with the Village of Love project. Her M.A. graduate thesis focused on informal settlement upgrading. She first became interested in development through a Youth trip to Kenya while in High School.