My Journey at Music For Girls Initiative Africa.
Thomasia Lewis
I am a 19 old girl who has been with Music for girls for almost all my teenage years. In a couple months I leave the teenage years behind to begin a whole new stage of life, and I am beyond grateful I had Music for Girls; a sisterhood, a community, mentors, a woman with a dream. I am thankful I poured into and received from many phenomenal people, and got to be nurtured in such an environment at that very crucial stage of my life.
I started at Music for Girls when I was 14, I was excited but very shy due to a lot of insecurities. I was a teenager who was navigating changes, from no longer being a child to the hormones and the shift in society’s relations with me. I was angry, I was scared, I was skeptical of the World around me to a point that I questioned whether I wanted to be here at all.
Shortly after I joined, there was an event in honour of the African child, celebrating June 16. I remember that day so vividly; I had left home to come, feeling overwhelmed from something that happened at home, I was at point of tears. I got to the event and got a warm welcome from other girls and we went into costumes and other roles backstage. I was having a panick attack, my hands were sweaty, stage fright kicked in, and it was just a swell of emotions. The director and founder whom I fondly call mama – Miss Esther Michael, spotted me and looked me in the eye. She grabbed my hand and asked “Are you okay?” I looked at her and froze for a little while, the I told her yes. She looked at me and said “Are you sure?” I said no, in such a long time I felt seen. Someone saw me and cared to ask. She pulled me out of the crowd to a balcony and told me that whatever it is, and at any time at all, she is here for me. She hugged me so tight, in that moment I felt so undeserving of it, of being seen or heard or hugged. It was such a relief, like a brick was lifted off my chest, and that moment I knew I had found home.
Over the years I have become more expressive, with a very vibrant smile and laughter. Not afraid to live, to speak and be heard. I got a home and a lot of sisters to share it with. We visited people in prisons who needed help, held competitions for schools with other young kids like us, we acted on stage and sang and danced. I found a place where I feel so alive, it was like I was blossoming. I fell in love with acting and singing, Music for girls gave me a creative space where I could think and watch it become a reality. Surrounded with so much love, thinking and creating together, laughing and healing together, letting go of hurt and becoming someone who understands that she is in fact deserving of all of it.
Today I am a 19 year old, pursuing a software engineering degree, knowing fully well that this is what I want to do. That I can be in a predominantly male space and still thrive. I am a young girl who has evolved immensely, with beautiful skill sets plus a phenomenal psychological and emotional balance. A young girl who has healed from trauma and understands how to give and, very importantly, receive love. From reading books, to starting a business, and working at one of the best telecommunications companies in the country at just 18, it’s a wide range of great happenings for a girl who wouldn’t have dreamt of it.
My 13 year old self is grateful for an organisation like Music For Girls Initiative Africa, she was nurtured with so much love. To have people who will pour out themselves mentally, emotionally, and financially to ensure that young girls have a better experience of life than they did. To provide for, to love, to nurture, to correct, to guide. I don’t know what route my life would’ve taken if I didn’t have this family, this sisterhood of mine, but if I were to go back and choose I will choose the path. I have met amazing people, learned and journeyed with great minds, built friendships and found sisters for life. I have had uncles and aunties like fairy god parents, and a mama who’s held my hand ever since the beginning of all of it. My heart is very glad, and that 13 year old that was seen is now grown into one beautiful lady. I am excited for this next chapter in my life, and that I get to serve home and give back as much as I can to the many young girls that will also get to experience home.
One woman, one dream.
Hundreds if not thousands of girls, whose lives have changed forever.
Imagine how much we can do together as a world to create a safer space for every child, and how much good it will do to our world