Title: Find Me Unafraid: Love, Loss, and Hope in an African Slum
Author: Kennedy Odede
First published October 13, 2015
272 pages, Hardcover
Rating: 4.48
Overview
Find Me Unafraid is a touching account of two people who discovered love and purpose in the most unlikely of places. Kennedy Odede grew up in Kibera, Africa’s largest slum, where he had to forage for food and teach himself to read.
But with the help of Mandela, Garvey, and King, he was determined to change his life and make a difference in his community. Jessica Posner, a Wesleyan undergraduate from Denver, met Kennedy while working with his youth empowerment group.
Against all odds, they fell in love and embarked on a journey to transform Kibera. Together, they founded Kibera’s first tuition-free school for girls, providing hope and a brighter future for the most vulnerable members of their community.
With the support of celebrities and community members, they have expanded their model to Mathare, Kenya’s second-largest slum. Find Me Unafraid is a story of love, resilience, and the power of young people to make a difference in the world.
Editoral Review
Find Me Unafraid: Love, Loss, and Hope in an African Slum, written by Kennedy Odede and published on October 13, 2015, is a memoir that recounts the unimaginable journey of a man who grew up in poverty and rose to become a community leader, empowering his people to believe in their own strength and potential. Odede is a Kenyan activist and entrepreneur who founded Shining Hope for Communities, a social service organization that has changed the lives of thousands of people in Kibera, one of the biggest slums in Africa.
In this book, Odede tells his story and the story of his wife, Jessica Posner, an American student who, after studying abroad in Kenya, came back to live in the slum with Odede to help him build a school and a community center. The book is a memoir, but it is also a love story, a political manifesto, and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
It is a gripping read that provides a rare glimpse into the daily struggles and triumphs of people who live in extreme poverty, but who refuse to give up hope. The plot of the book follows Odede and Posner’s journey as they navigate the challenges of building a school and a community center in Kibera, in the face of corruption, violence, and prejudice.
They have to fight against the odds, but they also have to learn to listen to the people they are trying to help and to respect their cultural traditions. One of the strengths of the book is the depth of the characters.
Odede and Posner are complex and multifaceted, and their relationship is portrayed with honesty and nuance. The supporting characters are also well-developed, and the reader gets a sense of the community as a whole, with its joys and sorrows, its diversity and its unity.
The writing is engaging and descriptive, and the pacing is just right. The book flows smoothly, and the reader is drawn into the story from the first page.
The themes of the book are universal, and they resonate with readers from all walks of life. Love, loss, hope, resilience, and social justice are all explored in a way that is both poignant and uplifting.
The book also has historical and cultural significance, as it sheds light on the realities of life in a slum, and on the efforts of social activists to make a difference. It is an inspiring example of what can be achieved when people work together, across cultures and borders, to create a better world.
One limitation of the book is that it is somewhat one-sided. While Odede and Posner’s efforts are admirable, some of the criticisms of their work are not fully explored.
There is also a lack of context about the broader social and political issues that affect Kibera and other slums in Africa. Overall, however, Find Me Unafraid is a masterfully written book that deserves a wide readership.
It is a must-read for anyone interested in social justice, international development, or the human experience in general. It is a testament to the power of love and hope to overcome even the most daunting challenges.
On a scale of one to five, I would give the book a solid four. The writing is excellent, the characters are compelling, and the themes are universal.
The only drawback is the lack of balance in the portrayal of Odede and Posner’s work. Nonetheless, this book is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of working together to create a better world.
