A group of women from Bedford’s Kenyan community are holding an event on Saturday (12 August) to celebrate their organisation’s first anniversary.
The group, Victorious Women, came together initially as a way of supporting each other through a bereavement. However, a year ago the members decided to formalise the group to empower Bedford’s Kenyan women and the wider community.
Over the last 12 months, the group has hosted and celebrated various occasions within the community from milestone birthdays for their more senior members to weddings, graduations and traditional blessings.
Victorious Women’s June Kuria said that the group’s mission statement was: “We believe in the impossible, we are conquerors through faith, action and embodying our role as women.”
She said: “We empower one another, uplift others, celebrate ourselves and support one another during hardships.
“We are ultimately building a legacy to be proud of. Because the idea is not to live forever but to create something that will.”
The anniversary event will take place from 5pm on Saturday 12 August at the Mercure Hotel and anyone from the Bedford community is welcome to attend.
The dinner event features guest speakers including the former mayor of Luton, Maria Lovell MBE, the director of Bedfordshire Police’s Violence and Exploitation Reduction Unit, Kimberley Campbell-Lamb and Lynn Ngugi, CEO and founder of the LNN Network.
Speaking ahead of the event, Kimberly Campbell-Lamb told the Bedford Independent: “I am honoured to be joining several incredible women at the Victorious Women anniversary event as a guest speaker.
“We are currently navigating through a time where more than ever, women are able to pursue anything they desire. Equally, campaigns in support of a woman’s right to feel safe in the community and respected in the workplace have never been so prevalent.
“As a Black female, working within policing for more than 30 years, I consider it a privilege to share my lived experiences with the next generation.
“Not just to be heard, but to show young women that they can. Though it may come with challenge, they can indeed achieve their goals and leave a mark.”
Issalina Njeri a graduate teacher who has been supported by Victorious Women said: “They single-handedly gave me the incentive to pursue my dreams knowing that I had a team of people giving me love and support throughout.
“In addition to this, they have inspired me and shown me the true meaning of womanhood and for that I am eternally grateful.”
There are a limited number of tickets still available to the event. The cost is £30 and includes dinner and refreshments. You can book your place at the link here.
