Meet Naomi: The Leo Project’s Social Worker.
Naomi has been with TLP since February 2020. She came to The Leo Project after finishing school at Daraja Academy, while looking for a position where she can fully utilize her acquired skillset and expertise.
An astrological Leo herself, Naomi is someone who loves to talk, share stories, and make genuine connections with others. Growing up, Naomi was fortunate to receive help from teachers and mentors. This is her inspiration to be a social worker, coming from a poor background, Naomi says that if no one had checked up on her, she wouldn’t be where she is today.
“I want to give back the same thing that I was given.”
This is why Naomi loves being a social worker; she can give back to the community and inspire girls. She has recently taken on a new role as a part of our new Girl Boss initiative with partner organization, Launch GURLs. In her role as a Girl Boss Advisor, Naomi will be helping to keep girls on track and provide support throughout each level of the program. Her favorite part of this position is openly interacting with the girls.When the girls aren’t afraid to get involved, share, and ask questions, that’s when Naomi can really get to know them personally and make genuine connections.
Naomi’s philosophy is to look at the girl as a whole. Ever since she began working in February, when she sits down with the girls that come to her, she looks not only at academic excellence, but at all of the factors that play into the girls’ lives, including their relationships. One point that she stresses is the importance of the mother-daughter relationship, which she always takes into consideration when working with women. For example, ever since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many girls are at home with their families more than they ever have been, which can lead to those relationships becoming strained or hurt. Recently, Naomi had a counseling session with a girl whose mother had become abusive. For girls who cannot move out of the house, situations like these may cause them to look for alternative solutions that will allow them to leave the home, such as marriage. Through direct work with the girl and her parents, Naomi was able to foster communication amongst the family leading to healthier relationships.
As a social worker, Naomi is able to apply her own experiences and education to help disadvantaged community members. A natural storyteller and writer, Naomi has a talent to make genuine connections with people, which fuels Naomi’s passion to improve the lives of girls and women.
Where do you seek inspiration?
Books and self development talks. I get inspired when I change my environment and connect to nature. Creating a visionary board, looking at my life or a situation in a bigger picture or in some years later.
How do you stay grounded?
I maintain balance through meditation, deep breathing, positive affirmations. Just being really mindful.
Who do you admire and why?
I admire Oprah Winfrey. We share a background (impoverished) and I am encouraged of how successful and generous she is despite her miserable childhood. We share a trait of generosity and giving back to the community including the quest to be meaningful or live a purposeful life.
How do you start your day? Coffee or tea?
Wake up early
Gratitude for a beautiful day
Make bed
Brush teeth
Drink lemon water
Stretch, exercise
Meditate
Make and eat breakfast, tea mostly
Favorite book or podcast?
It is hard to really name one but "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent is my favorite now. I just read it last month and I love it. I love Oprah Winfrey's Super Soul podcasts, I started listening to podcasts this year and I love them so much!
Do you have any words you live by?
Yes, "Everything happens for a reason, everything leads to something better".
What is the best advice that you have ever received?
Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. It is really how I react to challenges that determines success, to look at situations from above and not from below. That I am purely in control.
Pet peeves?
That awkward moment when a stranger naps on my shoulder when in a bus and now I have to keep waking them up to sit upright and stop making me uncomfortable. I really find that uncomfortable.
What is your spirit animal?
A tiger
If you made a documentary, what would it be about?
It would be about street kids and families, also I would make one about pastoralists and their nomadic life.