User:Sharonwu/Jessica Posner

Jessica Posner is the founder of the Kibera School for Girls and Shining Hope Community Center. She has been nominated for a 2010 VH1 Do Something Award for her charity work in Africa.

The Kibera School for Girls and Shining Hope Community Center
Kibera is the largest slum in Africa and 66% of the girls living there are forced to trade sex for food from a very early age. Posner founded the Kibera School for Girls and the Shining Hope Community Center in order to provide education and resources for local women. She has since helped over 5,700 women find legal employment.

Posner and Shining Hope helped open the first free school for girls in Kibera, which has 60 students. She has also opened a health center, a gardening program, and environmentally friendly latrines. 

The 2010 Do Something Award
Posner was nominated for a 2010 Do Something Award for her efforts in Kibera. She was one of thousands to apply for the award through DoSomething.org and was named one of fifteen nominees. At the Do Something Awards kick-off show at the Apollo Theater in New York City, she was named one of five finalists. As a finalist, she will be given a $10,000 grant. The winner of the Do Something Award will be announced at the 2010 VH1 Do Something Awards on July 19, 2010 in Los Angeles. The winner of the Do Something Award will win $100,000.