In the Place of Many Zebras: Stories from Kenya on culture, courage, and change

In 2009, as a newspaper intern, I was sent to interview Colorado resident Mark Hagen about the work he does in Kenya as one of the founders of the Olooloitikoshi Girl's Rescue Center. He didn't hesitate in telling me about the issues that Kenyan girls face, namely female circumcision and early marriage that permeates all other parts of their lives. He also didn't hesitate in inviting me to come see for myself. Five months later, with a sense of adventure and curiosity, I boarded a plane to Kenya. What I found there were girls who allowed me, a 21-year-old writer, to enter deeply into their lives. In 2012 I went back to learn more so that I could share their stories; this book is the result, and all profits made from this book will go back to the Olooloitikoshi Girl's Rescue Center in Kenya. In talking about the controversial subjects of female circumcision and early marriage, my hope is not to perpetuate the dark image of Africa that is often presented to us in mainstream media. Before visiting Kenya, I naively believed that Africa was violent and ravaged, sick and starving and lost. Now, I see the importance of looking at the big picture. It is my hope to show both the complexities of these issues, as well as the spirit and hope of the people who have faced them. Here are the stories of the girls and women who changed my world by letting me into theirs. -Cece Romanyshyn