Welcome to Wonder Woman Wednesday! Every Wednesday we feature women who are using their business or work as a force for good. The intention behind this blog is to raise awareness on the impact of doing good and to inspire others to think of ways in which they too can use their business or work as a force for good. By doing this we hope we will be creating a better community one business at a time and leaving this world a little bit better than we found it for future generations.

Tell us about yourself and how you use your work as a force for good?

I’m Shiko Kariuki, a Kenyan born African Australian woman. I’m the former Miss Africa Perth 2016, and the current Ms. Galaxy Australia 2019. I like to describe myself as a woman who wears many hats. My profession is nursing, I have worked in the Aged care sector, and currently in the mental health sector.

In the past, I have used my platform as a former Miss Africa Perth to mentor young women running for Miss Africa Perth. I have helped equip them with skills such as catwalk, public speaking, and etiquette. One of my former mentees was crowned as Miss Africa Perth 2018. I have also sat in forums under different African Organisations in Western Australia that address issues affecting people of African descent in the diaspora; such as violence, domestic abuse, child abuse, amongst others. My contribution has always been that people need to educate themselves by engaging in conversations that may not necessarily be comfortable, but much needed to create the change we long to see. The best way to do it is to combine the different individual skills in the community, and then collaborate with the community leaders and policymakers to enable the change. In the past, I have also mobilized funds through fundraisers to support children from less privileged backgrounds in Kenya.

 I intend to share my story and hopefully encourage other women who have struggled to ‘fit in’ the description of what society refers to as ‘beautiful’. I’m here to prove that beauty is beyond the colour of the skin, age, height, body size, or even the ‘accent’. What makes a woman beautiful is a healthy intrapersonal relationship, or in other words having a healthy mind. In the words of Coco Channel, beauty begins the moment when a woman decides against all odds that she is beautiful! The moment I decided that enough was enough, I took charge of my life, and I can attest that I’m seeing the fruits of it thereof. You can find my work at Shiko Kari & Kin Women where I will be sharing my work and future plans.

What led you to using your work as a force for good?

Having relocated to Australia at a young age and without family, I struggled financially and socially. I had to work extra hard to make ends meet, and at times felt overwhelmed by the notion that I did not ‘fit in’ as I felt different and not good enough. It wasn’t long before I found myself in a ‘dark place’ of despair, as the life I had imagined for myself in my ‘new home’ was far from what I was experiencing. Faced with this challenge, I had a choice. Give in and play small, or face the challenge head-on and decide what the lesson I could take from it and forge my way forward. I chose the latter and enrolled myself into a modelling agency in Perth, where I developed skills such as catwalk, etiquette, and photography. These skills became a passion that would later have me indulging in the world of pageantry and new life-long friendships.

My passion is to encourage women to excel in all areas of their lives. For so long, women have been seen and taught to be one thing. Having grown up in a culture where women were seen as nurturers and having ceilings set for them where they could not break to pursue their calling, led me to what I do today. I’m an advocate that women can be and can do all that they set to do in their hearts. All they have to do is believe in themselves, and pursue their calling unapologetically.

Who inspires you to make a difference in the lives of others?

I would say that first of all, knowing who you are is not enough, knowing whose you are is. I believe that having a spiritual grounding is a good foundation for anyone who wants to succeed. I get mine from Jesus Christ, who is the Lord and saviour of my life. When I met Him, He introduced me to my calling. My earthly source of inspiration is my mother. Growing up without much, I saw my mother work so hard to make ends meet. My mother ran small businesses and made sure that our household was always provided for. She prayed and believed for us as a family, encouraging us that no dream was unachievable. My mother instilled life skills in us, such as confidence and resilience. Not only did my mother look after us as a family, but she also looked after girls who were from less privileged backgrounds. She would employ them and provide them with life skills that would enable them to become independent women who could stand on their two feet once they left our home. My mother taught me that a life well lived is one that inspires others to be better.

What is one act that anyone can do today to make this world a better place?

Everyone has the capacity in them to make a difference. Find a passion, or something you are good at. This could be something that your friends, colleagues or family compliment you for. It could be that thing that you do so well and think that everyone else can do it. It could also be the one thing that people come to you for (your expertise). Secondly, look for the needs of those around you. Like me, it could be a life experience that opens you up to other people with similar experiences. Lastly, look for people who believe in you, people who affirm the potential in you, and people who support you fully to achieve your dreams and goals. Remember that making a difference does not have to be a big thing, it can be something as simple as buying coffee for a total stranger. It all starts with intention. Make it your everyday goal to do something that makes a difference in the world.
Remember, it’s not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts. ~ Mother Theresa.

Find out more about Shiko and the work she does here.

The Power of Hope

Welcome to Wonder Woman Wednesday! Every Wednesday we feature women who are using their business or work as a force for good. The intention behind this blog is to raise awareness on the impact of doing good and to inspire others to think of ways in which they too can use their business or work as a force for good. By doing this we hope we will be creating a better community one business at a time and leaving this world a little bit better than we found it for future generations.Tell us about your business and how you use your work as a force for good?xWhat led you to using your business as a force for good?xWhat inspires you to make a difference in the lives of others?xWhat is one act that anyone can do today to make this world a better place?x.

Find out more about #NAME# and the work she does #here#

The Power of Hope