Monte Vista Chapel is bringing a little bit of Kenyan culture to Turlock with their “Tuseme: Let Us Speak Out” event.

Scheduled from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, the evening will include a marketplace featuring Kenyan goods and a concert by Kenyan group Milele, and a video presentation offering a glimpse of life in Kenya for 23 orphan girls.

“We’re calling it ‘Tuseme: Let Us Speak Out’ because it’s really important for us to let the girls speak out about their lives,” said Matt Seadore, assistant pastor at Monte Vista Chapel.

The money raised during the event will go towards the operation of the Baraka Women’s Center. The plan for the center is to use it as a resource for Kenyan women and young girls who have been sidelined by their society. In Kenya children are given an exam in the eighth grade that determines whether or not they can continue their education. If the children don’t pass they are expected to go out and work.

The center wants to provide educational and vocational training for the 23 girls living at the First Love orphanage.

“These girls come from the slums and have lived hard lives and many of them won’t pass the exam,” Seadore said. “The Center will give them new opportunities to end the cycle of poverty.”

Baraka is Swahili for blessing.

The marketplace portion of the evening will feature goods hand-made by the women of the center. There will also be Kenyan snacks served and artwork by a group of Kenyan orphans will be up for sale. The MOMS club at the church will also have goods for sale.

The entertainment for the night will be provided by Milele, a group of men who were childhood friends in Kenya and reunited in the United States.

“This will be the highlight of the night,” Seadore said.

Admission is $10 for an individual of $25 for a four-pack of tickets.

The church is at 1619 E. Monte Vista Ave. For more information call 634-4935.

To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.