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| 10003 Sickle Cell Warrior #2 |
Catch up with me on Facebook and let's keep the sickle cell awareness conversation going.
Love Life!
Freddy.
Love Life!
Freddy.
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| Attempting to take selfies with Lady Laimani (top), Hon. Wamalwa (left) and Hon. Odinga (right). |
This day was commemorated at the Hilton Hotel, Nairobi. The guest speakers included Hon. Ida Odinga, Lady Laimani Bidali and Caroline Mutoko among others. The Standard Group, Eve Sisters, Mothers & Daughters, Alabastron, Coca Cola and The Kenya Dairy Association are among the partners who made this day a success.
The purpose of the event was to celebrate the girl child in Kenya. This was seen through the invitation of different girls’ schools: primary and secondary. Different women university leaders were in attendance. Filled with pomp, colour and the splash of pink and purple, it was certain that this indeed was a girl’s event. The seating arrangement was strategically organized in dinner tables where 6 young girls from primary or secondary sat together with 4 ladies. I think the main aim for this was to encourage conversation between the different age sets.
The MC, Njeri Karuoya open the event by inviting performances from the different schools that were
represented. The schools showcased pieces of song, poetry and choral verses that speak of the plight of the girl child in Africa. From poetry about FGM, abortion and sexual abuse to songs appreciating the beauty and the brains of the girl child.
As the speakers took the floor, their main emphasis was motivation creation and the importance of speaking out about issues affecting the girls; for example, the loss of value in the Kenyan girl child and the need for older, more successful role models to come up and guide the girl child. A lot was emphasized on the lack of priorities with regards to the superficial achievements seen in skin color and the size of the behind. This has become a rampant trend in our society,where the pressure to stand on a pedestal of perceived beauty for the acquisition of depreciating assets rather than acquisition of appreciating assets.
Another thing that was mentioned by the very candid Caroline Mutoko, was the message that the media was pumping out to the masses. What is considered attractive is what the media says it is. This creates a sort of cognitive dissonance that sets a high bar for the society especially the females who have to keep up with the likes of Kim Kardashian. The conversation hence shifted to the older woman: mothers, aunts, grandparents, guardians and teachers, the ones who have an obligation to teach and guide. They have supposedly failed in educating the young girl on the challenges of youth, and gifts of motherhood. Many young girls look up to disgruntled mothers and learn from them how lackluster life is which leads to an increased number of children with absentee mothers. The older women were urged to listen to their younger girls. After all, how are the girls to grow into their best selves without support and guidance?
There are instances where we are told we can be anything we want in the world but we fail to get an audience from our "well-off "mothers in the society to help mould our ideas or even mentor us. Young girls seek audience sometimes and they fail to get their mothers attention for one reason or another: goes to show the disparity in communication and information. Older more successful women in the society refuse to take up responsibility in developing the younger generation, but are quick to point out their evils when they get this information from the media.
I enjoyed the event immensely and managed to get an audience with the guest speakers and VIP to talk about the 10003 Warrior Project. I got advice on who I could approach with regards to propelling the project. I must admit it was quite intimidating sitting and having lunch with the likes of Hon. Yvonne Wamalwa, Hon. Ida Odinga, Lady Laimani Bidali, Doreen Mbaya and Njeri Karuoya.
On my end, the event was a success. Not only because I got to speak to the big “wigs” (pun intended), but because I got to surround myself with young girls from different high schools and learn more about the challenges they are facing. Being able to connect and recall my high school and primary days was invaluable experience. How far I have come from being that shy soft spoken girl, to a very confident out spoken young woman, is such an amazing journey. Of course all has not happened overnight. Instead, I have cultivated simple daily steps and experiences that have helped to expand and grow me to the blooming flower I am.
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| More selfies, now with the young girls. |
However I feel it will only be remembered by the large turn out and beautiful choral verses. I feel the
young girls, those in my age group especially, still cannot bring themselves to ask for assistance from the older well established woman. A serious case of the fear of being inadequate and the worry of possible rejection. Moreover I also feel the more established woman maybe a little unapproachable to the young woman. Not because they are, but because that’s how they carry themselves, in my opinion. This gap between the two women maybe our undoing. I’m afraid if each of us don’t play our roles and meet each other halfway, we will always have events of commemoration without actionable objectives that will see the Kenyan woman bogged down instead of being uplifted.
Love Life!
Lea.
This past week has been so busy for the team and I. On
Friday the 3rd of October we got officially accepted to the PAWA254
open membership and on Monday the 6th we were officially welcomed. It
was a great opportunity for us as we got free working space sponsored by
PAWA254. In addition, we will be guided through our project and the myriad of
people and talent that exists there is so impressive. It certainly does make
for an amazing working space.
Fast forward to Friday the 10th, we went
for a Crowd Funding BootCamp at iHub* from 9am to 6pm. We were introduced to
the 1% Club and The Cheetah Fund. Here we learnt about the importance of crowd
funding, how to pitch ideas successfully, social media platforms to use,
creative crowd funding and how to plan and present a crowd funding campaign. At
the end of the day, we took home a successful campaign online and started
getting some funds from supporters of the project.
And lastly, on Saturday the 11th I attended
the International day of the girl child at Nairobi’s Hilton hotel. Read more on it HERE.
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| 10003 Sickle Cell Warrior #1 |
Hey there? My name is Cecilia June. I am 18 years old and my ethnic background is Dholuo. Why I mention where I am from is because as other Warriors continue to share their stories, you will find a similarity of ethic backgrounds. Sickle cell does not have any tribal link but instead, it affects people mainly from malaria endemic regions. I love to sing and it brings me a lot of joy and peace.
Sickle cell is real, yes, and I found myself in that situation. I figured it is God's plan, you never know with some things *laughs*. I have accepted myself the way I am because no matter what, I am beautifully and wonderfully made by the Creator. I am not complaining though, and what keeps me going is God and the support of my family.
If you know you have sickle cell, do not think that that is the end of you! Not at all. Instead, be yourself, speak what you think is right, have fun and enjoy life because you are a Warrior. Some situations in life happen so as to give us a different view point of the world. Without our differences, we would all be the same. I figure that is boring. Though sometimes life may seem hard, just keep going and trust in God and thank Him because He is the life giver.
Despite my challenges of medical care, school and health insurance,I am currently studying and fully intend on sitting for my Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) at Korogocho Glory Secondary School. My dream is to become a doctor in order to help in championing the cause of Sickle Cell Disease.
No matter where you are, whether 'rich' or 'poor' your dreams are valued and valid: go out and reach for them. I know mine are and as such, I am reaching out for them.
My school address is Korogocho Glory Secondary School, P.O. B ox 4243-00200 Nairobi. A success card would be cool :)
Love Life!
Cecilia
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, Hon. Wamalwa (left) and Hon. Odinga (right). This day was commemorated at the H...){kind=link}
