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Six women from Kenya

2021-03-07T23:31:30.735Z


A rapper, a dancer, a therapist, a soccer coach, a feminist activist and a radio host. They are not famous, but they have a story to tell, yours. With them, from the South, we celebrate International Women's Day


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On International Women's Day, which is celebrated on March 8, six Kenyan women have told us who they are, their dreams, their daily lives, their activities, their lives.

They are part of the local community, they are not famous, but they contribute a lot and have a lot to tell: where do they come from, what is their personal and professional career, and their struggles, which are not few, in the society of the African country.

This is an invitation to meet them and learn about their reality and their stories.

We have asked them about them and this is a compilation of their answers.

His world in the first person.

Rachel Mwikali

“My name is Rachel Mwikali, I am 28 years old and I was born and raised in Mathare [shanty town or slum], in the capital, Nairobi.

I am a grassroots feminist activist, community organizer and human rights defender, and I am part of a social movement called the Commission for Grassroots Human Rights Defenders Kenya (CGHRD Kenya).

We organize our grassroots communities throughout the country, in terms of intersectionality.

We lead many projects.

One is called

Feminist Economics

, with which we try to move the economy for women.

Also human rights education, where we teach adults and children about the subject.

We have a solidarity and psychosocial support program not only to deal with problems, but also to celebrate events and achievements.

Also with an

artivism

program

in which we use art to talk about human rights violations, creating spaces for healing and expression.

In these times, we women, activists and feminists, have been keeping the community going

Another is the feminist co-creation space, in which we try to find different ideas.

At Mathare, we are immersed in an interesting conversation about sex, sexuality and pleasure.

We talk about things like why this is only intended for men to enjoy, why women are criminalized when they talk about sex, why it is a taboo when a woman approaches a man or why society is against it. same-sex relationships.

The rights of LGTBQI people must be respected.

Another area in which we work is microfinance for women.

Multinational companies only serve us because for the patriarchy we are an easy target to exploit, charging a lot of interest that makes us live in debt.

We have just organized an exhibition on the stories of resilient women during the covid-19 crisis.

These days we activists and feminists have been keeping the community going.

So we decided to talk about resilience, hope and power ”.

Jackeline Akoth Juma

“My name is Jackeline Akoth Juma.

I am 34 years old, I am from Kariobangi, Nairobi.

I am the coach of the girls under 18 team at Acakoro Football Academy.

I am also the finance director for Acakoro and the assistant coach for the Kenya women's soccer team.

Being a coach is my passion.

I love it because I played soccer and now it's my turn to give the girls hope;

soccer can change life.

I started playing at the age of nine.

My mother didn't like it because she thought it was just for kids.

I said, 'Mom, girls can play soccer.

And she said, 'show me one who does.'

And at the time, honestly, I didn't know any of them.

At 16 I received my first call for the national team.

It was a dream come true and, from that day on, my parents finally supported my career as a footballer.

When I was 13, and was going to enroll in high school, I joined the Mathare United team and got a scholarship.

I came home and told my mother what I had achieved.

'How, from where?' He asked me.

And I said to him: 'Of this same football that you don't want me to play.'

At 16 I received my first call for the national team.

It was a dream come true, and from that day on, my parents finally supported my career.

My first match was against Cameroon and they beat us 4-0.

They beat us up.

My second was against Nigeria, another beating: 5-0.

In 2011 we went to Paris for Street Football World.

I was the captain and we won.

That was my best moment in this sport.

We also qualified for the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations for the first time since women's football began in Kenya, encouraging more girls to play.

Today, women's football in Kenya is growing tremendously.

The women's teams are treated fairly like the men's.

That gives the girls a motivation ”.

Marion munga

“My name is Marion Munga, but I prefer to be called Awino.

I was born in Homa Bay, Kenya.

My family and I came to Nairobi when I was three or four years old.

Now I am 34.

I consider myself a creator.

By profession I am a dancer and dance teacher, and I also own and run a company called The Dance Factory Kenya.

I started the company in 2016 because dancing is my passion.

Since I started dancing, I have become more aware of who I am and what I want.

Through dance I found myself.

Dancing is a beautiful way for people to find themselves, get fit, meet other people, and also develop a sense of community and belonging.

People are always looking for something, either within themselves or within the community, and dance fills that glass.

Dancing is therapeutic.

Most people after class say they feel happier, lighter, and less stressed.

Dancing is therapeutic.

Most students say after class that they feel happier, lighter, and less stressed.

Rejuvenate your spirit, mind and body.

Your body releases those happy hormones called endorphins and that changes the way you feel.

There is a person who lost his wife and joined one of our group dance classes.

He shared this with us at the end, when I asked them to share what the experience had been like: he was very open about how his wife had passed away.

He said he used to drink and that didn't help him.

Then one of his friends suggested dancing.

He said that dancing helped him heal and find himself again.

I think even having social interaction in class helped him heal and move on.

That story was harsh, but very beautiful.

When I don't dance I like to spend time with my family and close friends.

I love sleeping and resting, because dancing can be very tiring.

In a few years, I just want to take all the things I currently do to a higher level.

What I love?

I love Awi, Awino… Me ”.

Murasta

“My name is Susan Wanjiru, but my stage name is Murasta.

I am 21 years old and from Dagoretti, Nairobi.

I am a hip-hop artist.

I also sing and do reggae.

These other genres are easy, but for the one that I practice you have to put your mind to it and think hard to be able to create content.

Before starting hip-hop, I wanted to write music and sing, but I never knew how to compose.

I used to say to my friends, "Maybe one day I will find someone to write for me."

But last year, in August, I decided to try doing it myself.

It just occurred to me and I thought, "Yeah, I can rap just as well as good rappers."

I also sing about the ghetto and its beauty.

The ghetto has flaws, but it produces a lot of good, creative people, good rappers, people who stand up for themselves.

I feel good competing with men, the hip-hop industry is difficult and I like challenges.

I can write about anything, it depends on how I feel.

It usually comes from different feelings.

I can start writing a song when I feel happy and then in the process I start writing about sad things.

My music comes from the heart.

It's about feeling yourself.

When you listen to my music, you want to lift your spirits and feel like a cool person.

I also sing about the ghetto and its beauty.

The ghetto has flaws, but it produces a lot of good, creative people, good rappers, people who stand up for themselves.

When I'm not making music I like to relax, have a good time with myself.

I enjoy being alone.

I live in the present, but in the next few years I would like to grow as a performing artist, do concerts, perform, have my own fan base and earn money.

What I love?

Music.

I can not live without her.

It's everything.

He has all kinds of feelings.

When I feel happy I have a song for that.

When I feel depressed, funny or when I want to be active and dance, I also have a song for that. "

Lowry achieng

“My name is Lowry Achieng and I am from Kibera [shanty town], Nairobi.

Kibera is my home.

I feel at home and safe, and the people are very friendly.

Last week I went to say hello to my uncle's neighbor, Mom Jennifer.

He welcomed me with a huge hug and prepared a good meal for me.

That is Kibera.

No matter who you visit or spend time with, everyone feels like family.

I am a psychologist-therapist and advocate for mental health.

I started doing it in 2017 because I was seeing how many people were suffering from mental health problems in Kibera.

I asked myself, 'What can I do for them?'

And I decided to use my knowledge of psychological therapy to improve their lives in some way.

I started an organization called the Mental Illness Initiative Kenya and formed a large group of psychologists and social workers from Kenyatta University to provide free counseling services to children in the slum.

It's hard for most

queer

people

to find a therapist who just understands them and doesn't have to explain themselves.

I currently work with young

queer

people

, most of them dealing with problems like depression because their families rejected them because of their sexual orientation.

So I help them find self-acceptance and self-love.

It's hard for most

queer

people

to find a therapist who just understands them and doesn't have to explain themselves.

As a therapist, I saw the importance of doing my best.

With my free time I love making art.

I love to paint and draw.

It's what I do to balance myself.

For the next several years, I want to continue using my talents and resources to empower my community in some way.

I want to work with the

queer

community

in Kenya.

And I would also like to do something for the creative industry.

I have an idea related to organizing small ballroom concerts, that is a project that I have in my head.

What I love?

Rest, take care of myself ”.

Elishifa wangechi

“My name is Elishifa Wangechi, I am 30 years old and I was born and raised on the slopes of Mount Kenya.

Education dragged me to Nairobi, where I obtained a diploma in radio program production.

Now I am working with Ghetto Radio 89.5.

As part of my training, I had to do internships.

I left my request letter on the Ghetto Radio station looking for an opportunity, and it seems the universe heard my prayer.

I was accepted to join as an intern.

And after a while I was hired as a producer.

Ghetto Radio is a Nairobi-based urban station, primarily targeting young people, with the highest audience being people living in informal settlements.

Currently I work as a producer, and what I basically do is plan the content of the programs.

In the next 10 years I would love to have my own community radio station and I want to do it in my town

At Ghetto Radio we use

sheng

(a slang that has grown very quickly, and is very common in Nairobi) as a means of communication.

Why

sheng

?

It is a language that the young, and even the elderly, are now using in their day to day life and that is what we needed: a language that people understand and with which they can express themselves freely.

In addition to being a producer, I present a program on Saturdays between 11:00 and 13:00.

It's called

Sare Madree

, a word used to tell people to stay away from drugs.

It is a space that focuses mainly on this topic.

He primarily advocates for behavior change and also challenges legislators to include people in recovery in important positions;

and also to make laws that respect consumers.

When I'm not working, I love traveling, connecting with nature, hanging out with friends, and going to concerts.

In the next 10 years I would love to have my own community radio station and I want to do it in my town.

A medium that would enlighten people in my own community, where I grew up ”.

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Source: elparis

All news articles on 2021-03-07

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