“If we work hard despite the type of job, success is guaranteed.”

My name is Elifnesh and I was born in the western part of Ethiopia. Because I was born in a rural area, I don’t exactly know how old I am. My families didn’t care to send me to school since the society in that rural area didn’t believe that educating a girl benefits her or anyone in the community.

 I went to Addis Ababa to be able to financially support my family and got hired as a house maid and in 1978 , I married a guy I knew from the textile business I started and we started living together. I gave birth to eight children.  Even though, I raised my children with the support of my textile business and ‘Equb’ (a traditional scheme of saving money in a group) I failed to raise them properly and our living standard declined day by day.

 It was while I was in such a situation that I heard about WISE opening an office in my area. I looked for the office, got myself registered and took a business skill training. Although, my job didn’t reward me with the capital I needed, I believed the training I took would get me a better life and so dared to take a 500.00 birr ($50) loan to expand my textile business. I used to sit in the sun for the whole day and so built a plastic shield over my head. I gave back the money I took from the loan on schedule and took consecutive loans afterwards still keeping on paying the money within schedule so I became profitable.

I took eleven different trainings provided by WISE. The trainings I took not only thought me planning, saving and sharing job experience but also how to apply them in real life. Before I took the training, I was more of a spender than a saver. I spent huge amount of money to make my kids happy during the holidays especially well celebrated in my area and culture. But now I am leading and managing my life with well executed plan. Now I save more money to compensate for the years I spent much and use my savings to support my children who are now in universities. I also used to stay home during holidays but now do my job for profit. The marketing training I took from WISE made me an expert in treating my customers well which has contributed to my success and profit. Currently, I have taken a loan of birr 36,000 ($ 2000) in eight rounds and have saved 27,000 birr ($1500) in my account.

In the future, I plan to stick to my business and expand it further to have an even better life. My message to all unemployed women is “if you work hard regardless the type of work you do, you will definitly become successful and be able to live a better life.”

Women in Self Employment (WISE) is one of the four partner institutes of the African Centers of Excellence (ACE) for Women's Leadership program run by the Institute of International Education (IIE) , Ethiopia Office.

For more on IIE , ACE or WISE please follow the links below.

 www.iie.org/

www.iie.org/en/Programs/ACE-for-Womens-Leadership, 

www.wise.org.et/     

The Business I started with $5 …

My name is Hadera Ahmed and I came to Addis Ababa with my uncle when I was just four years old. Living with my uncle, I was never given the chance to go to school. Instead, I was busy helping his family with household chores.  When I got older, I left my uncle’s home and started working as a maid in a different household for $1 (10 birr) per month. I stayed at the same house for three years and when I got tired of being a maid, I started my own business of selling second hand clothes with a capital of $5 (50 birr).  A friend introduced me to my present husband while I was on this job and we got married and stated running our life with the money he earned and the money I got from the business.

Another friend advised me to expand my business; and I told her that I would only if I had the capital for it and that it would really help me if we form an “ekub” (a traditional rotation saving & credit scheme).  This was when she advised me to join Women in Self Employment (WISE) which didn’t take me much time to decide on.  I went to the office and talked to a staff.  After knowing the organization’s mission, I got registered as a member in 2007 and started saving.

Taking the basic business skills training offered at the organization, I learned a lot on how to manage time and money properly, how to save, plan business and implement the plan. The training opened up new ways for me leading to my success. 

I took the first round loan of $47 (700 birr) and started to sell different vegetables.  I paid back the loan in six months time and continued taking different levels of loans, increasing my savings and attaining more income.

 Recently, I took a loan of Birr $1,706 (30,700 .00 birr) and pay back $38 (680 birr) to my cooperative each week. My saving has now reached $722 (13,000 birr).  I was also able to purchase household furniture and equipments after I joined WISE and continue to support my family with the money I get from the business.

 I have seen a big change in my life. My husband and I continue to work hand-in-hand as I continue to do well in the business. Currently, I sell soft drinks, spring water, fruits etc in my shop.

Women in Self Employment (WISE) is one of the four partner institutes of the African Centers of Excellence (ACE) for Women's Leadership program run by the Institute of International Education (IIE) , Ethiopia Office.

For more on IIE , ACE or WISE please follow the links below.

 www.iie.org/

www.iie.org/en/Programs/ACE-for-Womens-Leadership, 

www.wise.org.et/     

THIS IS WHAT A FEMINIST LOOKS LIKE!

I am a feminist J and if you ask what most people I’ve interacted with think of me, top of mind would be “Assertive feminist”. From my adolescences I have constantly amazed people with my strong approach to feminism. Come to think of it, to be nobody but yourself – in a world that is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else – means to fight the hardest battle. I have been fighting my entire life and I got no intention of losing this battle.

I am a 3^rd born in a family of four and recently graduated from Maseno University with a degree in BSc. Actuarial Science with IT. I have had a longtime fascination with women rights affairs and this is reflected in my active participation, starting in primary school, all through high school and university in activities such as students governing council, peer education and inter-university nonviolence and peace keeping forums. As each new cause came along, I was ready to support it whole-heartedly. I realize that as I grew up, the world did help me develop, at an early age, a deep sense of concern for young women plight and a genuine desire to play an affirmative role.

In order to succeed in my endeavors as a leader, I realized that professional training and capacity building was essential. In June 2011, I saw a Call for Applications to the Annual Feminist Leadership Institute at YWLI on the internet and I applied. I was amongst the 25 successful applicants who attended the residential Leadership Institute Program by Young Women Leadership Institute, YWLI in Mombasa, Kenya. The Institute was designed to equip young women with feminist leadership skills and build strategies for harnessing young women’s collective power for social transformation in Kenya. It was a milestone for me in my women-rights activism as I got an opportunity to learn and appreciate our diversity and uniqueness in tackling the plight for African women. To start with, the Institute put great emphasis on leadership and personal empowerment skills that have greatly strengthened my ability to approach problems logically and systematically. The Institute used real life situations which helped me bridge the gap between abstract principles and reality. This interdisciplinary approach is essential in responding to young women problems today.

My calling in activism began as a program intern at I Choose Life – Africa, Nyanza Program – a leading SRH NGO. As a Program Intern, I led a team of Peer Educators in initiating sustainable behavior change communication programs in Maseno University. For instance, we founded the Blue Pink Association – BLUPIA that worked collaboratively with the Female Students Association of Maseno University (FESAMU). FESAMU’s overall goal was to create safe space where female students could articulate their views and vision on the women rights development agenda whereas BLUPIA hosted a dynamic network of young men and women who were committed to promote gender equality and equity by taking into consideration the differences in women and men’s lives and recognizing the different approaches targeting young women needed to produce outcomes that are equitable. In partnership with the Maseno University AIDS Control Unit and office of the dean of students, we ran several successful campaigns that involved door to door hostel visitations that sparked focus group discussions, hosting ‘Girls’ on the Block’ radio show on Equator FM and the #SITAKIMYA social media campaign. To date, I take pride in having these programs running sustainably notwithstanding that all founders have already graduated.

From my experiences, I have learnt how I want to shape my future. My goals are clear: I want to be actively involved in developing and advocating for policy decisions that will benefit young women in my society. I want to unveil the objective truth of young women problems and tackle them to the best interests of the nation. I aspire to seek justice and bring to a halt all forms of sexism that undermine women while developing alternative visions for a just world.

In conclusion, feminism as a philosophy has a good deal to offer both men and women and there is great need to debunk the myths surrounding it. Africa is bubbling with opportunities in this “golden age” of economic significance and we need vibrant, visionary and competent individuals to steer her to greater economic heights – it is time for young women to stand and be counted. Remember, it is always small actions that make big differences.

By Moraa Osoro

Young Women's Leadership Institute (YWLI) is one of the four partner institutes of the African Centers of Excellence (ACE) for Women's Leadership program run by the Institute of International Education (IIE) , Ethiopia Office.

For more on IIE , ACE or YWLI please follow the links below.
www.iie.org/
www.iie.org/en/Programs/ACE-for-Womens-Leadership, 
www.ywli.org 

WISE brought out the Leader in me

My name is Askale Negash.  I am a member of one of the Saving and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) organized by Women in Self Employment (WISE) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  I became a member of the cooperative in the year 2000.  I was a housewife before joining the cooperative and had no income of my own.  The dual benefits I obtained from the SACCO include the opportunity to gain various business skill trainings that led me join the micro-business sector in addition to the different cycle loans I have taken from the cooperative that helped me to expand my business so as to become a successful and productive business woman. My family’s basic financial problems were resolved through the income generated by the business and I was able to overcome poverty. 

The Leadership trainings I obtained from WISE equipped me with better self-esteem and confidence eventually getting me elected as a Chairperson for my SACCO which also paved the way for my becoming a coordinator for the Local Women’s Association for which I also get monthly payment.             

Additionally, I gave voluntary service to orphan children together with people in my community.  I am also able to continue with my education which I impeded long ago and I am now in 8th grade. 

WISE equipped me with all the courage I needed that nurtured and helped me to get out of the kitchen.

Askale Negash, Andenet SACCO Kirkos Sub-City

Women in Self Employment (WISE) is one of the four partner institutes of the African Centers of Excellence (ACE) for Women's Leadership program run by the Institute of International Education (IIE) , Ethiopia Office.

For more on IIE , ACE or WISE please follow the links below.

 www.iie.org/

www.iie.org/en/Programs/ACE-for-Womens-Leadership, 

www.wise.org.et/     

AMwA- Alumni of the Month

In this special edition of our alumni of the Month we invite you to read about the leadership journey of one determined Ugandan lady who will leave no stone unturned for social justice; A feminist who profoundly speaks of her AWLI memories and how this experience has continued to shape her leadership journey; You will definitely be inspired and stimulated to attend the AWLI.

Getting to know Jean Kemitare

I am passionate about women's rights (especially in Africa) and confident to stand up for these rights as evidenced by my relentless commitment to speak for women. I am assertive and work best by putting forces together to push the values that I hold dear, so while you may not hear/ see me in the media 'breathing fire' many times I will stroke the fire for any women's rights position. My gift of persuasiveness has enabled me to 'light the fire'. I am a social person who easily builds and maintains rapport with a cross section of people across the social spectrum; an arsenal for movement building. My cheerfulness warmth and hard work are some of the key attributes that define my personality as an African woman of Strength.

Sharing her AWLI experience and how it has impacted her personal life and career development through the years

I think I can describe it as my 'click moment'. As I was joining Raising Voices in the job interview I was asked if I was a feminist and I felt I was not – because like many people I was misled about the concept and ideology of feminism. However my 2 weeks in the AWLI made me realize I AM a feminist, I do claim the term and am not afraid to label myself as feminist despite the unfortunate misconceptions that exist about feminism. From the AWLI I gained a lot of confidence in public speaking as well. We talked at length about transformational leadership and for me that concept stuck in my mind, many times I reflect on my work/ actions and debate with myself; is this actually going to contribute to positive transformation of power relations between women and men because that is something am passionate about.

Are there any unique aspects of the AWLI training that have proved particularly effective on improving your work with women?

Yes very many; I will try to elaborate some– standing up for what you believe no matter what! The AWLI awakened the conscious working towards positive social transformation as opposed to band aid remedies hence my interest in movement building for social change.

Confidence to speak out and speak up! Weather by mouth or pen! Understanding patriarchy as an oppressive system with this has come the understanding and interpretation of its impact on every sphere of women's lives hence diminished the temptation to be judgmental about any woman's decisions especially those that are unable to leave abusive relationships. I also learnt how to be a mentor/ positive influence in many people's lives around me – transformational leadership!

The biggest unique aspect was developing the ability to QUESTION! Why do we accept everything we are told as 'gospel truth'? Inability to question has led human kind into many unfortunate experiences and it is worse for women everywhere. That ability to question even things that were passed on to me as divine truth is a big lesson I got from the AWLI.

Networking was a big aspect of the AWLI – some bonds I still have held and work with even across borders.

Would you recommend any young woman to undertake the AWLI training?

YES!!!!!!!!! Obviously for many reasons but I shall cite a few;
• the ability to question should be nurtured in every woman!
• Meeting so many other women from different contexts opens your eyes and provides you invaluable networks that last a lifetime
• The AWLI will provide any young women to understand her life deeply on a personal level and make meaning out of it
• Concretizing one's life goals, or even setting some for those without any at the time!
• Developing professional skills
• Immense personal and career development

Dealing with the challenges we continually face as we advocate for women's rights

I think the fact that no matter who we are; where we are; we are faced with similar challenges as women, this is in a way solidarity. All over the region we have similar histories and double impact patriarchy – (indigenous and colonial) impact our lives in similar ways. No matter the challenges or differences that may threaten the movement's existence we come back to the same place – trying to dismantle patriarchy and the effects it has on us all! So I would say feelings of solidarity have supported the women's movement through the years many women remain committed to advocating for the full realization of women's rights in every sphere of life.

New challenges and New opportunities for African women's Organising Today
Challenges

• We are facing increased fundamentalisms that are pushing back on gains made previously. In searching for our own identity dangerous doctrines have crept into our ways of life and as usual these affect women more with increase public and private control of women's bodies, and actions
• We have unclear discourses that have crept into concepts like gender, gender – based violence, empowerment etc these have lost their politicized meanings making women's rights work more technical than political
• Fatigue from development partners/ or change in trends? i.e. funding women's rights is now 'out of fashion'?

Opportunities

• With the development of technology it is now possible to mobilise in a short time over a large geographical spread using social media and other ICTs
• We could also strategically use traditional media to change attitudes and beliefs many more people have access to media – and believe in it
• With many more women receiving formal education politicizing the movement is easier

"Women Rising"; what is your message for young women interested in political leadership in your Country?

I applaud them! And go further than that to encourage young women especially to join politics we need more women in decision making arenas. However I would urge them to attend the AWLI first and any other such institutes, the political space is extremely patriarchal and unless one understands patriarchy and its enforcement mechanisms their bright ideas/ dreams/ aspirations can quickly turn into disillusionment/ co-option as they try to manoeuvre the political sphere, or to survive!

Leaving a Foot Print

A courageous woman who had immense positive influence on the personal and professional lives of many people especially women.

AKina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA) is one of the four partner institutes of the African Centers of Excellence (ACE) for Women's Leadership program run by the Institute of International Education (IIE) , Ethiopia Office.

For more on IIE , ACE or AMwA please follow the links below.
www.iie.org/
www.iie.org/en/Programs/ACE-for-Womens-Leadership, 

www.akinamamawaafrika.org/

Activism Alert…. Taking a Stand!

“A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.” ~Diane Mariechild

I believe every person, and more so every woman has potential and possibility, beauty and greatness within themselves which if nurtured can transform the society for greatness. However, if placed in the wrong environment and not nurtured, this potential and beauty can be chocked.

My name is Ann Gloria Njoki .A feminist, human rights activist and a founder of Deaf Outreach program http://www.deafopkenya.org/I have a Bachelor’s degree in Community Development from Daystar University in Kenya and I am passionate about inclusion of marginalized groups in the global and local development agenda. I love to work with persons in the community and find joy in empowering persons to reach their full potential.

All along I have had a special interest and passion for the Deaf community and hence in the year 2011 Deaf Outreach program (DEAFOP) was established. The main reason I began my work at DEAFOP was to bridge the existing development gap between the deaf and the community. Deafness being a ‘silent ‘disability and forming a minority in numbers, most often end up going unnoticed and their voices remain silent. They remain an easy target for discrimination and human right abuses. Our work is focused on advocating for deaf rights through amplifying the voice of the deaf, empowering the deaf persons in development and encouraging mainstreaming of development to include the deaf community The experience at the YWLI Bi-annual Feminist Leadership institute was life changing and full of fun interacting with young women leaders from across the country and awesome facilitators who mentored us as sisters rather than superiors.The training at YWLI gave me a new insight on feminism; it also equipped me with the skills to be a healthy professional young woman leader and sparked a desire to also give a special focus on young deaf girls and deaf women who are in a more vulnerable position within the community to vices such as rapes, domestic violence, forced domestic labour, early pregnancies, and dropping out from school.

My deepest wish for the world is that every girl would be given an opportunity and nurtured to develop into their full potential without any form of discrimination regardless of her ability or disability. 

Young Women's Leadership Institute (YWLI) is one of the four partner institutes of the African Centers of Excellence (ACE) for Women's Leadership program run by the Institute of International Education (IIE) , Ethiopia Office.

For more on IIE , ACE or YWLI please follow the links below.
www.iie.org/
www.iie.org/en/Programs/ACE-for-Womens-Leadership, 
www.ywli.org 

Two is better than one

I was born in 1976 in Addis Ababa.  Soon after I was born, my father, who was a laboratory technician, was forced to go to Asmara, Eretria.  At the time, the area was a war front, and we heard that he passed away in the fighting.  My mother married another man and had a second child; however 8 years later, my father suddenly appeared.  Since my mother was married to another man, they processed the divorced and my father married another woman.   Thus, I grew up moving between the two separate homes. When I completed 12^th grade I took the national exam but couldn’t score the passing mark that allowed me to join a University. When my father passed away in 1988, I lost all hope.  I moved to an Arab country and stayed there for three years.  I returned home to take care of my half sisters when I heard that my step mother passed away.

In the year 2004, I got married and gave birth to my first child but depending solely on my husband’s income for survival of the family was not easy.  Hence forced by the hardship, I opened a small shop.  However, since I had no knowledge on business management, I was forced to close it after just a short while. My mother then advised me to join WISE after she heard that my business wasn’t successful.  I became a member of Women in Self Employment (WISE) in the year 2005 and started to save money.  The Organization invited me to take a 12 days training from which I benefited a lot.  It helped me realize that I have been spending a lot of money in lack of the knowledge for proper handling.  Now, I have made saving a habit.  I have realized that we don’t need to go abroad and work in a foreign land to change our lives; we can also work in our own country and still change our lives!  I have also learned about business techniques, how to use time wisely and a lot more.  Had I taken this training before I opened my shop, I would not have been forced to close it.

After successfully finishing the Basic Business Skills training, I took a loan of $28 (500.00 birr)  and bought an oven for bakery and started to sell bread to neighbors and other people in my neighborhood. Then I took an additional loan of 1000 birr from my cooperative and started to sell different house items.  Currently, my saving has reached $278 (5000.00 birr).  I am also a share holder of $278 (5000.00 Birr) in Addis International Bank.  My husband and I have built a house on a land my father-in-law owns.  I put money saved from my husband’s income and my Equb (traditional way of saving money with in a group) to build the house.  So, we  managed to build the house which has a value of  about $1389 (25, 000 birr).  My husband used to think that his income was enough to support us but I proved him wrong by working hard.  Life cannot be changed if the whole family depends only on one person’s income.  Two is better than one.  Now, my husband has accepted the idea of me working.

In the year 2011, WISE organized a New and Viable Business Ideas Competition.  I participated in the competition by introducing candles in different forms and came in 4^th place winning $111 (2000 birr).  I now receive orders from customers for candles and I am able to sell them with profit.  In addition to this, I have started a restaurant with my friends.  My future plan is to start a poultry farm. I also want to be able to become a professional photographer now I graduated from Master Films, which is a school of photography.

Feizy: Awakening Young Minds!

“It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you came from. The ability to triumph begins with you always” ~Oprah Winfrey

Born in rural town of Homa-bay, Kenya, Faith, better known as Fei-zy, is one of the initiators of Girls Shift Africa. An organisation that aims at breaking the cycle of poverty and dependency by upLifting, inSpiring and emPowering girls and young women to be who they really are and shine their lights.

I know that my purpose in life is to empower girls and young women to believe in themselves no matter what, regardless of the circumstances. I want to be there as a sister for the girls that I work with in schools and for the other young women, I want to be there to listen and at least offer a piece of advice with the resources I have.

My childhood was not easy, as a young girl no one believed in me, expect for my father who kept showing me love regardless of the circumstances. I was always the quiet, shy girl and most of my friends and family didn’t appreciate me. I lost both my parents at a young age-my mother to an attack during the 2007/8 post-election violence and had to fend for my siblings and I. I believe that the experiences I went through helped shape the person I am today.

In July 2012, I had a calling to change young women’s lives, to make the world a better place for this generation and from the moment I started working with Girl Shift Africa, it’s been a journey I can’t stop talking about. At Girl Shift Africa,we really love focusing on the inside rather than the physical appearance.We do this by working on the emotions of an individual then we work on the outer appearance because as we all know, change starts from within. Basically this is to connect the girls with their inner potential. The meditation is an empowering process about self-discovery and courage.These tools offer solutions to transform people’s lives.

As part of Girl Shift Africa, I have been involved in several activities like helping the elderly, working with special needs children and visiting orphans. I also go into the slums, informally and freely interacting with women and girls, giving health talks, information on how to live a happier life, and motivation on topics such as contraceptives, neighborhood cleanups and blood donation. I hold a certificate in HIV/AIDS management and sexually transmitted diseases from Hope Worldwide. I am also a graduate of the Journey Intensive Seminar, a globally acclaimed method of healing emotional trauma.

In 2012 I was selected as one of the 13 participants to attend the YWLI Feminist Leadership Institute. This great opportunity transformed my life. The experience at the institute was inspiring and exciting.

The Institute equipped me with feminist leadership skills that I need to empower and inspire the girls and women I work with.

I believe that through the institute I have grown in character and capacity. I was deeply transformed to great leadership, authenticity and passion. A light was ignited inside me to believe in the empowerment and support for girls and young women.

I am so proud to call myself a feminist and an activist .Thank you YWLI, for giving me an opportunity to be part of such a transforming space. May you be blessed abundantly.

Young Women's Leadership Institute (YWLI) is one of the four partner institutes of the African Centers of Excellence (ACE) for Women's Leadership program run by the Institute of International Education (IIE) , Ethiopia Office.

For more on IIE , ACE or YWLI please follow the links below.
www.iie.org/
www.iie.org/en/Programs/ACE-for-Womens-Leadership, 
www.ywli.org 

A Gender Activist Inspired by the AWLI

It has been said that the wise men came from the East but there must have been some women too!! Today we are proud to share the leadership journey of one wise woman from the East of Ghana; Joyce OpokuBoateng a Lawyer and a native of Kwahu Danteng who profoundly speaks of the AWLI experience;a training she recommends for every young woman…I hope that her story inspires you too!

The inner attributes of a woman of strength

I believe in the innate strength of women to positively transform the world.  Women need to discover themselves, appreciate their leadership potential, and take charge in a more structured manner.  Women need to form a critical mass to get things moving.  It is important to document the stories of women to serve as a springboard for building the critical mass.

Who is Joyce OpokuBoateng?

I started my basic education at Danteng Methodist Primary and continued at the Morning Star School, Cantonments, and Accra, where I sat for the Common Entrance examination. I attended Aburi Girls Secondary, for both “O” and “A” Levels – 1979-1986 before proceeding to the University of Ghana where I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Sociology in (1990)

After attending the Ghana Law School I was called to the Ghana Bar as Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana in March 1994’; I Studied Law relating to Banking Services at the Guildhall University, London (ACIB). I am also qualified as Legal Secretary – London. I am a member of various associations including Federation of International Women Lawyers – FIDA

Currently the Founder/CEO – The NIMBUS Foundation www.nimbusfoundation.organd Founder/CEO – Cradle FC (Football), I worked as a Legal Counsel with PresteaSankofa Gold Ltd and Legal officer in the Ministry for Women and Children’s Affairs. I am also a Partner with Opoku-Boateng& Association, Agona Law Chambers, Accra.

I have held various honoraries as Honorable Colonel of the Order of the Kentucky Colonel, USA (2007), SupremoViajante del Sudoeste by the El Paso County Council, USA (2007) andrepresented the Honorable Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs at ECOWAS, Abuja and the Organization of American States, Washington, USA, Senegal, Cameroun, Benin (2003-2006).  I am proud to be one of the alumni of the prestigious African Women Leadership Institute (2002), an initiative of Akina Mama wa Afrika.

My  AWLI story

The training at AWLI gave me an insight into the philosophy of gender equality, and gender as a social and development construct. I had a better understanding of the concepts of gender mainstreaming and it enabled me to articulate my views on gender in a more meaningful way.   I can proudly call myself a gender activist thanks to the training I had at the AWLI

At AWLI I was able to distinguish between work, activism and personal care.  We were taken through relaxation techniques in addition to the theories and practice of gender advocacy. Networking was an area of gender work that was emphasized at the AWLI.Determined to transform women’s lives I have not stopped at this but have moved on and now set up an NGO called The NIMBUS Foundationwww.nimbusfoundation.org; an organization that is aimed at promoting the rights of women and children through advocacy and training among others.l continue to draw upon the network of friends that I have made throughout my human rights work.  And have learnt to understand the peculiar challenges that women face both as activists and as members of the community.  Empathy should be a watchword in our work as advocates.

One cannot change the mindset of others when one does not have a thorough appreciation of the issues and concepts that you are advocating on.  It is important to have a good understanding of gender as a discipline, a tool for social change and a development construct.  I would recommend that all young women who wish to be advocates undergo the training that AWLI offered me in 2002. It has shaped my thinking and enriched my language as a gender advocate.

Speaking of a vibrant and sustained women’s movement

Since Rome was not built in a day, it is important that the debate on gender equality continue unabated.  It has to be rejuvenated and new faces must join the movement for its sustainability.  This means that training of young people of both sexes must continue.  Training must take account of emerging issues, including political and economic debates while looking at those from the gender lens.

In 2012 I contested for a parliamentary seat in one of the biggest constituencies in the country (Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region of Ghana). My experience is that the men are not prepared to give in to women’s participation and went all out to fight for the seat, in spite of the Manifesto promises.  Young women who wish to contest for political leadership should understand that seats are not won on a silver platter.  They need to work two times harder than their male counterparts.  What I learnt is that although I did not win the seat, I have made significant inroads into the national politics and hope to build on the gains made.

If you must remember me…

I want to be remembered as a woman who was not daunted by social circumstances but tried to brighten every corner that I found myself.  The ups and downs will come, they are part of life. When I am down I look at the bright side and quickly rise up and fly with the eagles.  I like this quotation by Shakespeare very much:

“ ’Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our garden, to which our wills are gardeners: so that if we will plant nettles, or sow lettuce, set hyssop ands up tine, supply it with one gender of herbs, or distract it with many, either to have it sterile with idleness, or manured with industry, why, the power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills”

For more information, please visit the website for my organization the NIMBUS Foundation on:  www.nimbusfoundation.org

AKina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA) is one of the four partner institutes of the African Centers of Excellence (ACE) for Women's Leadership program run by the Institute of International Education (IIE) , Ethiopia Office.

For more on IIE , ACE or AMwA please follow the links below.
www.iie.org/
www.iie.org/en/Programs/ACE-for-Womens-Leadership, 

www.akinamamawaafrika.org/

Women become their own leaders by holding decision makers accountable

Low participation in public policy issues by women and other vulnerable groups in decision making and community initiatives often stands in the way of holding the development agenda in their hands and ensuring that their priority needs are met. However, armed with a score card women in Gatsibo District in Rwanda are organizing their communities and have become their own leaders by holding decision makers accountable. This has made them a formidable force for change in their communities.

Under the Public Policy Information Monitoring and Advocacy project (PPIMA) in the district, women community mobilizers, or animators, spearhead identification of needs in their communities and inform other community members. This marks the beginning of an engagement process that agrees on the needs to be addressed with the involvement of decision makers and service providers.

By employing the concept of the score card, the communities identify their pressing issues directly affecting them, whether in health, education, agriculture and other sectors, in relation to governance and service provision.

The score card is a tool in which the women and their communities decide on specific service indicators to assist them track the pace of addressing their needs. Based on this they give scores and the reasons for the scores on the progress made by the decision makers and/or service providers. The scores are then analyzed and ranked to identify the gaps, forming the basis in planning how to address them.

Women remain among the most marginalized, along with the youth, people living with disabilities and the historically marginalized peoples. However, women have often suffered the “double tragedy” of not only being women, but at the same time being marginalized as youth or people living with disabilities, and in other marginalized groups.

Women in Gatsibo District spearhead the identification of service delivery issues in their communities paying special attention on the marginalized groups to ensure their participation. This has helped them articulate the issues in all their dimensions in the community.

The PPIMA project was initiated in 2009 to respond to the issues related to governance, service delivery, accountability and community participation at all levels of development programming at the decentralized levels. The communities work in collaboration with service providers where they agree on issues and come up with solutions, including agreeing on issues to be included at the district and national levels as development priorities.

The process has proved empowering as it directly places the development agenda on the hands of the women and their communities based on their needs and issues.

The PPIMA project is a collaboration between RWN  and the Norwegian People’s Aid and is being implemented in 40 villages in Gatsibo District.

Rwanda Women's Network (RWN) is one of the four partner institutes of the African Centers of Excellence (ACE) for Women's Leadership program run by the Institute of International Education (IIE) , Ethiopia Office.

For more on IIE , ACE or RWN please follow the links below.

 www.iie.org/

www.iie.org/en/Programs/ACE-for-Womens-Leadership, 

www.rwandawomennetwork.org

I’M …….MY SISTER’S SISTER

I remember being very vocal in airing my opinions even from a tender age.  Having been brought up in a family of all girls, I remember refusing to conform to girlish or boyish things, especially in school. I had never been told that I cannot do this or that at home because I am a girl and I vehemently refused to be defined solely by my gender in school too. This contrast in my socialization process at home and in school was undeniably my genesis into feminist leadership.

My name is Catherine Wambui Kiama. I was born 25 years ago; raised and educated in the capital city of Nairobi. I hold a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of London. I am not sure at what point in life I decided to study law but my family probably always knew that was meant to be my destiny. After completing my O level education, it dawned on me that our educational process, granted teaches us things that are of paramount importance but students leave school with good transcripts but with zero life skills. As a result, many young O- level leavers get into quite a messy tangle especially in the duration leading up to the release of their results. Many of the young girls who I have talked too often tell me that they did not have the necessary information to protect themselves and make informed decisions. I decided at this point that I needed to do something. Sex education is part of the 8-4-4 curriculum but after conducting a survey in several schools in Nairobi and its outskirts, I quickly realized that the same is not implemented. Either our teachers are too shy to discuss this and our parents leave the whole burden to the schools and religious institutions would just rather not touch this subject altogether.

 ‘Sisterhood’ was born out of these needs to provide young teenage girls with essential life skills. Sisterhood is a mentorship program that aims to encourage, inspire and support sisters to rise to the challenge and be the best they imagine themselves to be. Sisterhood tries to be a bridge that safely transports these impressionable young teens to be responsible adults. The program runs in high schools in Nairobi and its environs and adopts a curriculum based on the needs assessment of the school and the students. Core topics that are always addressed include self-esteem, HIV & AIDS and goal setting. The program also tries to hold educational fairs where the students can get guidance and career advice especially before they choose what major units to take up in their final years of study. The program is run on a pro-bono basis and an effective way of inspiring the girls is to bring women who grew up in the same locality and who may have even attended the same schools and have excelled in their respective fields. This I have noted is the best approach to take as the girls and the mentors can identify with each other. Within Nairobi, “Sisterhood” deliberately targets slums and informal settlements where this information is much more essential. Quite recently Sisterhood has started a similar program for the boy child and has incorporated mixed secondary schools into the target populous.

Based on the teenage empowerment program, I had the privilege of attending the YWLI feminist leadership training which a six month course. Based on the theme of the Institute; ‘My personal is political my power to influence change’ the most humbling thing I was constantly reminded of was that first of all I need to take care of myself to be able to take care of others, This necessarily means that I have to take care of both my physical and spiritual, and mental self. It was insightful to realize that as a young woman most if not all of my decisions may have already been made for me by a political class. It is with this realization that I am embracing my personal as political and using this to air the grievances of both women and young girls and calling for women to rise up and let their voices be heard. During the fellowship, I had the honor of being indulged by remarkable women leaders who have left lasting foot prints in the fight for gender parity in Kenya and beyond. It was also truly comforting to form solidarity unions with other young women leaders who are doing remarkable things to make a better world for future generations. The greatest lessons I took with me from the institute was probably that the journey to self realization and to make an impact however small start with me and my first small steps….

The institute equipped me with the skills that I need to mentor the teenage girls and boys and to embrace my personal as political and use this understanding as my power to influence change Following the Institute, Sisterhood is formally undergoing registration and aims to continue running mentorship programs for both girls and boys within Kenya and hopefully on day beyond that geographical confine…

Young Women's Leadership Institute (YWLI) is one of the four partner institutes of the African Centers of Excellence (ACE) for Women's Leadership program run by the Institute of International Education (IIE) , Ethiopia Office.

For more on IIE , ACE or YWLI please follow the links below.
www.iie.org/
www.iie.org/en/Programs/ACE-for-Womens-Leadership, 
www.ywli.org