No amount of rain in Nairobi could hinder what was in store for me in the inaugural WAM! The Women, Action and the Media workshop kicked off over a nice cool drink in a Nairobi restaurant. It was meet and greet. I couldn’t wait to meet the participants!
I was really thrilled at what was in store. Being the new kid on the journalism block I was was a sponge, soaking up all I could with the ultimate goal of networking with other international journalists and Learn! Learn! Learn!
When I got to the restaurant, I wasn’t quite sure where the WAM team was. I asked around, and Anna’s warm smile and Jina’s bubbly personality made me feel right at home! I knew I was I was meant to be there!
Anna, Jina and myself rambled on for about half an hour. A lot of people had been held up by the rain. And 30 minutes in, more new faces began streaming in. First came Beatrice; a Kenyan social entrepreneur, keeping disadvantaged Kenyan girls in school. Angelica; a Communication officer with Jesuit Relief Services based in Kenya came in next. Who was accompanied by Wairimu a Kenyan freelance radio & photo journalist with the BBC. And finally Ronald a young Kenyan blogger.
Even though we were just seven people, it felt like a few dozen, the conversation flowed so easily. And everyone was more than willing to share their stories and experiences. I wished it would never end.
The Participants
I was most taken by Beatrice. Through her organization; Saidia Dada (Swahili for Help Sister); she not only keeps disadvantaged girls in school during their menses by supplying sanitary towels. She also promotes the grappling Cotton industry in Kenya by buying cotton directly from local farmers in eastern Kenya to make the sanitary towels.
Beatrice was inspired to start Saidia Dada primarily to correct the wrongs of her own experience as a young woman. She came from a modest background receiving no education on her reproductive health. She would use cut sponge from worn mattresses or from torn and filthy cloth, during menstruation.
Beatrice further explained that that later affected her in marriage. She experienced several infections which left her husband suspicious of infidelity. This was later resolved by her seeking medical attention which cured past infections related to her earlier use of unsanitary material during menstruation. And this she explained was a common problem among girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Angelica also shared the amazing education program that her organization has facilitated in Kakuma refugee camp based in Northern Kenya. The program offers refugees a chance to earn their undergraduate degree through a distance learning programme with American institutions.
Phenomenal stories waiting to be told. I was amazed that Anna had only been in Kenya for less than three months and had already dedicated her time to put WAM together.
I was immediately challenged by her. She got Jina on board to help her. Jina is an American reporter based in Rwanda, with an extensive career reporting on post conflict states like Sierra Leon, Rwanda and DRC.
I was overwhelmed by the number of story ideas showering me. It was so surreal. I have been wracking my brains trying to figure what my next best story for GPI would be. And voila, three hours of conversataion was all it took to grow my list of contacts and story leads!
I can’t wait to see what the next couple of days will have in store. Shame I was so excited I forgot to carry a camera. J
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