Why I Struggled to Celebrate International Youth Day this Year?

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If you have interacted with me in person or through digital platforms you know I am an avid advocate of issues affecting adolescents, youth and women. 

Any efforts going into these cause I will cheer on with my heart and soul. This year I felt challenged or rather constrained to celebrate International Youth Day (IYD) a day I have celebrated for a decade now.

Life Threw Me Lemons; Lived on The Streets, Had Life Threatening Asthma and Degenerative Eye Problem But Now I am Having My Lemonade – Benson Kiragu

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“My life has been a roller coaster of unforeseen and unprecedented events, but I am proud of whom I have become.” Benson Kiragu outlines as he begins to narrate his story.

I was raised by my grandparents with my two siblings in Uasin Gishu county, Kenya. The year of my birth is unknown to me, but I settled for 1985 when I was applying for a birth certificate.

The year 1992 marked the beginning of a dark phase in my life. The tribal clashes associated with the general election rocked my life and that of my family. Despite us having a home my grandparents were squatters. When the clashes began our home was torched and we had to run for our lives. 

Truth About Being a Young Adolescent

I am an angry and mad teenager. I believe I have a right to be angry and annoyed. Angry at everyone in my space. This includes me. I know being a teenager is being between the ages of 13 to 18. That it is supposed to be exciting and fun at the same time. 

It is a stage of me turning into an adult where I’m expected to make mature decisions that will determine whether my future is bright or doomed. Why am I angry again? I’m angry because I have a million things crisscrossing my small mind but with a few options of who to turn to that wouldn’t judge me. The adults are supposed to understand me. My peers are supposed to love and accept me and I am expected to fully understand myself. And yet none of these people understand me. I don’t even understand me. So I’m mad!

Vulnerability is all about being Human

Take off the mask. Put your guard down. Enough about hiding your insecurities. Today I want to talk about vulnerability. Yes! Vulnerability.

I have found that many of us look at vulnerability as a weakness and we all dread the thought of being open to people about those things we are not proud of doing or the things we are still doing that we never want people to find out about us. 

It Is Time We Practised More Self-Compassion than Compassion

“I want to be a Child Protection Champion for teenagers, Can I? Is it possible?

“Corazon that dream is way too big for you to achieve! “

“You are too weird and too ugly to fit in! You just do not qualify “

  “Your shape and form look like one of a lion. You cannot be beautiful in anything you dress in.”

“You deserved the rejection from that friend! You deserve all that is happening to you and more. That is what you get for setting your standards too high!”

‘They will laugh at your stupid ideas and opinions”

What Access to Justice Meant Growing Up as an African Child

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Today we mark the International Day of the African child. A day marked to honour ten thousand black school children who took part in the Soweto Uprising in 1976 to protest poor quality education and demanded to be taught in their own language. Hundreds were shot and hundreds killed in the protest. This day has been celebrated every year since 1991. (Wikipedia)

The theme of this year's celebration theme is Access to Child-Friendly Justice System. This theme has made me think of access to justice which starts at home; with family being the first point where children learn about justice and access justice.

Effective COVID-19 Messages For Children; Episode 2

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Kenya’s first case of Covid-19 case was reported on 12th March 2020 and the numbers have continued to rise drastically with 607 confirmed infected persons, 127 recoveries, and 29 deaths as of 7th May 2020. Many more citizens are getting tested and the numbers are still expected to rise.

Sadly children are part of the above statistics given to us by the Ministry of Health. World statistics and facts about the exact number of children infected and survivors are not known due to child protection issues.

Effective COVID-19 Messages for Children; Episode 1

World Health Organization has assessed that COVID-19 is a pandemic that is spreading across Counties and Continents across the world. As the Virus continues to spread it is governments are working hard to put prevention and control measures to ensure that their populations are safe.

Children are Global Citizens. They are key in the fight against Covid-19. The only message we are giving our children is to stay home, wash their hands and wear a mask. This is very true, but I believe more clear information on Covid-19 given to children by Parents and Caregivers will go a long way in reducing the spread of the Virus among them.

My Teacher Defiled Me at The Age of 8 Years but Now I Take My Power Back; Sofi Buwembo

April is sexual assault awareness month and I feel this is the best time for me to share with the world my experience as a young girl. 

I was sexually assaulted by my teacher when I was 8 years old. I was in P.3 at Kibuli Demonstration School, Uganda. My abuser’s name was Sheikh Serubogo and he taught I.R.E in lower primary.

My teacher took me to his house and as a lamb being led to the slaughterhouse, I went with him not knowing what would befall me. 

A Stalling Career and Broken Relationship Pushed me to Depression – Kaka Tim

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Nairobi has always been the proverbial land of greener pastures. To seek these greener pastures Kaka Tim came to Nairobi with high spirits and there is nothing he looks forward to like financial freedom. Before getting on his feet, a kind cousin offered to host him.

“My career took longer to pick up, but I remained optimistic.” Kaka Tim explains. He caught a break and got a writing engagement where the payment was based on several words. Tim worked so hard and was able to get a decent income monthly. This at the time was adequate to cater for his monthly bills.

My Difficult Childhood Unknowingly Drove me into Depression; Lily Okeyo

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“It is okay not to be okay”. This is a statement taken so casually but carries so much weight. It is estimated that 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression which is the most common type of mental disorder.  

Kenya happens to be ranked 6^th in Africa in the number of depression cases at about 2 million.  It is also estimated that 4 in 5 people who commit suicide are depressed at the time of their death. 

The most common causes of depression are biological changes experienced during pregnancy, genetic predisposition, psychological risks and social factors. (WHO, Kenya Mental Health Policy/Act 2014)

I Will Not Report

I will Not Report by Sarah Masive

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I know that a crime has been committed against me,

I know that our legal system has laws that should protect me,

I know that there are lawyers that would gladly represent me for free,

I know, but I will not report this.

Every other day we hear of such cases in court,

How the survivors get victimized again by supposed protectors,

This Poem

This Poem by ToonHood

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This poem is born out of shock, born out of torn wombs inspired by the torn souls of women and girls from countries and regions where war is the breakfast,t, lunch, dinner and supper, and bomb blasts and gunshots their daily bedtime stories.

This poem is born out of cries of women who when men fear bullets shot to kill them, they count shots militia aren't militaria, gangs, or rebels, that impregnate them and their minds with memories and depressions, so they run to give their wombs a break.

Dear Mama

Dear Mama by Kimwomi Brian

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I’m sorry I’m never appreciative for all the good things you’ve done unto me. Even though my love may seem unrequited to you, best believe my soul is humbled and meek before you. Many are times you’ve shown your selfless motherly love unto me even when the world was not receptive towards me. Always taping my back and assuring me for as long as my heart drums against my ribs I have no reason to lament.

I remember days when you’d serve yourself the lowest share and serve us plenty just to ensure we have more and don’t wake up at wee hours on empty tummies. Instances when we’d take ugali and cooked bananas for lunch, just because we had no vegetables to accompany a balanced diet meal. 

Scaling the Height of Patriarchy

Scaling the Height of Patriarchy by Stephen Juma

Women are considered the pillars of their families, homemakers, and contributors in society, but some continue to be subjected to oppression and discrimination in any male chauvinist culture.  They can, however, prove to be resilient and independent people who can overcome these challenges and rise to success in a patriarchal society. 

Women of Africa and the African diaspora have been through many challenges that include biased cultural practices, gender discrimination, sexism, racism, economic dependency, among others. Their problems always seem to stem from the fact that they are women.

Who is an Ideal Woman?

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A while back, I was invited to be part of a mentorship session organised by the alumni of Daraja Academy. The invitation was extended as a motivational speaker and I had a hard time preparing my presentation. 

As I reflected on my High School experience to pick a learning point, one thing came to mind about the autographs we would sign as we left school. There was one question that was common in almost all the autographs I signed,, what is your ideal guy or girl?

Dear Dad

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Dear Dad by Corazon  Kunyobo

Today the crowd wants to hear me sing your praises,

They know I'm a poet; a poem they expect,

But I don't know where to start from,

I don't know what to say.

Tell me dad,

Have I lost a father or a molester?

How do I face everyone and say I've lost a father?

A father who turned me into his satisfaction tool

Every time mother left?