A few women

Here are some photographs of some of the women whom I have met and who offer strength and support to others. So far I have met over 500 women, many of whom have shared their stories with me and who have been kind and generous. I have spoken about some other women in other posts but these are a few more.

She was nine years old when she ran away form home as her father was going to marry her, in exchange for three goats and two cows, to a man of 60 years. She walked over 100 km to join a village where she would be safe from circumcision (FGM) and a young marriage. She is 19 years old now and taking courses to learn computers.

I met her before the election in the Kibera slums. She and another 6 women were educating other women on non-violence and encouraging a peaceful election. She was a victim of post-election violence, suffering tremendous human rights violations. She is mother of seven and, after being widowed, has managed to provide them all with an education.

We met at a transit stop in Kibera and then again in a meeting. She is warm and welcoming! During the election in 2007, she escaped with her life, breaking through the the bars and glass of her house windows. She hid and narrowly escaped with her life. She has survived horrendous experiences but nevertheless advocates for peace in the community that violated her.

 SHe mentors women encouraging them to leave the sex trade. She became a sex worker when she was 14 in order to support her siblings. She now spends her night handing out condoms to other sex workers, encourages HIV/AIDS testing for both the Johns and the women and has helped establish a medical clinic that runs from 11pm to 2am in order to care for women in the trade away form the watchful eye of the community.

 

She was imprisoned herself and now helps women in prisons by rescuing any children left behind when an arrest is made, encouraging and supporting the women while imprisoned and meeting them upon their release. She is caring for six children in her own home and is often called in the middle of the night by inmates about to be released.

These three women are all from the Gulu area of Uganda and now live in an IDP camp on the grounds of a prison in Kampala. They are supporting one another emotionally and trying to find peace after losing family, suffering through poverty, and enduring spousal abuse.

The week of Valentines

Women love Valentine's Day. We love to be showered with gifts and attention and to be treated luxuriously. Yesterday was Valentine's Day and rather than being treated thus, I traveled by matatu to Maai Mahiu to meet some women who are scraping together their living having been displaced due to the 2007 post-election violence.

Here is a photo of a matatu . . .

Note the cartons of eggs attached to the back. This fourteen seater can crowd in a lot more for a short haul, but they don't like doing it long hauls as the police are checking vehicles. The one I took from Maai Mahiu to the IDP camp (Internally displace persons) crammed in 20 people plus the driver!

Many of these IDP do not even have the luxury of living in constructed houses, but rather spend the past few years living in tents that are now torn and praying the rain doesn't come and wash them away. The government do not count these women and therefore offer no support. It was hot and very dry  . . In the distance, beyond the donkey driven cart hauling water, you can see the buildings.  . . .

I met some women and we have agreed that I will return next week to discuss the upcoming elections and how they can maintain and encourage peace. They are particularly fearful as the last election caused their relocation!

The day was exhausting given the heat and travel. I was happy to be back in my lovely hotel in Nairobi.

Earlier in the week I had met with students at the university of Nariobi to talk about peace building as Tribal tension is increasing there as the election on March 4th nears. This will be the first opportunity for many of them to vote and they encouraged each other to do so, and to vote for the person who addresses the issues rather than voting for a member of their tribe.