BE YOURSELF NEVER FEEL LESS
I went to a regular school without being noticed by any one
even my own sisters and brother they though that I was too stubborn somehow
since I had never listen to what they were saying or order me to do
,until my teacher noticed my issue and informed my guardians about this that I
was not performed well they took me to different hospitals and found out that I
was a profound ,they tried to get a solution but all was in vain but luck
enough there was a special school in our home I attended with full
support from my family , I did my exams both Kenya National Examination of
primary and secondary Education.
I did not perform well even though my school was pleased about
my performance ,i joined mainstreaming university in Nairobi where I did
diploma in law and I was the first Deaf person to undergo law course many
people include my family were surprised about my decision since most of my
classmates went to do special education courses in various colleges, after my
good two and half years I did my examinations and I was awarded with CREDIT ,it
was unfortunately for me to get that grade but because of what I went through
while in the law school without interpreters was a challenge for me all I did
was to copy notes from my friends especially this lady Margaret Lenokrina
she was one of my best campus friends .Thank to National Council for their
support and my interpreter Douglas Okeya who attended few of my classes.👏👏👐
During that time in law school I decide to join Leonard
Cheshire Young Voice Campaigners to advocating for the rights of Persons with
Disabilities that was one of the best moment I had taken part in many
campaigns activities: including leading a group of young voices campaigners to
advocate for Sign Language Interpretation services during news segments on
television I also campaigned for materials in Braille for the blind people and
many services for persons with disabilities. I tries to help ensure that Persons
with Disabilities in Kenya enjoy the same rights as other citizens.
Through this group I became a global Human Rights ambassadors
and a speaker I travelled around the world meeting Famous persons including
Queen Elizabeth II ,UK former Minister Tony Blair ,His wife Charlie Blair ,UN
secretary General and many others where I shared issues faced by Kenyan
Persons with Disabilities and women and I assuring young girls with
disabilities that disability should not get in their way of achieving their dreams,
I was elected as a Co-Chair for Global Partnership on child with Disabilities
during UN Assembly at UNICEF headquarter New -York ,wow! Its was the
best experience to work with international persons with Disabilities.
After I graduate from Law school ,I decide to apply for Law Degree but very unfortunately most schools denied my application based on my Deafness and for not doing Kiswahili in High school I was total disappointed and arguing with them that being a deaf does not mean that I should not doing a course of my choice ,I reported the matter to Kenya National Human Rights Commission and to member of Parliament Hon.Isaac Mwaura who was a representative for Persons with Disabilities ,it took too long to change the law to recognize Kenyan sign language as a subject to replace with Swahili that can allow admission of Deaf persons in law schools ,I waited for long before it passed .
So I decided to apply for another course as I wait for that
issue to be approved, because of my passion for women issues I joined
University of Nairobi Main campus to do Bachelor Arts in Gender and Development
where I am in my 4th year today .Apart from that I was a first Deaf person to
get a scholarship from Friedrish Ebert Stifung to do Political Leadership and
Governance political program because of my passion in politics and law .
After the program I started being very committed to political
party activities, and served number of disabilities and youths organisations
including Kenya National Association of Deaf as the Secretary General for youth
section, Deaf Ability Initiative as project coordinator ,Gender and Social
Inclusion officer of Peace Ambassador Integration Organisation,Board
member Youth Synergy Kenya and many others without forget I won a Peace Ambassador
medal as 2014/2015 outstanding leader ,I have been one of the commissioners for
Developing countries During the World Congress of the Deaf Istanbul 2015 and I
was also crowned Miss Deaf Kenya 2013/2014 .
2016 I applied for Mandela Washington Fellowship even though I was been disappointed by my previous application because ''I always believe that my best time is yet to come'' I went on and try my luck for another time ,God is marvelous I was selected for the interview I did it well and I was placed at University of Illinois Urban Campaign where I did Civic leadership and I was got the opportunity to meet President Barrack Obama ,after shaking his hand he I signed to him and he said ''Congrats Well done young girl ‘through American sign language I was a happy girl from that day I start believing myself more than before.
From Obama's statement'' Worriless about what you want to become ,worry more about what you want to do’ this statement me gave me another strength after the Fellowship I got home as a new person I started doing several project to Impact Lives ,Mentorship program in Special schools because I wanted to be a role model to young Deaf girls ,Providing free sanitary towels to school girls and shoe for kids to fight against Jigger and make a child smile those project urged me to start my organisations Free A Girl's World Network (FGWN)is a not for profit, non-partisan and non-religious community based organization in Nairobi that strives to offer a chance to young girls experiencing challenges related to family/personal issues, cultural practices and any form of disability.
The organization objects to achieve this through ambitious
programs aimed at alleviating poverty in the informal settlements, promote food
security, facilitate access to education, provide shelter and legal redress (if
need be) for girls culturally marginalized/abused, facilitate access to health
services, sensitize general public on the place of the girl-child and advocate
for better terms to young girls pursuing their goals.
Vision – To empower the girl-child to explore her world freely without
socio-economic and cultural boundaries
Mission – Provide opportunities to young girls from social marginalization,
isolation and discrimination through income generating initiatives and formal
education with basic technical/vocational skills
Apart from that I was selected by Nairobi Youth Senate to be
Starehe Constituency Youth representative and I joined other persons with
Disabilities to ensure that they are involved in political activities and are
recognized by political party we formed ODM Disability League that will meet
their interests, the league was launched by ODM party leader RT.Hon.Raila
Amollo Odinga Nov 2016 and I been named as one of influential Kenyan Youths.
Having such experiences, I have always felt, from an early
age, the need to engage with the minority groups in society, the need to speak
out for the oppressed, the urge to fight for those who can’t fight and
represent not only the disabled in Kenya but global.
I am guided by the principle of “I alone cannot change
the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” -
Mother Teresa
To my fellow women and girls being a Deaf has
not stopped me to be whom I am now even though I may have no big name somewhere
in the country but what I have done to impact the live of a single person is
what matter and for you please never allow anything on anyone make you feel
less be YOU and YOURSELF, you are more powerful
than you know ,it’s pretty amazing being a women ,you have all of
the essentials for life within you, As a woman you are very nurturing force and
not only have the power create life ,but to incubate it and deliver it to the world.
On an individual level you are able to change and become whatever you want
unless you don't want, growing and developing into the life that you choose, it’s
an amazing experience and one that you will want to
create consciously rather than letting others decide what sort of life you
will have ,Never forget that as a woman you have these power within
in you. So keep shinning!!!!! 
Amazing!
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