Creating Opportunities for Marginalized Women

By Margaret Lewis-John, 2nd year MDP student

For the last couple of weeks of my field placement I was involved in a seminar on Girl Child education and development.  The aim of the seminar was to identify challenges affecting the development of the Girl Child in nomadic pastoralist communities in Kenya and to make recommendations on the way forward to the difficulties they experience. Through various focus group discussions, relevant strategies which could remedy the situation were identified for implementation. Additionally, the workshop allowed past scholarship beneficiaries of Indigenous Information Network (IIN) to share their experiences and challenges in completing their education.  This enabled us to recognize successful interventions which can be used to address the Girl Child education and development now and the future.  From the seminar deliberations, a work plan was formulated, a report was compiled and a proposal developed from the findings and submitted for possible funding.

Margaret (L) sharing a moment with Girl-Child participants

Based on my experience it seems natural when a child is born the parents start thinking of a school they will send the child and the potential of a career which is articulated to the child in toys and story books. However, this kind of prospect is not the reality for many children in Kenya, especially among pastoralist Maasai girls.  The reality for many is milking cows, taking care of animals in the hot scorching sun and walking long distances to fetch water and firewood.  Moreover, some never make it to a classroom since within nomadic pastoralist communities in Kenya there is a low status given to girls as compared to boys.  The preference for boys in pastoralist communities is cultural and historically based on the patriarchal system of inheritance.  Many girls are physically and emotionally abandoned or perceived as less important.  Subsequently, this perception is demonstrated even through celebrations prepared for the birth of a boy as opposed to the birth of a girl.  From the seminar I advocated for the setting up of funds for the education of girls and met with various private sector stakeholders who can assist in support of the girl child education and development. 

Margaret at WYLDE International Seminar on entrepreneurship

Furthermore, it was recognized that low economic status among women makes them vulnerable to continue their traditional ways of life which impacts on girls as they do not have the necessary funds to send them to school even though in Kenya there is a policy on free primary education.  Consequently, I attended a workshop held by WYLDE International on business development, which offers consulting, coaching and training on business as a way to help them to find their edge in whatever business opportunity they pursue.  This allowed me to develop a training manual for IIN which can be used for entrepreneurial training in pastoralist communities, especially among women. Also, going to the Massai market, I made many friends and taught them the hair style of interlocking dreads which many will use as an alternative means for income generation. 

 
As I reflect on my time in Kenya and with my host organization IIN, I can think of these words: it was truly memorable, educational and informative. It was an occasion in which I can certainly ponder and say, I will return in the foreseeable future.    

  

Margaret (L) and Maria (R) after hair locking at Maasai Market

Dynamics of what constitutes development

By Margaret Lewis-John, 2nd year MDP student

I am in Kenya progressing with my field placement and having a wonderful time. I am working as an intern with Indigenous Information network (IIN).  This is an NGO which has done various developmental projects on education, especially on the “Girl Child”, climate change, advocacy on female genital mutilation (FGM) and various environmental issues.  I visited some communities in the Rift Valley in the county of Marsabit and have truly experienced indigenous way of life among pastoralist Maasai people.

My visit was mainly to conduct leadership training to empower women on their participation in their county's governance and economic development.  Also, it was an opportunity to conduct a baseline survey on the needs of women in the Marsabit County in three communities; Korr, Karigi and Samburu and assess the ways IIN could assist in their development.  Additionally, it was my first time visiting an arid region; I was able to observe the changes in the natural vegetation from Nairobi to Karigi. I am certain that I saw more than 15 vegetation zones as I traversed on my way through the desert.  It was an amazing experience as I reminisced on my childhood days of reading stories of foxes waiting for a stray goat to have as their dinner and to see foxes waiting as we passed through the desert region; only to find a herd of goats and sheep not too far in the distance.   

Margaret visiting some children in Karigi at a dry river bed in the area of the Rift Valley

                                                                                                                                

The effects of climate change in this region are quite evident as many rivers have become dry land, while most areas are very dusty.  Likewise, as one drives through this desert region it’s not hard to see that if you meet anyone who is out pasturing their animals, it’s not money or food they will ask for but simply; Water! Yes water!  Large acres of land without a cloud in the sky and no trees around, yet the animals (goats and camels) all look healthy. They have adapted to the harsh climatic conditions to enable their survival.  
 

Margaret with Indigenous women from Korr

In one week, I could share experiences relating to governance, health, education, housing, economic livelihoods, climate change, human and food security, poverty and globalization. In essence, every aspect of the MDP program which relates to western interpretation of what is a good life and what constitutes poverty among these communities.  Despite western interpretations of what constitute happiness and development it was not hard to see the proud display of Maasai culture was not just for us visitors, but as part of their daily lifestyle.

The intact ways in which some communities exist will certainly not fit into the western definition of what they will term as development.  In the Samburu reserve, both animals and man co-exist (lions, tigers, giraffes, elephants, crocodiles).  Many of the modern amenities we take for granted are non-existent in these communities, yet I did not miss any of them and was able to get my own manyatta (house) with 2 beds.

Traditional house in Kagiri

Moreover, I did not even need a fan as the cool desert wind in the night seems to be still present during the day that my manyatta (house) was always welcoming like what I usually hear when I visit the Maasai market in town,  Karibu! Karibu! (Welcome, welcome).  This field experience to the Marsabit County shows different ways in which development can be viewed and tailored based on local needs and perspectives and not from the point of view of the practitioner. 

Asante Sana, Nairobi

By Rachel Bach, 2nd year MDP student

At front desk of Population Council with Frank

My three-month field placement was an educational and enlightening journey. As it comes to an end I am able to reflect on my experience and the lessons I learned.

I spent the first three weeks of my placement in Ghana as I was initially going to be working on a project there. However, unforeseen circumstances meant that project did not go ahead. Arrangements were made for me to relocate to Kenya where I, as mentioned in my previous post, “interned” at the Population Council with a group of MPH students from UCLA.

I had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the role of large global health research organizations in improving policies and programs. I worked closely with Population Council research associates and fellow interns to conduct a research project and complete a draft report for potential publication. I was also able to accompany field workers to the field as they conducted interviews in remote areas on the Kenyan coast. That experience really completed my time in Kenya. I was able to experience the challenges that go into gathering data of that kind firsthand and witnessed the geographical and transportation barriers that people face when attempting to access health services. 

My time at the Population Council provided me with the opportunity to learn more about the role of research in identifying neglected health and development problems and improving well-being and health of current and future generations. My main project was focused on the barriers that women face when attempting to access care for obstetric fistula. The Population Council has a partnership with Fistula Care Plus at Engender Health. They will use the systemative review that I produced over the next year as they design and implement future intervention projects. I really appreciate that the Population Council’s work does not end with conducting research; they strive to ensure that their findings are translated into concrete improvements in policies and programs.

Doing a summary presentation on my time in Kenya for the office

Furthermore, I learned invaluable life lessons through living and working in Nairobi. I learned about a new local culture (while eating delicious foods). I developed new daily routines, made wonderful friends, and saw some amazing sights. There were certainly some challenges. Levels of risk varied as some areas of Kenya are currently facing threats from terrorism that has hurt the local tourism industry and meant I always had to be cognizant of personal security. However, it was definitely interesting hearing local opinions on the travel advisories and comparing daily life in Nairobi to what is portrayed in the media. Kenya is facing a difficult situation, but it is not important to not let media sensationalism overshadow local vibrancy and beauty.

All in all, I had a wonderful experience that I will carry with me as my time in the MDP comes to an end. I want to say asante sana (thank you very much) to my mentors and peers at the Population Council—especially Ben, Timothy, James, Zoe, Amy, Ian, Melissa, and Nicholas—and to the various friends I met along the way. I am going to miss Nairobi and look forward to coming back one day!

Amy Westerman (UCLA intern), Zoe Baker (UCLA intern) & myself with a team of Population Council fieldworkers