BACK TO BASICS

It has been a while!

At the beginning of the year, there was a blog piece about being grateful. Mostly, it was about being grateful for the fact that we have lived to see a new year.

We almost headed to the middle month of the year, and if you are reading this, it means you are alive and well. For that reason, i think it is important to take a moment and to thank you.

Say thank you to God if you are a religious person, or to someone who has seen you through a tough time. Say thank you to that person who has put a smile on your face by saying/doing something silly. Say thank you to the waiter/waitress over lunch who has served you with such kindness.

The world we're living in today is fast paced. Everyone seems to be in a rush. There is so much to do in such little time! Often, we are too occupied trying to get money and get rich, that we forget to take a moment and breath.

We walk too fast that we fail to notice the beautiful flowers on the sidewalk. We get too preoccupied in trying to grow our careers, that we forget to take time to watch our children grow. We work so hard "networking", yet we fail to maintain the most important network-family. We work too hard in building ourselves we forget to build our relationships.


Take a moment and think about it. Smell the roses, let the rain fall on your skin, smile, care, love, appreciate, be kind, forgive, learn, laugh. Live.

Let's go back to basics.

ALICE MATERE

First let me say that it's not always that you meet people in life and you're never the same again.I Have just completed my internship at Muthaa Foundation and amazingly I had never gone for a single FC2 training (training done on the correct and consistent use of female condoms),so when my boss told me that I was to accompany Esther- Program officer in charge of the FC2 program to a training in Kitale, I was really excited and nervous at the same time.

Now you probably guessed my piece is on  Alice Matere but hold on, I'll get there .As we drove to the airport I was absorbed deep in thought with different expectation and ideas from the local community.The flight was short and terrible, let me just say I'd rather walk than fly (I seriously mean that) .We get to Sikhendu Market,a small village 50 km from Kitale at 3pm and as we alight from the Matatu we are mobbed by a group of youth asking to carry our luggage.Adamantly,we resist as Esther calls Alice,but before  her call goes through a woman with a big smile on a face comes our way smiling and shouts "you must be Esther". They both hug and cuddle like they have known each other for ages even though they have just me."Am Watson"I say as I pass my hand to greet her.She tells us that shes just from attending a G.N.L.D meeting,that just impressed me from the onset,the hunger and desire for information just stuck out for me.

She pulls the suitcase from me but with some resistant as she insists she was ok.As we walk to her house I could not help but notice the stares ,waves and greeting from the villagers.We clearly looked like outsiders but there was a aura of expectation, like they knew we were coming.
Alice lives in a  single bedroom house with her 3 children one who is adopted.Brian-one of her sons a form one student was at hand to welcome us-A wall hanging at her home read 'we are humble not because we have a lot but because we are content and happy with what we have'.

Now while I could go on and on about Alice,my  experience was mainly about the interaction we had,she had this authority that endeared her to the community members not because she was a  community worker, a single mother,a village elder or a social  worker but because she was empowered both socially and economically.Women are the backbone of every society or community and if any change is to be initiated it must start with women.Every society needs an Alice,a champion of change,someone ready to go to every length to make sure that the society is availed with the right information so as to aid its growth and development.

My trip to Kitale was supposed to be about Female Condom but in turned out to be  life changing experience,I met a lady that inspired and motivated me.

I'd like to dedicate this piece to Esther Ngure, for showing concern and guiding me through the 2 day training (I would actually leave my wife to be with Esther..I hope she does not read this ) and of course  thanks to Winnie Chelagat Makena the Communications Manager for allowing me to share my experience with everyone ..I HOPE I did not disappoint.