The Gentle Tamers in Transition: Women on the Move

I envision my life in a very multi faceted way: supporting the widows and the women infected by HIV/AIDS. I will continue to supporting programs that deals with eradication of topical issues like gender based violence (GBV), violence against girls in schools (VAGS), HIV/AIDS, stereotype on women etc. I will continually support programs that transform women and girls to better position in the society for example women leadership trainings, education, entrepreneurial skills for women, women & political participation among others. With a attainment of all these women economic and social empowerment for women will be greatly increased.

I will love to see a transformational change in my community in regards to the way women are treated. I am referring to retrogressive cultural practice of ‘Wife Inheritance’ or levirate. Widows are forced to undertake this ritualistic practice after the burial of the husband. It is forced on them and should she decline the penalty is heavy; either she will be regarded as a prostitute or be made an outcast who will not be involved in any family functions. Sometimes the widow is sent away because they fear she will bring a curse or she will make the family members die of funny disease known as ‘Chira’. On the other side of the coin, many women whose husbands have inherited widows are now infected by HIV/AIDS making the region to have the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS which is currently at 15.5% while the national statistics is at 6.7%.

I really want to be among the Voices of Our Correspondent (VOC) for world pulse as this is an opportunity for me to articulate women and girl-child issues in my community. Through VOC I will be able to network with like-minded people, share my experience and learn from their best practices. As the platform is digital which bring millions of women from different parts of the world I feel VOC will help me realize my vision through posting of my articles which are on women and girl child issues. Finally, it is also the best forum for me to publish my articles that are not published.