A Sober Reflection

I have a ritual I call a ‘personal retreat’ every quarter-I spend some time at the beach in silence and in solitude. This practice helps me to reflect on the course of the life I am treading and plan for the journey ahead.
Today is one of those days for this ritual.

I am at the beach right now. I just move from sitting on the wet rocks where my feet were knee length drenched in the sea water. I am sitting in the sand and I can hear the roaring of the sea. I see the sea waves rushing and dancing towards me and I can feel the freshness of the water and the tickling of the sand under the sole of my feet.

As I think about the year 2009, my World Pulse experience especially the Voices of our Future Training Programme experience occupies my mind and I begin to think deeply and critically about my life as a Correspondent and about the whole programme.

Some of my favorite memories of the programme are
-Meeting my mentor Kathy Castro right here in my home country and sharing my experiences with you all.
-Hearing the different beautiful and courageous vices of beautiful women of vision across the globe for the first time through our Skype conference and personal calls
-Having Mid-wives to gently encourage me to push out my babies (stories) as I go through labour in tears, heat and sweat finalizing assignments.

What I feel as my greatest success on this programme is completing all four assignments and meeting deadlines promptly despite the numerous challenges.

In the years ahead, I envision myself empowering other girls and women with the knowledge, skills, networks I have gained through this programme. I intend to write more to change the world and to continue to increase the voices of my sisters across the world by reporting on their behalf their heart burning issues.
From the genesis, through to the metaphoric stages and to the future of the VOF, I see a beautiful world, a bright Future and a free world fit for girls and women. I feel some positive change and transformation in me that I cannot aptly describe.

As my memory digs deep, I remember the growing stages as we connect with each other across the ocean, develop writing skills and birth eye opening stories and scribble life transforming words, phrases and sentences.
I personally honestly feel a sense of accomplishment for first of all myself and for all of you my sisters as we dared to voice out the dreaded issues in our various countries and continents

I am again inspired by you all by your present work, your courage, strength and aspiration
I am confident about a better situation of girls and women in the world today and tomorrow because of the 31 visionary women World Pulse trained this year including myself. We are not only history makers but we are builders and shakers of the world.

I encourage us all strong women to wake up, dress up and show up in our various small ways to impact other girls and women with the knowledge, resources and skills gained through this programme.