LOCATING THE STRENGTH FROM WITHIN

My vision is simply helping people find the strength from within. Life has been one of bittersweet experience for me, having to grow up in a setting where no one was responsible for mentoring you. I learnt the hard way from the things that happened to those around me – family, friends and neighbors.

I would say I know exactly what it is to be told you cannot do something or be who or what you want to be because some people perceive that you will excel so they do everything they can to rubbish whatever confidence you are trying to build.

In the course of my job, I remember walking up to a superior and told him point blank that he was making a mistake silencing this voice because it is destined to be and I make bold to say that the idea of talking down on me or my ideas died that instant.

Sometimes we are influenced mostly by the things and people around us so it’s important for us to be weary of whom and what we surround ourselves with, sometimes these influences can come from the ones we love and those we think truly love us.

Rita lives on my street and her story smells of parental ignorance and greed, she was married off at 15years of age with promises from her “oldman” husband that he would send her to school but he never did, she has 4 children without the knowledge of what her rights are.

Rita has continued to live in fear and rejection and once said to me that she has never looked her husband in the face from the 1st time he had sex with her, I was stunned when she said she had never loved or felt loved before and I said to her… “discover the strength from within”, does anyone know what it feels like to be tapped on the back to get on the bed when its time to have sex? It is that bad, she may not be able to find that voice because of the fear that her parents had built in her and the society’s impression of a woman who leaves an abusive marriage.

Rita’s story is one of many and it stirred in me the spirit to interact and motivate the other Ritas in my community, its about being a light, no matter how small, it will illuminate the path in a dark tunnel. Im a strong optimist about women finding their voices and acting fast on it, because it is something that needs nurturing.

I desire to be part of a community that is very aware of their basic rights duties and obligations. One where Rita or me can speak with other women and draw inspiration from.

Becoming a Voice of our Correspondent will put me at a variety of advantages, it will first and foremost get my voice on the world platform as I echo the voice of the voiceless in my community.

I want to also use the opportunity to expand my frontier, imbibe the technique of writing stories that really tell the story and presenting programmes in such a way that my viewers and listeners are carried along without missing out on information.

It will also help me locate and reach out to other women facing similar challenges through networking, with the hope of finding a lasting solution to the issues.

Being on this platform for 1month has been like I have been here for long time, having to read stories and experiences of other women. Just this Wednesday, Sept 28th Mamalaw and I had a good chat on health issues on my radioshow, she talked about Diabetes and shared with us what it was like when she was diagnosed, that went a long way and I would say WorldPulse made it happen and im sincerely grateful for WP and all the women involved.

I also believe that being a VOC will help point me in the direction of connecting people in want and need here to those who can help their situations.

For me it’s about being that light that illuminates the path in a dark tunnel!