Issuu

R E S PEK T PU BLIC ATIONS | J U LY 2019

IS SUE 01

REKORD RESPEK T THE MISSION

MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MONTH A detailed break-down of what each of the campuses accomplished >>> page 26

FEDERATION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION AFRICA REGIONAL MEETING What happened when the biggest SRHR students program (i.e. RESPEKT!) came on board for the biggest medical students meeting in East Africa. >>> page 38

DISCUSSION: ARE CONTRACEPTIVES A NECESSITY FOR THE MODERN DAY TEENAGER? One student’s take on the current situation facing stakeholders in the reproductive health field today >>> page 11

REKORD | July 2019

ME SSAG E F R O M E DI TOR

CO N TE N TS

air yo ur v iews. Whether it

cover ; to J o hn S atis h, t h e

is to sh a re yo u r t wo cents

c reative m as ter m ind w h o

o n a h o t to pic, o r to s im pl y

c am e u p w ith the RE KO R D

display yo u r c reativ it y, we

titl e and l as t, bu t by no

are listen ing.

m eans the l eas t, to B id i a n - w ho needs no intro duc -

Alo n g t h at no te, we’d l ik e

tio n w hats o ever. I t nee d s n o

to say a hu g e T HAN K YOU

tel l ing how m as s ive a so urce

to all t h os e w ho res po nded

o f s u ppo r t he has been f ro m

I t i s my hu m ble pleasure to

to t h e cal l fo r s u bm is -

Day One. Whether it wa s

welco m e you to t h e all-n ew

sio n s! Th ro u g ho u t this

to pu s h fo r s u bm is s io n s,

R E KOR D m aga z i n e.

issue, you w il l f ind ins ig ht-

o r s im pl y co ns u l t o n th e

f ul ar t icl es and hear t war m -

way fo r ward, he has be e n

O u r mi s s i on i s s imp le: to

in g p o etr y au tho red by o u r

an abs o l u te s weethear t,

Take a br ief look back at

b r i n g toge the r th e RESPEK T

own RESpeak er s - w hic h is

al ways avail abl e and s o ve r y

some of the key highlights

co m mu ni t y onto t h e same

t h e t it le yo u r s u cces s f u l s u b -

pro m pt. RE KORD wo u l d n o t

from the year that was

p a g e ( both li te rally an d f igu- missio n w il l ear n yo u. I t is

have been po s s ibl e w it h o ut

rat i ve ly !) by providin g t imely my h o pe to receive even

him .

u p d ate s on all th at we par-

mo re entr ies fo r s u bs eq u ent

t i c i p ate i n, s o that wh et h er

issues.

We are exc ited fo r w hat l ays

o r not you we re able to

»» p.11

4 rekapping 2018

10 Opinion

articles

»» p.25

18 2019 events

and updates

»» p.50

34 shaking my head

G et the down-low on all

Another insightful

the major events RESPEK T

commentar y on

has been a par t of, includ-

contemporar y issues in

ing the first- ever Kenya

Kenya

Healthcare Students’

38 famsa africa

Thought-provok ing ar ti-

Summit, Afr ica Health

ahead, and ho pe yo u en j oy

cles by RESpeakers explor-

Agenda I nter national

this prem ier is s u e!

ing where parents fit into

Conference, DUF S eminar

regional meeting

the SRHR conversation,

and many more!

A recap to relive one of

at tend, you k now exac tly

A n umb er o f s pec ial thank

w h at you’re proud to be a

yo us are al s o in o rder : to

p a r t of, a nd by of fer in g yo u,

D o n Olang’, the ar tis t to

Til l nex t tim e, happy

and whether contracep -

d ea r re a d e r, a pl at fo r m to

t h an k fo r the del ig htf u l bac k

reading !

tives are necessities for the moder n teenager

Do you want to be featured in the next issue of rekord? Wh eth er it ’s ar t wor k , ar t ic les, p oet r y or sim p ly fe e dba ck o n t his issue - we’re exc ited to hear from yo u !

14 joint partnership development project

Find out what went down in Juja!

You may send in multiple contr ibutions, up to a maximum of t wo, each no more than 700 words. Ar ti cl es should inc lud e at least one relevant p ic t u re, atta ch e d sep arately

16 poetry

24 RESPeaker

contributions

events of this year, if you were luck y enough to

K ick back , enjoy and revel

attend. I f not, take a look

in the ar tistic genius that

to see what you missed!

resides in Team RESPEK T.

26 menstrual

hygiene month

Take a look at what each of our teams achieved

O n e of many sp rea ds that

dur ing the month-long

f eatures w r itin g by o ur

campaign.

ow n R E Sp eake r s

t he most spec tacular

43 team building Take a look to see how Teams Cheetah and Tiger k icked off the new year.

46 on friends A light-hear ted take on t he t ypes of people we sur round ourselves with.

S ubm it to publ ic atio n s @ res pek t.o r.k e

S ee how many of your fr iends you can identify!

REKORD | July 2019

R EK A PP ING 2 0 1 8

R E K A PPI N G 2 0 1 8 dis c u s s ed.

J U LY 23- 27: 22ND

NOVEMBER 11-15: MEDICAL WOMEN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

HIV infec tio n s, w h i c h inc l u des re d uc i n g

I N T ERNATIO N AL AI DS

We al s o hel d a

CO N FERENCE

the nu m ber o f s ex ua l

m edia inter v iew

par tner s, in c re a s -

Wi t h the the m e o f

o n the im po r tance

ing co ndo m us e a n d

Bre ak i ng Bar r i e rs,

o f yo u th being a

del ay ing ag e o f s ex ua l

Bu i l di ng Br i d ge s, t h e

c r u c ial co m po -

debu t.

2 2 nd I nte r nati on al

nent o n Cam paign G etting to Zero. This t h an 175 co untr ies

ec ho es the UN A IDS

The Executive

gat h ered at t he co n-

v is io n o f ac hiev ing

Direc tor of GVR C

feren ce to discu s s,

Zero new HIV infec -

Ms. Alber ta Wambua

amo n g a var iet y

tio ns, Zero dis c r im -

dur ing one of the

o f ch allen ges, the

inatio ns and Zero

trainings.

declin e in h igh-l evel

AIDS -rel ated D eaths.

po lit ical will a nd

I t is reco gnized that

f un din g an d a l ar m -

behav io r c hang e is

A I D S Confe re nce

in g sp ikes in n ew

a c r itic al co m po -

wa s he ld be t we en

HI V cases amo ng k ey

nent in aver ting new

J u ly 23 and J u ly 27,

gro ups, in cluding

2 0 1 8 i n Am s te rdam,

ado lescent gir l s in

N et he r la nds. We h ad

sub -S ah aran Af r ic a.

a d e l e gati on of t wo

Th is was fo llowed

v i b rant me m be rs,

up by a n umbe r o f

With an inc re a s -

Cynthi a Agi nga

meet in gs wit h s o m e

ing inc iden ce o f G B V,

a nd Vi v i an M ogen i,

o f o ur st ak eh ol der s,

par tic u l ar l y fe m i -

at te n d i ng. The y were

wh ere cr it ical ideas

c ide am o ng un i ve r-

p a r t of ove r 14,000

an d p o tent ial new

s it y s tu dent s, we f a c i l -

d e l egate s from mo re

app ro ach es were

itated a wor k s h o p o n

SEPT: JOINT PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Preventio n fo r s t ud e nt

We lu c k y to ho st

st ren gt h en t h e t wo

a f u tu re s par r ing

l eader s in p a r t n e r-

t he joi nt pa r tner-

p ro jec t s t h ro ug h

s trateg y.

s hip w ith th e G e n d e r

s hi p de ve lopment

cro ss-lear n in g

Head o nto pag e fo r

Vio l ence R e cove r y

p roje c t be t ween

f ro m t h e b est p rac -

hear m o re abo u t

Center (G V R C ) . Th i s

R ESPEK T and

t ices, discussio n o f

w hat went dow n!

was hel d at M o i ,

SH E BA. The go als

co mmo n ch alleng es

P wani and Eg e r to n

o f JPD P was to

an d develo ping

Univer s ities.

exc h a n g e i d e a s profe ssiona lly.

Aw i n j a , I v y N j e r i , M i tc h e l O p a k a

R e s e a rc h f rom a ll se c tors, pa r-

a n d Na o m i Nd uk u at te n d e d t h e

t i c ul a r l y s ocia l a nd e conomic

M e d i c a l Wo m e n I nte r n at i o n a l

d e ve l o p m e nt se c tors, wa s pre -

As s o c i at i o n Co n fe re n ce h o s te d

s e nte d a n d d iscu ssions a bou t the

by o ur p a r t n e r t h e K e nya M e d i c a l

S us t a i n a b l e D e ve lopme nt G oa ls

Wo m e n As s o c i at i o n . Th e t h e m e

( S D G s ) a n d a d va nce me nts in

wa s ‘Acce l e rat i n g Wo m e n’s

h e a l t h fo r wome n, child re n a nd

H e a l t h Ag e n d a : Pr i o r i t i e s a n d

a d o l e s ce nt s we re he ld.

O p p o r t un i t i e s Th ro ug h U NS D G s h e l d b e t we e n 1 1 - 1 5 Nove m b e r,

p a ra l l e l s e s sion cor re lating la ck

2 0 1 8 , at M ove n p i c k H o te l a n d

o f S R H R Awa re ne ss to the low

a wo r k s h o p fo r 3 0

R e s i d e n ce s i n Na i ro b i , K e nya .

n um b e r s o f wome n ta k ing u p

Yo un g l e a d e r s f ro m

I n a d d i t i o n to f a c i l i t at i n g n e t-

s o m e co ur s e s in u nive rsitie s

Kwa l e Co unt y o n

wo r k i n g b e t we e n i n d i vi d ua l

t h e re by h i ghlighting it with the

G B V.

members and member associa-

n e e d fo r a p e e r- to - pe e r mod e l

t i o n s, i t p rovi d e d a p l at fo r m fo r

o f S R H R awa re ne ss u sing the

wo m e n i n m e d i c i n e, s c i e n ce a n d

R ES P EK T m od e l a s a n exa mple

O ur i nte r ve n -

Awarenes s a n d

o f M a r i e - C l a i re Wa n g a r i , Ca re n

Fur t h e r m o re, we fa cilitate d a

AWARE N E SS T R A I NI NG S

G ender B ase d Vi o l e n ce

g l o b a l h e a l th to inte ra c t a nd

a n d AU Ag e n d a 2 0 6 3 ’, a n d i t wa s

We a l s o co n d uc te d

OC TOB E R 1 8 - 2 7 : G B V

A d e l e g at i o n o f f i ve co m p r i s i n g

t i o n a i m s at c re at i n g Ant i - G B V Am b a s s a d o r s a n d Ad vo c ate s a c ro s s i n s t i t ut i o n s o f h i g h e r learning who will l e a d p ro gra m s a n d i n i t i at i ve s a i m e d at c ur b i n g G B V

REKORD | July 2019

R EK A PP ING 2 0 1 8

PR O GR E SS U PDATE S

N OVE MBE R : INTER C AMPU S

C AM P US S RHR W ORK S H O P S

FE STI VALS

MONITORING AND EVALUATION MEETINGS

I n par tner s hip w ith KEPh S A , I n p ar tne r s hi p w it h t h e G en der

an as s o c iatio n fo r the

Vi o le nce R e cover y Center, we

Phar m ac y Stu dentsâ€™ i n

have organi ze d t wo ar t s inter-

K enya and recent gra d u-

ca m pu s com pe tit io n s centered

ates, we f ac il itated wo r k-

a ro und the the me o f en din g

s ho ps fo r u niver s it y s t u-

G ende r Ba s e d Vio len ce. Th e

dents o n S RHR, the n e e d

a i m of thi s fe s ti val is to allow

to s tand ag ains t G B V, co n -

t h e young pe ople to co me up

traceptio n and M enst r ua l

w i t h and s howc ase creat ive -

H ygiene M anag em ent. Th i s

a r t i sti c ways of p assin g t h e

s es s io n was f ac il itate d by

m es s age a bou t en din g G en der

the RE S P E K T-M K U c h a p te r

B a se d Vi ole nce. Th e fest ival is t h ere fore a n i ntercampus co m-

Th is inc l u ded co m peti-

p e t i ti on as a way o f bo t h creat-

t io n s o n s po k en wo rd, s k its,

Co nt ra r y to p re vi o us p ra c -

M e r u a n d Ua s i n G i s h u) .

re vi s e d, while it wa s a gre e d

t i ce s o f a ce nt ra l i ze d s e s s i o n

Ea c h P C T / WG m e m b e r g ave

t h at fee d ba ck on the cu r r ic -

h o s t i n g a n M& E s e s s i o n ,

a re p o r t re g a rd i n g h i s / h e r

ul um wa s to be incor porate d

t h i s ye a r t h e R e gi o n a l

d e p a r t m e nt fo r t h e l a s t

i nto t h e ne w te a ching pla n.

Co o rd i n ato r s h o s te d a l l

s c h o o l vi s i te d a n d a ny fe e d -

Th i s h as prove n to be qu ite

p ro j e c t co o rd i n ato r s w i t h i n

b a c k re ce i ve d, p ro b l e m s

i m p a c t fu l with e a ch re gion

t h e i r re gi o n a n d us e d t h e

f a ce d a n d c r i t i c a l i s s ue s

d e ve l oping a cu stomize d

to o l s to a s s e s s t h e p ro gre s s

we re d i s c us s e d at l e n g t h .

s t rate gy that will stre ngthe n

o f t h e p ro j e c t, s p e c i f i c a l l y

Fo r i n s t a n ce, i t wa s n o te d

vo l unte e r ism a nd the impa c t

w i t h i n t h e re gi o n ( K i a m b u,

t h at t h e q ue s t i o n n a i re us e d

we h ave on the te e na g e rs.

Na i ro b i , K i s um u, Na k ur u,

fo r re s e a rc h n e e d e d to b e

SCHOOL VISITS 2019

po ems, m im es, s o l o ver s es, dan ce, draw ing s and pl ays.

S o f a r we h ave m a d e n um e r-

a n d h ave e m p owe re d

Th e f ir s t interc am pu s fes tival

o us vi s i t s to S e co n d a r y

a p p rox i m ate l y

was hel d at M o i Univer s it y

S c h o o l s a c ro s s t h e co unt r y

a g e r s w i t h t ra i n i n g s o n

an d t he s eco nd o ne at P wani U n iver s it y

S C HOOL V IS ITS 2 0 1 8 20 18 was a s u cces s f u l ye a r m ar k ed by a nu m ber o f c r i ti ng awa re ne s s an d p ro mo t in g yo u t h i nvolve m ent in en din g GB V.

ic al events, o f w hic h t h e s e are bu t a few hig hl ight s. We al s o had wo r k s ho ps i n

s eco ndar y s c ho o l s ac ro s s the co u ntr y

5,000

d i f fe re nt the me s in SR HR , te e n -

i n c l ud i n g GB V, conse nt a nd re p ro d uc tive he a lth.

REKORD | July 2019

PICTORIAL: SCHOOL VISITS

REKORD | July 2019

R ES p e ak e rs: OP I N I O N AR T I C L E

DO PARENTS HAVE A ROLE IN THE SRHR CONVERSATION?

Is contraception a necessity to the current age teenager?

I a n N d ei, RE S PE K T Ch a pter Co o rdin ato r, Uzim a U niver sit y

O sore K i vi si

D o you remember having

Te e n a g e p re gn a n c i e s a n d b i r t h - rate s i n K e nya h ave b e e n o n

i n c re a se d mille nnia l expo -

this q uestion as a kid,

t h ey mig ht think o f exper-

s te a d y r i s e s i n ce t h e t ur n o f t h e n e w ce nt ur y - 8 2 p e rce nt

s ure t h at wa sn’t cou nte r-

‘ where do babies come

iment in g o n w hat they

o f te e n p re gn a n c i e s a n d b i r t h s a re un p l a n n e d a n d a l m o s t

a c te d with a cha ng e of atti-

from ? ’, A nd asking your

saw f ro m s exu al s cene in a

a l ways unwa nte d. Th e y o f te n d i s r up t a gi r l ’s e d uc at i o n a n d

t ud e a n d sex e d u cation.

mother , to which the

po p ular bl o c k bu s ter o r even

l i fe g o a l s a n d s o m e t i m e s re s ul t i n s h o tg un m a r r i a g e s w i t h

Th e re i s poor commu nica -

answer was ... Yo u k n ow

an adver t.

ve r y p o o r p ro gn o s i s. Th e r i s i n g p re gn a n c y rate s a re a s a

t i o n b et we e n pa re nts a nd

re s ul t o f r i s i n g te e n a g e s ex a n d t a b o o m e nt a l i t y towa rd s

c h i l d ren, with pa re nts be ing

co nt ra ce p t i o n a n d a b o r t i o n . I t h a s b e e n co m p o un d e d by a n

un a b l e to offe r sex e d u ca -

how i t goe s from t h ere.

Th ese t wo s cenar io s

Well, for me, I was to ld t h at

un derscore the im po r tance

b a b i e s are bou g ht f ro m t h e

o f p arents o r pr im ar y c are

t i o n to child re n, hoping that i t w i l l b e cove re d in school.

s u p er m ar ke t an d t h o ugh t h is givers be ing at the fo re Fro m the var io u s v is i t s I

d i d n ot fulfi l my cur io sit y I

f ro nt in t he S RHR co nver s a-

ha d to ta ke thi s as t h e t rut h

t io n . I n t he s eco nd s cenar io,

have m ade to Ku dho se c -

fo r som e ti me. I am st ill

fo r ex am pl e, a parent wo u l d

o ndar y s c ho o l in K is u m u I

no t su re how exac t ly I will

use t h is as an o ppo r tu nit y to

have been du m fo u nde d by

a ns we r my c hi ldren wh en

t alk ab o u t bo u ndar ies that

the g ap that is there w h e n

t he y br i ng u p th is quest io n

sh o uld b e pu t w hen inter-

it co m es to k now l edg e o n

i n futu re, but one t h in g I am ac t in g w ith m em ber s o f the

s exu al and repro du c tive

cer t ai n a bou t i s t h at I will be o pp o site s ex. I agree that

heal th r ig hts. I tak e th i s to

we all h ave a ro l e to pl ay in

be a c ro s s s ec tio n o f th e

passin g on the k now l edg e

l arg er s o c iet y es pec ial l y i n

yo u r e i ght-ye ar- o ld daugh -

o n SRHR, bu t c hil dren w il l

this regio n o f N yanza w h e re

te r com e s home an d tells

mo st likel y be o pen to their

the preval ence o f HIV / A I D S

yo u about thi s boy sh e

parent s e s pec ial l y at a yo u ng

is s k y ro c k eting, s c ho o l d ro p

li k es ve r y m u c h , t h ey sh are

age, an d w hen this co nver-

o u ts du e to teenag e pre g -

s na c ks d u r i ng b reak t ime

sat io n be gins at this ag e it

nanc ies are s o ar ing an d

i n sc hool, how t h ey en joy

will b e mu c h eas ier fo r them

u nrepo r ted s exu al abus e

p l ay i ng toge ther an d a lo t

to deciph er w hat is r ig ht fo r

as wel l as abo r tio n-rel ate d

m o re ope n wi th t h em. Take thi s s ce n ar io as well,

o f o the r s tor i e s wh ich sh ows t h em espec ial l y as this is an yo u how muc h th ey ch er ish

age wh ere there is a l o t o f

o n e a nothe r. Wit h t h e sex ual misleading info r m atio n o n nat ure of our media to day

sex an d sexu al it y.

deaths are o n the r is e. Wi t h parents ac tivel y invo l ve d i n this pic tu re this wo u l d p ro b abl y no t be the trend.

The bottom line The lack of k nowled ge of, or access to, conventi onal method s of preventi ng pregnanc y and the lack of measures put i n place such that teenagers are embar rassed and f r i ghtened to seek such i nfor mati on and help i s the und er lyi ng problem. Contracepti on i s therefore a great necessi t y, almost li ke a basi c need to the cur rent age teenager and provi si on of

U n fo r t unate ly, most sex e d u c at i o n school cu r r icu la only co nt a i n infor mation a bou t s ex ua l l y tra nsmitte d d ise a se s a n d ra re ly cove r a nything to d o w i t h e a r ly pre gna nc y a nd i t s p re ve ntion. The re is a lso l a c k o f fa c tu a l k nowle d g e o n re p rod u c tive he a lth a nd m o d e s of contra ce ption. Fur t h e r more, conte mpo ra r y s ocie t y promote s sex for g a i n . Te e na g e rs a re e ng a ging i n s ex w ith old e r pe ople for

contracepti on servi ces wi ll go a long away i n promoti ng health for all and economi c empowerment of the nati on as a whole.

e co n o mic ga ins, so that the y c a n m ainta in a pre fe r re d c l a s s i ma g e a mong the ir p e e r s. This ha s re su lte d in te e n a ge rs hav ing e a r ly a nd un p ro te c te d sex, a nd sa d ly, m ul t i p l e sexu a l pa r tne rs.

REKORD | July 2019

I nte rc u ltura l i nterac t io n

Cur rentl y, the m o s t ef fec tive

H ig h c as es o f aband o n e d

le a di ng to c ha nge in so cial

met h ods, the l o ng ac ting

c hil dren are al s o du e to

li fes t y le s and lib eral sex ual-

revers ibl e co ntraceptives,

ear l y u npl anned pre gn a n -

i t y m ake s ma ny succumb to

are lea s t o f ten u s ed by ado -

c ies, l eading to c hi l d re n

p ee r pre s s u re. U n fo r t un ately,

lescents, bec au s e the teen-

being l ef t u nder th e c a re o f

e ve n the i nfor med teen -

agers s hy away f ro m v is -

their grandparents, w h i c h

a g er i s u na ble to access

it in g repro du c tive heal th

greatl y im pac ts the i r s o c i o -

co ntrace pti ve s.

f acilit ies.

eco no m ic co nditio n s. Po o r

RESp e ake r s: PO E TRY

the good woman Angela Ngugi

per fo r m ance in s c h o o l s a n d

I a m e m b a r ra s s e d w h e n I l o o k i nto t h e

Co ntra ce pti on is t h erefo re

Th e f a il u re to c u r b teenag e

hig h c as es o f s c ho o l d ro p

m i r ro r,

a ne ce s s i t y to th e cur rent

p regn a nc ies br ing s w ith it

o u ts are ano ther o u tco m e o f

b e c a us e t h e p e r s o n s t a r i n g b a c k d i s g us t s

a g e te e na ge r. We n eed p o li-

asso ciated pro bl em s. Fail u re

teenag e pregnanc y, co nt r i b -

m e.

c i e s that wi ll e n sure access

to pres ent to antenatal c l inic

u ting towards l owe r e d uc a -

S h e b e n d s a n d t w i s t s to p l e a s e,

to contra ce pti on an d o t h er

in go od tim e (pro babl y

tio n l evel s and pove r t y.

c ravi n g to p ut e ve r yo n e’s m i n d at e a s e.

re p rod u c ti ve healt h ser-

due to l ate reco gnitio n o f

v i ces. Si nce the cur rent age

t h e pre gnanc y ), a des ire to

Wal k ing dow n the s t re e t s

b e c a us e t h e y re m i n d m e o f a wo m a n I o n ce

te enage r s m ake ear ly sex ual

h ide t he pregnanc y o r even

o f any m aj o r tow n o r c i t y,

wa s ;

d e buts, the y need accurate,

in ab ilit y to af fo rd the f am il y

o ne c anno t f ail to n o t i ce t h e

U n a p o l o g e t i c.

u p - to - d ate i nfo r mat io n an d

p lan n i ng s er v ices al l co n-

inc reas ing nu m ber o f s t re e t

Th e y a re t h e o n l y p a r t o f m e

a cce s s to e ffe c t ive co nt ra-

t r ibute to po o r o u tco m es.

c hil dren. C hil dren a s yo un g

t h at i s re a l l y m e, b ut s t i l l i s n’t.

cepti on. Te e nagers wh o are

Teen ag e pregnanc y al s o

as t wo year s ro am in g t h e

Th e gi r l s t a r i n g b a c k w i l l h ave yo u fo o l e d.

no t ade q u ate ly in fo r med

leads to il l eg al abo r tio ns and

s treets and req u es t i n g fo r

S h e s t i l l l o o k s l i k e m e.

a b o ut pre gna nc y p reven -

asso ciated co m pl ic atio ns l ik e

po c k et c hang e f ro m w h o e ve r

S h e s t i l l h a s t h e l a ug h t h at m a k e s yo u

t i o n, or are ta ught o n ly

in fec t i o ns, s u bs eq u ent infer-

they s ee. We s ho u l d n’t gi ve

wa nt to l a ug h to o,

a b o ut a bs ti ne n ce, are mo re

t ilit y, p s yc ho l o gic al trau m a

o u t m o ney to them s i n ce

Jus t l i k e m e.

li k ely to be come pregn ant

etc.

they bu y g l u e, bu t t h i s i s a

B ut s h e i s s h a l l ow n ow.

dr u g that I deem a n e ce s -

An i m p ove r i s h e d t a i nte d ve r s i o n o f m e.

t ha n thos e told abo ut b ir t h

I h ate re f l e c t i o n s

they came, they ain’ t taking us O so re K iv isi We b l ew the m u p We d i d n’t k n ow we ha d me sse d u p Th e y ca me Tr i e d to be like u s

co ntrol opti ons an d h ow to

I n t h e event that thes e

s it y to s u r v ive the h o r re n -

Ta i nte d w i t h yo ur wo rd s.

a cce s s the m .

teen ag er s dec ide to k eep

do u s s tates they are re q ui re d

Th e wo rd s yo u us e to l a b e l m e.

t h e pre gnanc y, co ndi-

to l ive in. Co ntrace p t i o n to

Th e l a b e l s I c a r r y a ro un d w i t h m e,

An o the r bar r i er to co nt ra-

t io n s rel ated to pr im igrav-

this gro u p is aim ed at re d uc -

Ac t i n g, p re te n d i n g t h e y d o n o t h ur t m e.

We d i dn’t give u p

cepti on a m ong teen agers

idas inc l u ding pregnanc y-

ing the s treet bir th rate s

B ut t h e y d o

We n e ve r gave u p

i s cos t. Condoms sh o uld b e

in duced hy per tens io n, pre -

as s o c iated w ith co n s e n s ua l

d i str i bute d fre e in sch o o ls,

mat ure r u ptu re o f m em -

s ex o r rape that thi s gro up i s

s i n ce the y ’re the mo st f re -

b ran es and prem atu re del iv-

expo s ed to.

q u ently us e d fo r m o f co n -

er ies may fo l l ow, l eading to

t ra ce pti on. Bu t wh ile key to

p o ssib l e per inatal and neo -

p reve nti ng s exually t ran s-

n at al co m pl ic atio ns. This

m i t te d di s e a s es, in prac -

also co ntr ibu tes to inc reas e

t i ce, cond oms are amo n g t h e

in per inatal and m ater nal

An d t h e sou ls live

p o ore s t m e a ns to p revent

mo r bidit y and m o r tal it y.

L i ve o n to te ll the ta le

p regnanc y—bet ter o n ly t h an wi t h drawa l.

Th e y d e s t roye d the fa br ic Fa b r i c t h at ma d e u s, u s

We fo ug ht the me na ce We t r i ed ou r be st We g ave ou r a ll S o m e be at u s We l o s t some sou ls We won some

Ta l e of v ic tor y

REKORD | July 2019

S ex ua l H e a l t h Pro gra m m e

PA R T NER S HI P S

O f co ur s e, i t ’s n o t j us t

fo r K e nya n Te e n a g e r s, o bvi -

o b j e c t i ve s we s h a re, b ut

o us l y i n K e nya , a n d S ex ua l

a l s o c h a l l e n g e s, e s p e -

JOINT partnership development project

H e a l t h fo r B e t te r Awa re n e s s,

c i a l l y i n t h e Af r i c a n co un -

a s o r t- o f s i s te r p ro gra m f ro m

t r i e s. Le gi s l at i o n re m a i n s

Et h i o p i a .

a b i g h urd l e to b e ove r-

s to r m i n g a n d co n s ul t a -

t ure gi ve n by t h e g ove r n -

Al ice N j er i N degwa

t i ve s e s s i o n at te n d e d by 9

m e nt t h at a l l ows te a c h i n g o f

S H EB A ( 6 Et h i o p i a n a n d 3

S R H R i n t h e s c h o o l s. Ye t, i t

D a n i s h ) a n d 1 3 R ES P EK T ( 3

wa s h e a r te n i n g to t a l k a b o ut

D a n i s h a n d 1 0 K e nya n ) d e l -

vi c to r i e s s uc h a s w i n n i n g

e g ate s at H o te l S e n ate i n

awa rd s i n i nte r n at i o n a l s e t-

Juj a . Th e g o a l o f JP D P wa s to

t i n g s a n d b e i n g a b l e to

s t re n g t h e n t h e t wo p ro j e c t s

a cco m p l i s h b i g g e r ro l e s fo r

t h ro ug h c ro s s - l e a r n i n g f ro m

vo l unte e r s j us t b e c a us e o f

t h e b e s t p ra c t i ce s, d i s c us -

t h e p ro gra m s.

The goal of J PDP was to s tren gth en the t wo p rojec ts t hrough crosslear n in g fro m t he best pra c t i ces, dis cuss ion of common c hal l en ges a nd d evel op ing a future s p a r r ing s trategy.

s i o n o f co m m o n c h a l l e n g e s

co m e, a s t h e re i s n o s t r uc -

M ovi n g fo r wa rd, we

a n d d e ve l o p i n g a f ut ure

s e l e c te d re p re s e nt at i ve s, o n e

b e i n g ad d e d to this big ja r

s p a r r i n g s t rate g y.

f ro m e a c h p ro gra m , w h o w i l l

o f water a ll at the sa me time.

h ave co nve r s at i o n s o n b e h a l f

M ayb e one d rop wou ld ne ve r

un e n d i n g s e r i e s o f n e w

o f t h e i r p a re nt p ro gra m s

d o t h e tr ick a lone, bu t ma ny

ex p e r i e n ce s. Am o n g my

( i .e. R ES P EK T a n d S H EB A) ,

i n d i vi du a l d rops ju st may

f avo r i te s e s s i o n s wa s t h e

a n d fo r m ave n ue s fo r us to

co l o r i t

ex p e r i e n ce o f d o i n g a s c h o o l

b e a b l e to h ave exc h a n g e s –

O f co urse the re we re he ate d

vi s i t. H e re, p ro gra m vo l -

o f b o t h k n ow l e d g e a n d vo l -

s e s s i o n s, whe re we d id

unte e r s te a c h t h e te e n a g -

unte e r s. H o n e s t l y I a m ve r y

e ve r yt hing from d isa gre e,

e r s o r re p ro d uc t i ve a n d

exc i te d to s e e t h i s h a p p e n i n

exe rc i se, color…a nd have

s ex ua l h e a l t h . I fo un d t h at

t h e f ut ure.

f un . Th e cross- cu ltu ra l d if-

Th e co n fe re n ce wa s a n

fe re n ce s we re most e v id e nt

o ur Et h i o p i a n co unte r p a r t s

I t h i n k t h e b e s t wo rd to

a re re m a r k a b l y f re e o n t h e i r

d e s c r i b e t h i s ex p e r i e n ce fo r

w h e n we v isite d a n Ethiopia n

l et ’s m eet the k ey pl aye r s

to p i c s – a l t h o ug h , d e f i n i te l y,

m e i s b i g g e r. B i g g e r t h a n

re s t a ura nt a nd got to ta ste

week away f ro m ho m e?

f ir s t. Hel l o, DUF (al s o k n ow n

t h e D a n i s h we re f re e s t, w h at

w h at I’d t h o ug ht, b i g g e r

Et h i o p ia n food. Hone stly

AWESOME ! !

as Danis h Yo u th Fu nd) . I t

w i t h t h e i r c ul t ure b e i n g

t h a n w h at I h a d s e e n . I t ’s

n o t my cu p of te a at a ll,

is res po ns ibl e fo r f ina n c -

m o re p e r m i s s i ve to t a l k

b e a ut i f ul w h e n p e o p l e co m e

b ut i t wa s awe some expe -

N ot one time has a great

o f fer o f o ne week (s even

opportunity ever been

days!) in J u j a, f u l l y paid fo r,

handed to me from

to at ten d m eeting s. A w ho l e

across the table like this one was . I’ ll a s s u m e yo u k n ow

Th i s wa s a o n e we e k b ra i n -

An d that was how I

RE S P E K T, and S HE B A . B efo re we g o any f ur t h e r,

Bi d i a n. Pe r s onally met h im

jo in ed t he J o int Par tner s hip

ing pro gram s in dif fere nt

a b o ut t h i n g s l i k e co nt ra -

to g e t h e r fo r a co m m o n

r i e n c i ng some thing d iffe r-

whe n I joi ne d RESPEK T.

D evelo pm ent Pro gram

co u ntr ies. IM CC is a D a n i s h

ce p t i o n a n d p ro te c t i o n . I ce -

g o a l, w h e n we a l l a c k n ow l -

e nt. L i ke wise for d a ncing the

Th i s ti m e, we were h avin g

f amily. The m ain aim o f

o rg anizatio n that tak e s

b re a k e r g a m e s ( t h at p ut m e

e d g e a n i c h e to b e f i l l e d a n d

Et h i o p ia n.

a “ l unc h” af te r t h e sch o o l

t h e wh ol e pro gram was to

in vo l u nteer s w ho wo r k

at e a s e ) , s h a re d s i m ul ate d

a l l ow o ur s e l ve s to b e us e d

v i s i t...at 6:00p.m. I h app en ed

sh are, a nd f ind a way to

w ith the pro gram s s po n -

s c h o o l vi s i t s a n d l o t s o f d i s -

a s b r i d g e s i n t h i s g a p. Th at

ex p e r i e nce. Tha nk you

to me nti on that I was o n my

h ave blended pro gram m es

s o red by DUF. Then RES P EK T

c us s i o n s a l s o fe at ure d ove r

m a d e m e t h i n k o f o n e d ro p

R ES P EK T! !

lo n g holi day, bo red at h o me,

bet ween the three par tner s

and S HE B A are the pro -

t h e we e k .

a n d a n o t h e r d ro p o f i n k

whi ch le d to the p ro mp t

represented: IM CC g l o bal,

gram s - R epro du c tive a n d

a n d ye t a n o t h e r d ro p o f i n k

I a m g la d I ha d su ch a n

REKORD | July 2019

if i ever recover

R ES p e ak e rs: P OE T RY

Ve ro n ic ah O r in a

our smiles Vero nic a h O r in a

S o h e re we a re o n ce

p i c t ure i n m i n d d o t h e y h ave

a g a i n , i n p a i n . M ayb e

a b o ut m e ? ’

f ro m d i s e a s e, m ayb e n o t... Th e re i s s o m uc h g o i n g

I m us t a d m i t t h at t h e s e l f

o n , a n d o ur f i r s t wa nt i s to

re a l l y d i s t ur b s. I t ’s b e c a us e

Whe n we h ate o ur smiles

B ec au s e they are o nl y m as k s

g e t up f ro m t h e re. We a re

we a re o n l y o n e p e r s o n w h o

B e c a u s e t h ey are n o t us

And m as k s… they c an never

f i xe d i n b e t we e n h o p e a n d

t a k e s vi e ws i n a l l d i m e n s i o n s,

We ma r vel an d glow

h o p e l e s s n e s s, b ut g ue s s

w h o t h i n k s a b o ut a l o o k i n g

Bu t i ns i de

D o c to r s o f depres s io n

w h at ? We a re s t i l l wa l k i n g,

wo r l d f ul l o f n e g at i ve j ud g e -

t a l k i n g a n d c yc l i n g a l l

m e nt a n d i l l c h at te r s.

S o broken an d to r n When we hate o u r s m il es

a ro un d l i fe. I a m at a p o s i t i o n w h e re I

Whe n we h ate o ur smiles

B ec au s e we s tar t to think

B e c a u s e t h ey use t h em

That they al s o m ak e pl ay f u l

Jud i t h H i l l ’s s o n g ‘B e t te r

fe e l l i k e e ve r yo n e h a s b e e n

S o t h e n some one is on a n

To de fi ne us

o u r ins ide

d ays w i l l co m e’ a s k s us

e m b a r ra s s e d i n t h e i r l i ve s, b ut

ex te r n a l fixator, wa iting

The y have min ds t h at say

N o t k now ing that they are a

to f i n d a way to c a r r y o n

I d o ub t I c a n fe e l t h e d e gre e

p at i e nt ly for the fra c tu re to

That we o n ly suf fer

beau tif u l m anifes tatio n

m e a nw h i l e, a s we awa i t

o f i t a l l. I f fe m a l e, e a r l y p re g -

h e a l, a nd this patie nt thinks,

Whe n we glo o m

O f a hard tas k o f f ac ial

b e t te r d ays.

n a n c y, l e a k i n g m e n s e s ; i f

“ Wi l l I fu lly re cove r? Whe n

m a l e, o p e n f l ys, a n d i f a

w i l l I r u n a rou nd like I u se d

Th e re i s j us t q ui te a l o t

ce l e b r i t y, l e a k i n g p h o to s o f

to ? ”. And the mind roa ms to

m u s c l es Whe n we h ate o ur smiles B e c a u s e t h ey are covers

B u t they are there

s o m e o n e c a n wa nt to

a n ug l y p a s t. An d t h ro ug h t h e

g o b a c k the insta nce s that

Only meant to h ide o ur h ate

J u s t to m ak e u s no t to q u iver

re cove r f ro m - t h e f i g ht s

d i s h e a r te n i n g f a ce o f i t a l l

m a d e t h e m ge t involve d in

a nd e nv y

We hate o u r s m il es bec au s e

a g a i n s t o ur s e l ve s, t h e

yo u d o n’t k n ow h ow to f a ce

t h e a cc id e nt. “ Why d id n’t I

And s e c ret s t h at will o n e day

m any tim es

e m b a r ra s s m e nt s o f a l i fe -

e a r t h a g a i n , yo u d o n’t wa nt

p o s t p o n e that tr ip? Why d id I

S e t ablaze a millio n peo p le

They s hine br ig htes t that

t i m e, h e a r t b re a k , a n d m o s t

t h e s un to r i s e a g a i n b e c a us e

h ave to go to wor k the n? ”

w hic h is s o dar k

o f a l l s i c k n e s s.

yo ur s i s i n d a r k n e s s. D a m n !

Whe n we h ate o ur smiles

O u r s m il es !

Kun d a n R atne sh qu ote s

B e c a u s e t h ey mak e t h em

Wh e n we a re d i l ute d i n

S o m e’s b urd e n l i e s i n i l l n e s s.

“ Fi g ht i n g with othe rs d oe sn’t

thi nk we are beaut if ul

s uc h m o m e nt s, we b e co m e

As k i n g t h e m s e l ve s “ Why a m I

m a k e you sle e ple ss, fighting

Bu t our smiles just keep

s m a l l c re at ure s o f o ur-

t h e c h o i ce o f c a n ce r ? Why i s

w i t h you rse lf is what ma ke s

s e l ve s, un a b l e to f ul l y

i t m e s uf fe r i n g f ro m Ep i l e p s y?

yo u re stle ss”.

O u r ugli n ess

un d e r s t a n d o ur p ur p o s e.

O r S i c k l e ce l l a n a e m i a ? ” a n d

The e v i ls we are loyal to

Fo r i n s t a n ce, i n c a s e o f

a s a l ways, n e ve r to g e t a

whe n we do n’t smile

s o m e k i n d o f e m b a r ra s s -

p ro p e r a n s we r. S o m e h ave

b at t l e. B e ca u se it d oe sn’t

m e nt, yo u d o ub t i f yo u

b e e n i n ro a d t ra f f i c a cc i d e nt s,

e n d t i l l you ma ke it e nd, a nd

Whe n we h ate o ur smiles

c a n e ve r wa k e up to f a ce

a n d f ra c t ure d t h e i r b o n e s a n d

yo u c a n’t ma ke it e nd by you r

B y thi nk in g t h ey can so lve a

p e o p l e a g a i n . ‘H ow w i l l

d i s to r te d t h e m o r p h o l o g y o f

h e a r t ’s comma nd, ne ithe r

li fe’s e q uat io n

t h e y t h i n k o f m e ? Wh at

t h e i r i n i t i a l s t at us.

d o e s i t ta ke ju st a d ay.

und e rgroun d

I m us t confe ss, this is a gre at

REKORD | July 2019

20 19 E V ENTS AN D U P DAT E S

2019 E VENTS A N D U PDATE S

project visit

Kenya Healthcare Students’ Summit

O n 18th to 25th we h ad o ur seco n d

0 8 - 0 9 Fe br u a r y, 2 0 1 9

p ro je c t v i s i t, atten ded by t wo I MCC Global m e mbe r s ( K r i s ti n e SH an d N in n a) an d a nu m be r of Wor k in g Gro up memb ers. Th e p u r p os e of the Pro jec t visit was to eval u -

A d e l e g at i o n o f 1 3 m e m b e r s,

ate t he progre s s o f t h e pro jec t an d disc u s s

p a r t i c i p at i n g i n va r i o us

t he Youth Le a d er Exch an ge - par t icular l y its

capacities as both dele-

v i a b ili t y i n the pro jec t.

g ate s a s we l l a s m o d e ra to r s a n d f a c i l i t ato r s, re p -

Af te r ward s, the members jo in ed vo lunteer s fro m the Uni ve r sit y o f Nairo bi o n a scho o l

re s e nte d R ES P EK T at t h e v is it at S hadrac k K im al el S eco ndar y

s um m i t w h i c h h a d t h e t h e m e

S c ho o l w here we tal k ed to the s tu de nt s

‘ Towa rd s a M ul t i d i s c i p l i n a r y

abo u t repro du c tive heal th. This was fo l -

Ap p ro a c h fo r t h e

l owed by a f iel d v is it to B il l ian M u s i c a n d

Ac h i e ve m e nt o f U n i ve r s a l

R es o u rce Center in M athare

H e a l t h Cove ra g e i n K e nya’.

That ’s no t al l !

O f t h e n um e ro us wo r k s h o p s a n d s i d e e ve nt s, R ES P EK T

M em ber s were then inv ited to j o in in w i t h

f a c i l i t ate d wo r k s h o p o n

the team bu il ding s es s io n fo r the C h e e t a h

S R H R Ad vo c a c y. St ud e nt s

team at Ol o l o s u k an in N g o ng, fo r a ro c k

we re i n fo r m e d o n t h e s ex ua l

c l im bing expeditio n w ith over 6 0 vo l un -

a n d re p ro d uc t i ve h e a l t h

teer s in the pro j ec t.

i s s ue s a f fe c t i n g K e nya n te e n a g e r s a n d t ra i n e d s t ud e nt s o n h ow to h a n d l e i s s ue s s uc h a s G B V a s we l l a s s e n s i t i ve to p i c s co n ce r n i n g t h e ro l e o f h e a l t h c a re p ra c t i t i o n e r s o n ra p e a n d co un s e l l i n g. Fur t h e r m o re, R ES P EK T i nvi te d S H EB A ( S ex ua l H e a l t h fo r B e t te r Awa re n e s s, a s i s te r p ro gra m f ro m Et h i o p i a ) m e m b e r s to fo r m p a r t o f o ur d e l e g at i o n to K EH S S .

REKORD | July 2019

on their hands

20 19 E V ENTS AN D U P DAT E S

africa health agenda inter national conference

M arch 06, 2019 S H :2 4 i s a U K- b a s e d o rg a n i z at i o n t h at p ro -

b e s t ways o f e n s ur i n g t h at you ng wome n

vi d e s f re e a n d co n f i d e nt i a l s ex ua l a n d

h ave co nt ro l ove r t h e i r re prod u c tive he a lth,

re p ro d uc t i ve h e a l t h s e r vi ce s 2 4 h o ur s a d ay,

w h i c h a l s o s e r ve d a s gro und wor k for Pha se

7 d ays a we e k . O n M a rc h 0 6 , 2 0 1 9 , S H :2 4

Two w h i c h w i l l ro l l o ut i n 2020. SH:24 in

h o s te d a co n s ul t at i ve fo r um fo r R ES P EK T

co l l a b o rat i o n w i t h R ES P EK T a nd ou r pa r t-

Fro m 02- 08 M a rc h 2019, we

Th e co n ference was pre -

A HAIC Yo u th Pre - co nfe re n ce

a n d o t h e r Co m m un i t y S e r vi ce O rg a n i z at i o n s

n e r s w i l l ro l l o ut i n i t i at i ves that will e nsu re

we re pre s e nt at th e Af r ica

ceded by the AHA IC Yo u th

T E Dx s peak er M ar ie M y

at t h e G o l d e n Tul i p H o te l, We s t l a n d s.

wo m e n h ave a cce s s to S R HR se r v ice s in the

H ea lt h Age nd a I nter n at io n al

Pre - co n ference that ran o n

War bo rg Lar s en

Co n fere nce (AH A I C ) in K igali,

M arch 03-0 4, 20 19 fo l l owed

R wa n da. Thi s wa s a co n fer-

by a main co nference o n the

e n ce atte nd e d by over 1500

5-7 M arch 2 01 9. RE S P E K T had

d e l egate s from all acro ss

a delegatio n o f 3 w ho s er ved

Afr i c a, ge a re d at in it iat in g

in var io us c apac ities as hig h-

d i sc u ss i on and e nablin g par-

lighted bel ow :

e a s i e s t way p o s s i b l e, w h i ch inclu d e s the Th e d i s c us s i o n s p r i m a r i l y fo c us e d o n t h e

us e o f te c h n o l o g y to b r i d g e the ga p.

t i ci p a nts to com e up wit h , a nd exc hange, new ideas an d

AHAI C Yo u th Pre - co nference

ho m e - grown s olut io n s to t h e

Organ izing Co m m ittee

co nt i n e nt ’s m os t p ressin g

Tech n ical s u ppo r t per s o n &

he a l t h c ha lle nge s, in clud-

S essio n M o derato r B idian

A HAIC o rg anizing co m mi t-

i n g t he hi gh cos t o f h ealt h -

Ok o t h t hro u g h peer edu c a-

tee tec hnic al s u ppo r t p e r s o n

c a re, a nd i nc re a s in g burden

t io n an d training s, advo c ac y

& S es s io n M o derato r fo r

o f HI V/ AIDS and malar ia. Th e

an d awarenes s c am paigns at

bo th the AHA IC Yo u th & M a i n

k e y fo c us for thi s year ’s co n -

all levels.

Co nference M ar ie - C l aire Wang ar i

fe rence wa s ac hi evin g un i-

international women’s day M arch 08, 2019

ver s a l he alth coverage (U HC ) i n Afr i c a by 2030. I t p rov i d e d a plat fo r m fo r

O n Fr i d ay, 8 t h M a rc h 2 0 1 9 , we j o i n e d o ur

a d i ve r s e range of st ak e -

p a r t n e r s, t h e G e n d e r Vi o l e n ce R e cove r y

ho l d er s, i nc lu d i ng p o lic y

Ce nte r, i n co m m e m o rat i n g t h e i nte r n a -

m a k e rs, c i v i l s oc iet y, tech -

t i o n a l Wo m e n’s D ay. We un d e r s t a n d t h at

ni ca l expe r ts, i nnovato rs,

co l l e c t i ve a c t i o n a n d s h a re d ow n e r s h i p

t he p r i vate s e c tor, t h o ught

fo r d r i vi n g g e n d e r p a r i t y i s w h at m a k e s

le a d er s, s c i e nti s ts an d yo ut h

I nte r n at i o n a l Wo m e n’s D ay s ucce s s f ul,

le a d er s, to come to get h er

Addit io n al l y, we m ade a po s ter pres entatio n o n S exu a l a n d

a n d i t i s i n t h i s s p i r i t t h at we l a un c h e d a n

a nd m ap ou t a pat hway f ro m

R epro du c tive Heal th Awarenes s o n a peer to peer m o d e l

o n l i n e c a m p a i gn a n d m a d e a co m m i t m e nt

co m mi tm e nt to ac t io n o n

based o n RE S P E K T pro j ec t.

t h at we w i l l h e l p fo rg e a m o re g e n d e r- b a l -

UH C.

a n ce d wo r k .

REKORD | July 2019

Th e s e m i n a r wa s s t r uc t ure d

co l l a b o rat i o n

I l e a r n ed a lot a bou t both

danish youth council seminar

w i t h wo r k s h o p s d ur i n g t h e

Eve n t h o ug h t h e s e m i n a r

R ES P EK T a nd the othe r proj-

f i r s t p a r t o f t h e d ay a n d

g ave m e m a ny p ro fe s s i o n a l

e c t s by sha r ing the d iffe r-

wo r k i n g t i m e i n t h e s e co n d

to o l s a n d h a d gre at s i g -

e n ce s a nd simila r itie s in

p a r t, w i t h t h e e nt i re t y o f

n i f i c a n ce fo r t h e p ro j e c t, I

o ur p roje c ts. Fu r the r more, I

t h e a c t i vi t i e s b e i n g ce nt re d

b e l i e ve t h at o n e o f t h e m o s t

e n j oye d spe nd ing time with

K r istine S a nd H o ue

a ro un d o ur p ro j e c t a n d o ur

i m p o r t a nt t h i n g s I t a k e w i t h

o ur K e nya n pa r tne rs a nd

ro l e a s vo l unte e r s. I n t h i s

m e f ro m t h e we e k i n H a s l e v

g e t t i n g to k now the m a s

way, t h e s e m i n a r wa s a gre at

i s t h e s o c i a l a s p e c t.

f r i e n d s - I think this is ve r y i m p o r t a nt for a strong pa r t-

way to fo c us o n t h e n M ay 2019, I go t to

p ro j e c t a n d d i s c us s m at te r s

I t wa s t r ul y e m p owe r i n g to

n e r s h i p. I t is expe r ie nce s like

spe nd 5 d ays in Haslev,

i n p e r s o n b e t we e n t h e t wo

b e w i t h a gro up o f yo un g

t h i s t h at give you re ne we d

D e nm ar k , at DU Fâ€™s

p a r t n e r o rg a n i z at i o n . I t g ave

p e o p l e f ro m a ro un d t h e

e n e rg y a s a volu nte e r a nd

I nte r nati ona l Par t n ersh ip S e m ina r re pre s ent in g I MCC G lo b al and the p ro jec t R E SPE K T. The S emin ar is an o ffer for DUF ( Th e Dan ish Yo u t h Cou nc i l) spo n so red p ro je c ts a nd we co n sid-

O u r go a l fo r t h e s em i n a r wa s to b egi n t h e a p p l i c a t i o n fo r Yo u t h Lea d er Exc h a n ge, w h i c h w i l l ma k e i t p o s s i b le to h ave a gro u p o f vo l u nteer s f rom b ot h p a r t n er o rga n i z at i o n s wo r k i n g fu l l t i m e on t h e p ro j ec t i n a lo n ger p er i o d o f t i m e.

e red i t to be a great o p po rt u n i t y a nd a way to wo r k i nte n s i ve ly on s pecif ic par t s o f t he proje c t. I n t h e weeks

us t h e o p p o r t un i t y to t a l k

wo r l d w h o a l l s h a re d a co m -

t h e b e lie f in the proje c t a nd

l ea d i ng u p to the semin ar,

a b o ut g e n e ra l t h i n g s s uc h a s

m i t m e nt a n d h a p p i n e s s

i t s s t re ngths a nd pote ntia ls.

we s pe nt a lot o f t ime ap ply-

co m m un i c at i o n s a n d s t rate -

a b o ut t h e i r re s p e c t i ve p ro j -

i ng, a nd the n wait in g fo r,

gi e s, a s we l l a s m o re s p e c i f i c

e c t s a n d b e i n g a vo l unte e r.

t h e approva l of t h e visas fo r

s ub j e c t s.

t h e Ke nyan volunteers f ro m M S AKE. I thi nk i t was o n e o f

O ur g o a l fo r t h e s e m i n a r

my happi e s t mo ment s as a

wa s to b e gi n t h e a p p l i c at i o n

vo l unte e r whe n we f in ally

fo r Yo ut h Le a d e r Exc h a n g e,

g o t to pi c k up b o t h Davis

which will make it possi-

a n d C he ro at the Air p o r t !

b l e to h ave a gro up o f vo l unte e r s f ro m b o t h p a r t n e r

R E S PEK T wa s on e o ut o f

o rg a n i z at i o n s wo r k i n g f ul l

ei g ht proje c ts par t icipat-

t i m e o n t h e p ro j e c t i n a

i ng in the s e m i nar an d all

l o n g e r p e r i o d o f t i m e. I n

i n a ll we we re a ro un d 35

a d d i t i o n , we we re a b l e to

p e o ple from ni ne dif ferent

m a k e a s t at us at t h i s p o i nt

co u ntr i e s.

â€“ h a l f way t h ro ug h t h e p ro j e c t - a n d d i s c us s t h e f ut ure o f R ES P EK T a n d o ur

REKORD | July 2019

R E S pea k er s : P OE TRY

a collection of poetry

\how the world wishes you fixed it

[by redscar daniel]

Fa u z ia Al i N o o r

and even if your subjects sought a pastime you fixed it, had deejays make bruce lee speak W HE N T H E O C EAN LOVED THE

TO LOVE

DE AR B OY W HO LOV ED G I R L

SKY I am aching,

D ear boy w ho hel d al l o f h e r

L i k e t he oce a n an d t h e sk y,

I n p lace s I didn’t even k now

l ik e a ro s e,

We we re vas t as we were

co uld ache,

Who w is hed her dand e l i o n s,

e n d l es s,

M y wh o l e bo dy is an o pen

G ir l s til l w r ites abo u t yo u,

St re tchi ng ove r deser t s

wo un d,

a b l a ze i n the s u n’s h eat,

On e t h at never heal s,

D ear boy w ho breath e s f i re

Bu r i ed lagoons an d un der

I am b le eding ho pe,

into her l u ng s,

wate r volc anoe s,

I am car v ing m o ns ter s f ro m

Who l oves her inf init y,

We we re both be aut if ul,

my drea m s,

I t ’s been a year s ince yo u

Yo u h e ld the moon an d t h e

I listen to my tho u g hts ec ho,

bro k e her,

s t a r s and s ome ti mes t h e

Acro ss the em pt y l aby r inth

ra i nb ow

t h at is my m ind,

D ear boy w ho o nce wa s h e r

Whi l e I e bbe d i n fo r m o f

I can n o l o ng er f ind s o l ace in

happines s,

wave s as hore,

my pain,

The gir l in the m ir ro r h a s n o

D re n chi ng the s an d an d

No r can I f ind it in my peace,

traces o f yo u in her sm i l e

t ra ci n g i t wi th s hells

I n eed a f ix,

any m o re,

I s e e you e ve r yday an d ever y

I n eed to pu t al l this l ove to

S he pas s es tim e rem e m b e r-

ni g ht,

go o d use,

ing,

We ne ve r m e e t,

To love yo u m o re than I c an

S he is s til l water ing we e d s

E xce p t i n the hor izo n ,

ever love mys el f

w here s he bu r ied yo u r

Whi ch d oe s n’t re ally ex ist,

Just fo r a m o m ent,

u ndy ing l ove,

Fate d to be fore ver b ut n ever

Let me ho l d yo u,

to g e t he r,

Lik e I can never ho l d mys el f,

S he is s til l co u g hing o ut

Wa i t i n g for the day t h at I will

M y ar ms m ay be weak ,

s m o k e f ro m the infer n o yo u

r i se to your he i ght,

B ut yo u are l ig hter than the

l ef t in her,

An d you wi ll plun ge into my

lo n elin e s s that has k ic k ed

Co nv inced that s he is s o m e -

d e p t h,

bruises into my s pine,

thing l es s than a bu rd e n ,

As we for s a ke man k in d,

B e my grav it y o ne l as t tim e.

S o m etim es dar k nes s i s n’t

Whe n ou r love s eizes to be a

al ways a c hance to f i n d l i g ht,

my t h

The l ig ht do es n’t al ways

Am i d s t the a poc alypse.

m ean yo u w il l be s ee n .

local lingo in ching-chong movies, and in similar fashion when the genitalia of maasai girls get cut we wish you fixed it, the rugs they use when they terribly flow each moon, the maladies of matrimony, the regrets of missing clits, missing orgasms, the spilling of blood we wish you fixed it, the rebuke of kisii girls who won’t be touched if they skip clipping, aren’t cut, the borana tragedy of being tethered to antiquity, fix it. the shame of cultures, the cloud of stigma enveloping kipsigis girls, the pus dripping upon the depth of mau, fix the puberty tears eroding banks of aberdare rivers, the unsterilized blades, the ravines echoing screams of adolescent girls, how the world wishes you fixed it.

REKORD | July 2019

20 19 E V ENTS AN D U P DAT E S

MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY M enst rua l H ygien e D ay is a n a n n u a l awa ren e s s day on M ay 28 to h igh light t h e im p o r t a n ce of g oo d me nst ru a l hygien e m a n a gem ent ( M HM )

he M e d i c al St udent s’ As s oc i ati on o f K enya ( MSAKE ) is a n o n -

p ro fi t, non- poli tical o rgani z ati on that re present s a ll m e di c al s tu dent s in Ke nya a nd fa lls un der t h e I nte r nati ona l Federat io n

2 3

M edic al Stu dents As s o c iatio n o f M o i U niver s it y (M S AM U) Eg er to n Univer s it y M edic al Stu dents Association (EUMEDSA)

m a i n role s a re h ealt h advo c a c y and expa nsio n o f t h e m e di c a l s tude nts’ academics a nd c are e r s pa ce. I t is made u p o f 9 loc a l c hap ter asso ciat i o ns i nc ludi ng:

4 5 6

Stu d e nts of t h e Uni ve r s i t y o f Nairo b i

(AM SUN)

n i t i e s. Th i s i s p r i m a r i l y d o n e

• D un c a n G wa ro - Pub l i c i t y

s i t y we re tra ine d.

t h ro ug h p e e r e d uc at i o n

Manager

a n d t ra i n i n g s, a d vo c a c y a n d

• Ja n e N j o k i G a c h e r u- Fi n a n ce

2 . Th e t ra ine rs the n we nt

awa re n e s s c a m p a i gn s at a l l

O f f i ce r

b a c k to the ir u nive rsitie s a nd m o b i l i ze d d onations in ca sh

l e ve l s. O n 2 8 t h M ay, t h e wo r l d • Co m p re h e n s i ve s ex ua l i t y

D ay a n d R ES P EK T a n d o t h e r

3 . Ea c h u nive rsit y se le c te d

e d uc at i o n

p a r t n e r s j o i n e d S CO R A fo r

a n i n s t itu tion that ha d ne e d y

• S ex ua l i t y a n d g e n d e r d i ve r-

a Nat i o n a l Ca m p a i gn t h at

gi r l s i n ord e r to cond u c t a

M o u nt K enya

sity

ra n i n a l l Lo c a l C h a p te r s

M e n s t ru a l H ygie ne tra ining

Univer s it y M edi c a l

• HIV and other STIs

i n Na i ro b i , K i a m b u, M e r u,

a n d h and in the d onations

Stu dents As s o c i at i o n

• M ate r n a l H e a l t h a n d Acce s s

Na k ur u, Ua s i n G i s h u, K i s um u

t h e re a f te r.

to S a fe Ab o r t i o n s

a n d B o m e t co unt i e s. Th e fo llowing a re how the

• G e n d e r B a s e d Vi o l e n ce M edic al Stu dent s As s o c iatio n o f Uz i m a

Th e 2 0 1 9 / 2 0 2 0 S CO R A

Univer s it y (M S AU U )

Nat i o n a l Co m m i t te e i s

Th e Nat i o n a l Ca m p a i gn to o k

va r i o us Loca l Cha pte rs

p l a ce i n t h re e p h a s e s

c a r r i e d ou t the ir ca mpa ign fo r t h e M e nstru a l H ygie ne

J o m o K enyatta

a Le ve l 5 MB C h B s t ud e nt

f i r s t at t h e U n i ve r s i t y o f

Univer s it y M edi c a l

i n M o i U n i ve r s i t y. Th e fo l -

Na i ro b i , fo r a l l un i ve r s i t i e s

Stu dents As s o c i at i o n

l ow i n g a re t h e m e m b e r s o f

w i t h i n Na i ro b i , K i a m b u a n d

t h e Nat i o n a l Co m m i t te e i n

M e r u co unt i e s, a n d s e co n d

c h a rg e o f t h e Lo c a l C h a p te r s :

at M o i U n i ve r s i t y fo r t h e un i -

The M edic al Stu dents’

• K a ra r i K a r i uk i - U n i ve r s i t y o f

ve r s i t i e s i n K i s um u, B o m e t,

As s o c iatio n o f K enya

Na i ro b i

Na k ur u a n d Ua s i n G i s h u. Te n

(M S A K E ) – Standing

• B ro o k Em o j o n g - K e nyat t a

Co m m ittee fo r S exu al a n d

U n i ve r s i t y

As s o c iatio n o f

R epro du c tive Heal th i n c l ud -

• L a ura K o s g e i -Jo m o

K enyatta Univer s it y

ing HIV & A IDS (S COR A)

K e nyat t a U n i ve r s i t y o f

M edic al Stu dents

regro u ps K enyan m ed i c a l

Agr i c ul t ure a n d Te c h n o l o g y

s tu dents w ho are inte re s te d

• Ab d i ra h m a n M o h a m m e d -

in pro m o ting s exu al h e a l t h

M o unt K e nya U n i ve r s i t y

M as eno Univer s it y

am o ng co ncer ned po p u-

• B a r b a ra N ya g a - Eg e r to n

S c ho o l o f M edic ine

l atio ns as wel l as f u tu re

U n i ve r s i t y

Stu dents As s o c iatio n

heal thc are pro fes s io n a l s.

• St a f fo rd M i to ra - M o i

S COR A thu s devel o ps a n d

U n i ve r s i t y

pro m o tes m edic al s tu d e nt s’

• Pre c i o us At i e n o - M a s e n o

Kenya M etho dis t

em power m ent and ac t i vi t i e s

U n i ve r s i t y

U niver s it y M edic al

aim ed at im prov ing s ex ua l

• Em m a c ul ate C h e p k e m o i -

Stu dents As s o c iatio n

and repro du c tive heal t h a n d

Uz i m a U n i ve r s i t y

(AK U MS )

(K eMU M S A)

a n d k i nd.

m a r k e d M e n s t r ua l H ygi e n e

1 . A Tra i n i n g o f Tra i n e r s h e l d

(MU SOM S A)

As s oc i ati o n o f M edical

s t ud e nts from e a ch u nive r-

h e a d e d by At i y ya Tul M un i m ,

SCOR A thus develops and pro motes medical students’ empower ment and ac tivities aimed at improving sexual and reproduc tive health and r ights

e st a bli s he d i n 2 007 an d it s

I n a d d i t i o n to t h at, we h ave

I t s f i ve k e y fo c us a re a s a re :

(M K UM S A)

o f M e di c al Stu d ent s’

Ass oc i ati on ( IFMSA). I t was

7 8 9

t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e i r co m m u-

( J K US MA)

r ig hts, l ed by s tu dent s, fo r

Day

REKORD | July 2019

AMSUN: Shadrack Kimamel Mixed Secondary School

EUMEDSA: Kongasis Primary School

We man aged to sh are wit h abo u t 20 0 gir l s abo u t m ens tr u al hygiene and di s -

3 8 m o t i vate d S CO R An g e l s t ra i n e d a n d re a c h e d 7 0 0 p up i l s. Th e most ne e d y gir ls

tr i bu ted 225 disp o sab le men str u al pads. 12 m ens tr u al c u ps and 4 0 reu s abl e

we re gi ve n 1 2 m e n s t r ua l c up s a n d 4 0 re us a b l e p a d s. Th e re s t of the d onations

pac ks (all do n ated by Freedo m 4gir l s ) were l ef t in po s s es s io n o f the s c ho o l

co m p r i s e d 6 0 3 p a c k e t s o f p a d s, 2 8 2 ro l l s o f t i s s ue a n d 1 1 8 b a rs of soa p,

AKUMS: Robbins Secondary School and Ruiru Star High School

MSAMU: Uasin Gishu Primary and Secondary School

A tota l o f 100 st udent s were t rained and we m anag ed to do nate 67 2 pac k ets o f

p a c k e t s o f d i s p o s a b l e s a n i t a r y towe l s, 4 0 p a c k s o f re us a b l e p ad s a nd 12 me n-

di s pos a ble san it ar y towels, 12 mens tr u al c u ps and 32 reu s abl e pads.

s t r ua l c up s

We m a n a g e d to re a c h o ut to a b o ut 1 5 0 0 s t ud e nt s a n d p rovi d e d ba ske t of choice s fo r s a fe m e n s t r ua l a b s o r b e nt s a n d s a n i t at i o n f a c i l i t i e s w h i c h constitu te d 500

REKORD | July 2019

KeMUMSA: Nairiri Primary School

MSAUU: Kudho Primary School

We i nte rac ted wit h 57 boys an d 82 gir l s. The gir l s eac h received 2 pac k ets o f d i s -

We we re a b l e to i nte ra c t w i t h 2 9 0 gi r l s a n d gi ve t h e m d o n at i o ns which inclu d e d

pos able san it ar y towels. An add itio nal 4 0 reu s abl e pac k s o f s anitar y towel s,

4 0 re - us a b l e s a n i t a r y towe l s 3 3 6 d i s p o s a b l e s a n i t a r y towe l s, a n d a roll of tissu e

cour te s y o f Freedo m fo r Gir ls, a nd 1 00 ro l l s o f to il et paper were al s o do nated.

a n d s o a p to e a c h p up i l.

MUSOMSA: Ebulakho Primary School

JKUSMA: Gashororo Secondary School

We re a c h ed o ut to abo ut 290 gir l s and do nated 55 4 pac k ets o f s anitar y towel s,4 0

Th e gi r l s, 2 3 0 i n n um b e r we re e d uc ate d o n m e n s t r ua l hygi e n e pra c tise s a nd

re us able p acks an d 260 ro lls o f to il et paper. Tal k s o n pu ber t y, m ens tr u al c yc l e,

gi ve n d i s p o s a b l e s a n i t a r y towe l s to t h at e f fe c t. Th e b oys i n t h e school a lso

me ns tr ual hygien e p ro duc t s usa g e and pro per dis po s abl e as wel l as c ram ps ma n -

un d e r we nt a m e nto r s h i p p ro gra m t h at wa s s p e a r h e a d e d by t he J KU SMA me ntor-

a ge me nt were given by at least 35 vo l u nteer s

s h i p p ro gra m .

REKORD | July 2019

2019 E VENTS A N D U PDATE S

step up About 4 2 .6 % of a l l pregna nc ies in Kenya a re unintended, a n d re s ulti n g attem pts at a bor tion a re of ten unsa fe a nd l ea d to va r ious compli cati on s. Th i s under l ines the unm et need for a ccess to fa m il y pl a nning a nd acce s s to s afe a bor tions

Wi t h t h i s i n m i n d, we p a rt i c i p ate d at t h e co n s ul t at i ve

MKUMSA: Swami Mixed Secondary School

fo r um o f c i vi l s o c i e t y o rg a n i z at i o n s (C S O s ) wo r k i n g i n t h e s ex ua l a n d re p ro d uc -

The gi r ls were t aught ab o ut go od m ens tr u al hygiene prac tices and m anag eme nt o f

t i ve h e a l t h s p a ce to d i s c us s

pe r i od pain . 183 pack et s o f san itar y pads and 5 2 reu s abl es were do nated to g e t h e r

t h e r i s i n g c a s e o f te e n a g e

wi th ti s s ue p apers, so ap s an d d eterg ents

p re gn a n c y i n K e nya a n d i t s p o te nt i a l s o l ut i o n s. Th e fo r um wa s o rg a n i ze d a n d h o s te d by Yo ut h i n Ac t i o n YAc t a n d Af r i c a n I n s t i t ute fo r D e ve l o p m e nt Po l i c y a n d to o k p l a ce o n Jun e 2 4 , 2 0 1 9 . R ES P EK T wa s c l a s s i f i e d a s o n e o f t h e p re m i e r o rg a n i z at i o n s t h at h a n d l e s un co m fo r t a b l e d i s c us s i o n s, a n d i n co l l a b o rat i o n w i t h 9 o t h e r C S O s, c a m e up w i t h a j o i nt s t rate g y to co m b at te e n a g e p re gn a n c y. Am o n g t h e i s s ue s d i s c us s e d we re ways o f s t re n g t h e n i n g a n d ex p a n d i n g p re - ex i s t i n g re p ro d uc t i ve h e a l t h p ro gra m s to e n h a n ce t h e i r e f fe c t i ve n e s s a n d e f f i c i e n c y.

REKORD | July 2019

ro b b e d o f t h e f re e d o m o f

R ES p e ak e rs: OP I N I O N AR T I C L E

C h o i ce a n d t h at q ua l i f i e s yo u a s a s l ave.

e t us n o t s i t a n d a c t

b e c a use the y wa nte d the ir

a s t h o ug h LG BT i s a

vo i ce s he a rd ? !

fo re i gn t h e m e f ro m

SHAKING MY HEAD

I n re ce nt t i m e s we h ave

s e r i e s t h e re i s n owa d ays

s h a m e l e s s l y w i t n e s s e d, a n d

h a s to c a s t a g ay o r l e s b i a n

by B r ia n R a ini Ok emwa

e ve n p a r t a k e n i n , t h e b a r-

s ce n e l e s t i t r un t h e r i s k o f

b a r i c s h a m i n g, h ur t i n g a n d

getting banned on discrim-

h ow s ma ll or u nimpor ta nt

e ve n k i l l i n g o f o ur q ue e r

i n at i o n gro un d s. Th i s g o e s

i t s e e ms. I f the cou r t a nd

co m m un i t y. We s at a s i d e a n d

to s h ow h ow m uc h m a ny i f

s o m e pe ople d isa gre e with

watc h e d a s s ava g e s b e at up

us a re awa re o f t h e q ue e r

t h e d e ma nd s of the qu e e r

g enui ne ly love sto r ies -

o r if t h e g ang f ro m their

s po ts are the s hr ink s w h i c h

m os t pe ople wo uld p ass

est ate was better than the

I m ig ht s ay m ig ht be th e

my pa s s i on for (udak u) o r

gan g f ro m the neig hbo r-

hardes t j o b in o u r tim e s. I

(m o she ne ) a s m any refer to

in g est ate. Tho s e k inds o f

m ean, how do yo u m an a g e

i t a s, bu t pe r s onally, I h ave

sto r ies are pr icel es s – they

to c ar r y al l yo u r c l ient ’s

n ever wante d to miss o ut o n

are lik e enj oy ing m nazi w hen bu rden w hen yo u are cl e a r l y

a g o o d s tor y – min d yo u, by

yo u are ac tu al l y at the s andy no t the s av io u r ?

‘s to r y ’ I do not mean go ssip

b each es o f the I ndian o cean.

t h e We s t - e ve r y te l e vi s i o n

a m not a gay r ig hts a c tivi s t, b u t I have a d e e p a p pre ciation for the va lu e

o f h uma n life no matte r

I f t he co ur t and so m e p eo p le disagre e with the dem ands o f t he queer nat io n, t hat ’s ok ay - bu t p er sec ut i ng a few o f t hem to m ake an example fo r t he rest is no t.

N o thing beats a g o o d sto r y

o r t he li ttle for mulated lies to ld by pe ople w h o crave to

A sto r y o f s o m eo ne’s l ife

(a phras e I ado pted f ro m a

sat i sfy the i r e gos o r t h o se

ex per ie nces al l ows yo u the

m ov ie that I have been d yi n g

w h o ge t off on br in gin g

pr ivileg e o f s eeing the wo r l d to u s e), bu t s o m e thing s

o t he r pe ople dow n . I love to

t h ro ugh an ex tra pair o f

h ea r s tor i e s a bout so meo n e’s

a n d s c a r re d o ur ow n . I f we

p e o p l e. Th e LG BTQ co m m u-

n at i o n , that ’s ok ay – bu t pe r-

wa nt to s i t a n d p re te n d l i k e

n i t y h a rd l y m a k e s n o i s e, s t i l l

s e c ut i n g a fe w of the m to

ac tu al l y do. There are d i s t ur-

o ur un d e ra g e c h i l d re n a re

we k n ow o f i t s ex i s te n ce, ye t

m a k e a n exa mple for the re st

eyes. I f l is tening to o ther

bances that want to g e t i n

n o t s ucc um b i n g to d r ug s a n d

n o t o n ce h a s i t e ve r b e e n a

i s n o t.

l i fe ex pe r i e nce s, wh at t h ey

peo p le’s s to r ies were a j o b I

the way o f o u r s to r ies, i n t h e

p re m a r i t a l s ex , i t i s f i n e ! I f

p ro b l e m . Why t h e n d o we

h ave be e n throu gh , if t h ey

wo uld be f ir s t in l ine; u nfo r-

au thentic it y o f o u r s m i l e s,

we wa nt to p re te n d l i k e t h e

r i s e up i n a r m s w i t h s at a n i c

ever playe d k a lon go lo n go,

t un atel y, the o nl y avail abl e

and if we do no t w r ite

gre e d y m e n a n d wo m e n we

i nte nt to e ra s e t h e m s i m p l y

s to r ies big eno u g h fo r t h e

e l e c te d to t h e h i g h e s t to t h e

wo r l d to s ee the inj u s t i ce s

h i g h s e at s o f t h e l a n d a re n’t

being co m m itted, we mi g ht

r un n i n g t h i s co unt r y to r ui n ,

never g et the c hance to s i t

i t i s f i n e ! I f we a l s o wa nt to

dow n and enj oy a g o o d s to r y

t ur n a b l i n d e ye to t h e r i s i n g

w ith o u r m ates. O u r bro t h -

c a s e s o f s ui c i d e a n d ra p e, i t

er s and s is ter s are bein g p e r-

i s f i n e ! B ut i t i s b a c k wa rd,

s ec u ted, yet we s tand a s i d e

un f a i r a n d hyp o c r i t i c a l to

and do no thing.

s i t w h i l e o ur fe l l ow h um a n b e i n g s a re g e t t i n g m ur-

I n ever y war there al ways a re

d e re d i n co l d b l o o d e ve n o n

s ides and m o re o f ten th a n

n at i o n a l te l e vi s i o n ove r t h e i r

no t, if yo u do no t pic k a s i d e,

s ex ua l i t y.

it is u s u al l y pic k ed fo r yo u. Once this happens, yo u a re

REKORD | July 2019

/ o n e d ay i ’l l w r i te a b o ut t h e s e t h i n g s 36

O nly a n i nfor med fo o l wo uld ac t lik e K enya is a pu re breed o f hetero s exu al s par tic i p ate i n

by re d s c a r d a n i e l

s u c h he i nous ac t s because o f so meo ne’s per s o nal l ife. We ail f ro m s er io u s co ndition s l i k e p ove r t y and b ad gover n an ce t h at are c r ippl ing the natio n, is s u es that ac tu al l y nee d o ur

& a b o ut h ow d i s h e a r te n i n g i t i s to b e

at te nti on as a peo p le, t h at we co nt in u al l y igno re l ik e bl ind s heep.

i n t h i s c l o s e t. h ow i s o wa nt to co m e o ut. h ow e a c h t i m e i t d e p re s s e s i w i s h i co ul d t un e

What i f we di rec ted such an ger an d f r u s tratio n at the co r r u pt l eader s, w hat if we ro s e up i n ar ms a nd u pro o ted t h e b ad cro p f ro m pu bl ic o f f ices ?! How f ar wo u l d we be as a n at i o n ? !

to s o ut h a f r i c a n p a r l i a m e nt a r y p ro ce e d i n g s fo r co m e d y. h ow e a c h t i m e i t h i n k o f wa i t i n g

Let us be rati o n al an d deal wit h mat ter s w ith c l ear heads, and m ay be we w il l be in t i m e to

fo r a p r i l fo o l s’ d ay w h e n t h i n g s s e e m to b e t a k e n

s ave our be loved n at io n f ro m t h e in e v itabl e r u in that is u po n u s. We do no t have to b e t h e s a me a ny thi ng to co ex ist in h ar mo ny and l ove.

l i g hte r. n o – a ra n d o m d ay i s b e t te r, h ow i w i l l n o t h ave t h e p l e a s ure o f wa i t i n g to b e a s k e d to s i t l i k e a d i va to re s p o n d i l i k e s t ra i g ht. s e e, we d o n’t h ave n at i o n a l co m i n g o ut d ays h e re. i n s te a d we wo r r y m o re a b o ut e ve r g o i n g to t h e l o o fo r fe a r o f h avi n g n o t h i n g to f re e o ur i n s i d e s o f, o ur f a m i l i e s h ave fo rg o t te n t h e t a s te o f fo o d b ut t h a n k g o d t h e re’s s ex to k e e p us b us y. we l ove we l l h e re. we s l e e p l ate. h ow i p l a n o n wa k i n g up e a r l y a ny way o n t h at ra n d o m d ay b e fo re m a m a s e t s o ut to s e a rc h fo r m e a p a p a fo r t h e d ay, h ow i w i l l s i t h e r d ow n a n d m us te r t h e co ura g e to l o o k h e r i n t h e e ye s. i p ray i wo n’t s t ut te r. h ow i p ray s we at i n g wo n’t s to p m e. h ow i m ay re m e m b e r to s ay a s t a g h f i r r ul a h . s h e’l l p ro d m e i n a nt i c i p at i o n & s h a k e m e l a m e. h ow i h o p e my e ye s wo n’t we t : i ’l l n e e d h e r to un d e r s t a n d i t ’s h ow i ’m w i re d & c a n’t h e l p i t. h ow i ’l l b e b rave to s ay m a m a i ’m s t ra i g ht & i h o p e yo u w i l l b e o k ay w i t h t h at. h ow i ’l l s h ud d e r a s s h e f row n i n d i s a p p rova l ( b e c a us e i s e e h ow s h e l o o k s at a unt y fo n d l e a n d p e c k t h e n ex t- d o o r n un ) . h ow i ’l l c r um b l e at t h e s i g ht o f h e r d i s a p p o i nt m e nt. i s n’t t h at w h at a f r i c a d o e s to t h o s e w h o l ove d i f fe re nt l y?

[background: this is for binyavanga wainaina, a wr iter ly fr iend i lost in the recent past. a fr iend who loved differently

REKORD | July 2019

20 19 E V ENTS AN D U P DAT E S

I n a d d i t i o n , M a r i e - C l a i re

a c h i e ve m ents atta ine d so

Wa n g a r i , co fo un d e r o f

f a r.

FAMSA africa regional meeting (ARM)

R ES P EK T a n d fo r m e r P C T

N ich o las K io ko, Atiy ya M u nim Tu l, K ev in M adeg wa

head o f advo c ac y team ) a n d

he Fe d e rat io n o f

K io ko, Chair m an M edic al

Afr i c an M edical

St udent s’ As s o c iatio n o f M o i Atiy ya Tu l M u nim , (N ati o n a l

Stude nts’ Asso ciat io n s

U n ivers it y (M S AM U), M S A K E

O f f icer S COR A and o f th e

m e m b e r, m a d e a n e d u-

I t wa s n’t j u st a bou t ta lks

c at i ve p re s e nt at i o n o n

t h o ug h …

‘M e d i c i n e a n d R e s e a rc h’,

Th e re we re fou r I FMSA-

i n fo r m i n g t h e d e l e g ate s t h at

MS A K E S ub - R e giona l that

‘R e s e a rc h i s Fun ,’, t h e s t a g e s

d e l e g ate s cou ld u nd e rgo.

o f t h e re s e a rc h p ro ce s s

Pa r t i c i p a nts se le c te d one

a n d t h at c ur i o s i t y b e i n g

a cco rd i n g to pre fe re nce.

k e y i n R e s e a rc h . R ES P EK T

• “ I d e a to I mpa c t: Ac tiv it y

wa s a l s o re p re s e nte d by

a n d Pro j e c t M a na ge me nt,”

B i d i a n N ya m o r i n t h e m e nt a l

• “ Vi o l e n ce to Vic tor y,”

health plenary session held

t ra i n i n g on G e nd e r- Ba se d

( FAMSA) i s a n i ndep en dent,

Fin an ce O f f icer and m em ber RE S P E K T res earc h wo r k i n g

no n -poli ti c a l a s so ciat io n

o f RESP E K T R es earc h team .

gro u p) pres enting dif fe re nt

o n t h e s e co n d d ay o f t h e

Vi o l e n ce

e st a bli s he d i n 1 968. I t is t h e

O ur ma in par tner s were the

s cenar io s co ncer ning s a fe

e ve nt, a l o n g s i d e o t h e r p a n -

• “ Tra i n i n g M e d ica l Ed u cation

u m bre lla a s s oc i at io n o f all

M edih e al G ro u p o f Ho s pital s abo r tio n and the attend -

e l i s t s w h i c h i n c l ud e d Lyn n

Tra i n e r s,”

m e di c a l s c hools in Af r ica an d

an d RES P E K T res pec tivel y.

ees tak ing a s tand o n e a c h .

Wa i t h e ra , m e d i c a l p s yc h o l o -

• “ Tra i n i n g Ne w Tra ine rs

S o o n af ter we had a ver y

gi s t a n d co fo un d e r M - S h a ur i

( T NT ) Wo r kshop,”

i s re cogni ze d by t h e Af r ican Uni o n (AU) a nd t h e Wo r ld

Th is meeting bro u g ht

info r m ative s es s io n by D r.

p l at fo r m a n d Fa d h i l a Yus uf,

H ea lth Orga ni zat io n ( WHO)

to get h e r m edic al s tu dents

H. M abeya, f is tu l a s pec i a l i s t

w h o i s t h e Fi n a n ce O f f i ce r at

a s t he offi c i a l i nter n at io n al

f ro m all over E as t Af r ic a to

and fo u nder o f the G y n o c a re

R ES P EK T a n d t h e fo un d e r o f

fo r u m of Afr i c a n M edical

par t icip ate in the dis c u s s io n Fis tu l a Centre E l do ret. I n

St u d e nts.

o n t h e t hem e, “M edic ine and this s es s io n, l aws co nce r n -

T U B O NG E.

B eyo n d ”, c reating a great

ing abo r tio n in the co u nt r y

D ur i n g t h i s s e s s i o n , t h e

S o, about the Af r ica R egio n al

plat fo r m fo r l ear ning and

were c l ar if ied, and atte n d e e s

p a n e l i s t s b ro ug ht to l i g ht

M e eti ng…

exch an ging ideas. Under this were edu c ated o n the i m p o r-

t h i s s ub j e c t, a d d re s s i n g

Th e FAM SA Ea s t Af r ica

t h eme were the s u b -them es : tance o f co u ns el l ing pat i e nt s

h ow to i d e nt i f y, co p e w i t h

R e gi on he ld he r R egio n al

• M edic ine, Advo c ac y and

o pting fo r abo r tio n, co m -

o r s up p o r t s o m e o n e w i t h

M e eti ng i n M oi U n iversit y,

Leadership

pl ic atio ns o f u ns afe abor-

d e p re s s i o n . Th e y a l s o s h a re d

Co l l ege of H e alt h S cien ces

• M edicine and

tio ns and im pac t o f proc ur-

t h e i r p e r s o n a l ex p e r i e n ce s

fro m the 6th to t h e 8t h o f

Ent rep reneu r s hip

ing abo r tio ns o n a heal t h -

o n t h i s m at te r, e n fo rc i n g

J u ne 2019. The meet in g

• M edicine and Tec hno l o g y

c are wo r k er.

t h at t h e s t i gm a s ur ro un d -

wa s hos te d by th e M edical

• M edic ine and R es earc h

i n g m e nt a l h e a l t h i s s ue s b e

St u d e nts’ As s oc iat io n o f

•M edicine and M ental Heal th

l i f te d.

i n E l d ore t, Ke nya. Th e RM

D ur in g the m eeting, S COR A

A p o s te r p re s e nt at i o n o n

O rg ani z i ng Commit tee was

an d RES P E K T f ac il itated an

R ES P EK T p ro j e c t wa s a l s o p ut

le d by the R e gi o n al Direc to r

interac tive s es s io n o n ‘ S afe

up at t h e e ve nt a n d at te n d -

FAM S A Ea s t Afr i ca Sh er yl

Abo r t ion Care’. The s es s io n

e e s we re i n fo r m e d o f t h e

N a m of M oi Uni versit y S ch o o l

to o k o f f w ith B idian N yam o r

n at ure o f t h e p ro j e c t a n d i t s

o f M e di c i ne a nd N ich o las

(RESPEK T co fo u nder and

M o i Uni ve r s i t y ( MSAMU )

” C om ing to m atter s rel ated to te r mi -

nation of pregna nc y : does the ch oi ce to rem a in sol el y on the gir l c a r r yin g th e pregna nc y, or does the m a n have a s ay? D oes she even have the power to s tar t think ing of ter m inating? Wel l, this is w here those that labe l these things c a l l it ‘pro - c hoice’ vs. ‘pro l ife’, a nd a s expec ted, the ta k e -a-s tan d a c tivit y spl it the del egation into t wo wa r r ing pa r ties. What is our pos i ti on as a n orga niz ation enga ged in SR H R ? We ll, we bel ieve in eq uipping w ith i n for mation, a nd if a l l the gir l s out there are em powered, r ight from consent, con tra ceptives a nd options w hen th e y are pregna nt, then we w il l have don e s ome thing towa rds reduc ing unsa fe abortions in Kenya

”

REKORD | July 2019

TEAM BUILDING: CHEETAH TEAM I n Ja n ua r y, the Cheetah Team bond ed over a t wo -a n d-a -half nature trai l coupled wi th rock c l im bin g at O lolosuk uan. Thi s was followed up w ith a n af ter noon of swi mmi ng and Zumba da nci ng at B er ra Lounge Hotel

REKORD | July 2019

TEAM BUILDING: TIGER TEAM M em bers f rom Uz i ma, M aseno and M oi U n iver s it y had thei r Team Bui ld i ng ac ti vi ti es a n d c a m ping at Nai ber i R i ver Campsi te AND R es o r t o n the 12th of J anuar y 2019 to the 13th J anuar y 2019.

REKORD | July 2019

I k n ow, I k n ow, to s te re o t yp e

Th e r um o r m o n g e r. Wow !

Th e C l ea n fre a k , the one

i s a b a d t h i n g, b ut i t t ur n s

Th i s i s t h e f r i e n d w h o k n ows

w h o s e bathroom ca n be

On Friends

o ut, t h e s e ex i s t fo r a re a s o n .

e ve r yt h i n g, t h e C EO o f g ut te r

t ur n e d into a d ining room,

D o n’t b e l i e ve m e ? I b e t yo u,

p re s s. Th e y k n ow t h e n e we s t

l i te ra l l y.

s o m e o n e w i l l co m e to yo ur

co up l e, k n ow a l l e ve nt s a n d

NU R AT WAMAYA

m i n d a s we ex p l o re w h o’s

w h at h a p p e n e d at e ve r y

Th e B ossy O ne – the y ’re

STU DENT - EGER TON UN IV E RS IT Y N J OR O C AM P US , N A K URU

w h o i n e ve r y t r i b e :

h o s te l a n d p l o t. An d w h e n

a l ways throwing d e ma nd s

s uc h a f r i e n d i s s i l e nt, k n ow

a n d o rde rs a rou nd, a nd

Th e b a l l e r, o t h e r w i s e k n ow n

t h at m ayb e t h e y ’re s i c k ,

yo u c a n’t he lp bu t se cre tly

a s co o l - k i d… i s s i m p l y r i c h .

o r t h at s o m e t h i n g i s te r r i -

fe e l s o r r y for the ir k id s or

O u r re lati ons hi ps wit h o t h er p eo ple ver y m u c h deter m ine the k ind o f l ife we l ead: o ur c h a r-

Th e i r a c t i o n s a re te l l i n g, b ut

b l y w ro n g, b e c a us e n o t h i n g

s p o us e. O n the flip sid e, the y

a c te r i s bui lt par t ly t h ro ugh t h e relat io ns hips we have. ‘ Fr iends’ are peo pl e w ith w ho m

m i n d yo u, t h e re’s a l s o t h e

m a k e s t h e m q ui e t a n d w i t h -

m a k e gre at le a d e rs a nd pol-

we co me to be co me clo sely acquainted, w ho s e co m pany we enj oy, w ho fo r m o u r s u pp o r t

o n e s w h o p l ay r i c h , e ve n

d raw n . No t h i n g.

i t i c i a n s, in pa r t d u e to the ir

syste m.

t h o ug h t h e y we re p ro b a -

R ES p e ak e r : R ef l ek tio ns

I NSTI TU TE OF WOM E N , G E N DE R AN D DE V E LOPM E N T S T UDIE S

a m a z i n g d e le gation sk ills.

b l y s p o n s o re d t h ro ug h t h e

Th e o p i n i o n ate d f r i e n d, i s t h e

‘ Fr i e n ds’ i s a broad ter m – t h ey span acro s s the w ho l e s pec tr u m , f ro m the acq u aintan ce s,

r i c h fo l k ’s s c h o o l w h e re t h e y

o n e w h o a l ways h a s a s ay i n

Th e te ch a d d ic t - that fr ie nd

w h o you only talk to wh en n ecessar y (lik e w hen yo u have to bo r row no tes ), the s o r t w h o

l e a r n e d to a c t a n d t a l k r i c h .

a n d o n e ve r yt h i n g. Th e y a l s o

w h o l ove s the ir phone more

h ave t h e s e s ava g e o n e -wo rd

t h at you r compa ny, a lways c h at t i ng a nd posting.

ca ll you whe n th in gs are go in g ter r ibly w ro ng, w ho, w hen al l is r ig ht, yo u o nl y s ee o n t h e i r Wh at s App s tatuses. Th en t h ere’s t h e o n es yo u r m o ther to l d yo u to s tay away f ro m w h e n

Th e Fa s h i o n i s t a . Eve r wo n -

a n s we r s a n d h ur t f ul co m -

yo u we re joi ni ng camp us - t h e o n es wh o rem ind yo u o f yo u r weird c rav ing s w hen yo ur d a d

d e r i n g w h at to we a r a n d

m e nt s a n d t h e y a b s o l ute l y

se n d s you s ome mo n ey at t h e b egin n in g o f the m o nth, the par t y br ing er s, watu wa for m …

w h e re to g e t a n o ut f i t ?

s h ow n o re m o r s e fo r w h at

Th e H oggish - the fr ie nd who

a n d t he y ha ppe n to be ex t remely dep endent, to o : there is no tim e they w il l treat yo u to

Th e y ’re ve r y s p e c i f i c i n t h e i r

t h e y j us t s a i d.

c a n n e ve r say no to food,

so m e lu nc h.

d re s s co d e a n d h e / s h e d e f i n i te l y n e ve r d i s a p p o i nt s.

The n we have ‘ th e t r ib e’ – wh ich is just a ter m that has repl aced ‘c l iq u es’. This is that gro up

D o n’t m a k e a m i s t a k e o f n o t

o f fr i ends wi th w h o m yo u do ever yt h in g to g ether - they are the peo pl e yo u want to ex p l o re

t a g gi n g t h e m o n t h e p o s t

a n d se e the wor l d wit h , at ten d all bir t h day par ties w ith, g o o u t o n pic nic s and g o s s ip a l l

w i t h t h e o ut f i t t h e y l e n d

o t he r ‘ tr i be s’ wi t h . Wh en peo p le say ‘ yo u are as g o o d as the f r iends yo u k eep’, this is w h o

yo u.

t h ey a re re fe r r i ng to Th e l a z y o n e. Th e y a re j us t o ut r i g ht l a z y, a n d t h e i ro ny a b o ut s uc h f r i e n d s i s t h at t h e y a re ve r y s m a r t, a l ways o n to p o f t h e c l a s s o r w h ate ve r t h i n g t h at d o e s n’t i nvo l ve p hys i c a l e f fo r t l i k e r un n i n g. Th o ug h , o f co ur s e, t h e re i s a l s o t h e d um b a n d l a z y o n e - I g ue s s yo u c a n’t h ave yo ur c a k e a n d e at i t to o.

w h o a l so ha ppe ns to be the

REKORD | July 2019

fu nni e s t and weirdest. t h e s e c re t re l at i o n s h i p. Two Th e G od gu ys – an d if yo u

re l at i o n s h i p s a re r ui n e d. S h e

have no s u c h fr ien d, be t h at

loses her best friend and her

fr i end : ta ke your f r ien ds to

p r i n ce c h a r m i n g. H e r p e rce p -

c h u rc h or re m i nd t h em to

t i o n o f t h e wo r l d a n d ro m a n -

at te n d M os q ue o n Fr idays.

t i c re l at i o n s h i p t a k e s a t ur n , s h e s to p s to b e l i e ve i n l ove

Th e q ui e t one s, AK A t h e wise

o r i f i t ’s e nt i re l y a t h i n g t h at

o n es. I f you’re wo n der in g

a c t ua l l y ex i s t s a n d i t n ow

how the y e nd e d up par t o f

b e co m e s t h e g e n e s i s o f ‘m e n

a lo ud group, well, let ’s just

a re d o g s’ fo r h e r.

s ay s ani t y mus t b e p resent a nd thi s t y pe of f r ien d

Th e p o i nt I a m t r yi n g to

ha p p e ns to be th e san e o n e

m a k e i s t h at we n e e d f r i e n d s

The Swahili say ‘sibagui sichagui atakayenizika simjui’, however these are changing time we must choose who stays in our life.

As I was growing u p, I d iscove re d that the re is gre at f ul f i l m e nt in d oing g ood, so I g o t o ut the re a nd chose to b e t h e liste ning fr ie nd, the c h e e r l e a d e r, the shou ld e r to l e a n o n, the he lping ha nd w h e n e ve r I ca n… a nd so fa r, s o g o o d. This is not to say t h at I have n’t be e n d isa p p o i nte d, that ’s e ve n a n un d e r state me nt, howe ve r, if a nyt h i ng I have le a r ne d, d isa p p o i ntme nts a re a nd will

Th en there is that f r iend

inc . l u ding their pr in ce s -

i n o ur l i ve s. Th e s e a re t h e

wh o s tic k s c l o s er than a

c har m ing, no t real i z i n g t h e y

p e o p l e w h o w i l l f i l l t h e s e at s

Th e c he e r le a d e r : t h is o n e

b ro t h er, the r ide - o r- die k ind

are tal k ing abo u t t h e s a m e

i n o ur s p e c i a l o cc a s i o n s,

Fr i e n d s m a k e us fe e l g o o d

g o e s e ve r y whe re wit h yo u

o f f r iend, w ho g o t yo u r bac k

k ind o f g u y, s o w he n t h i s g uy

b i r t h d ays, gra d uat i o n s, p ro -

a b o ut t h e m s e l ve s t h e y

a nd the y are always aro un d

wh en ever, w herever, the

appear s, bo th o f th e m f a l l

m o t i o n p a r t i e s, b us i n e s s

e n co ura g e us a n d m a k e us

NB: ‘sibagui sichagui atak ay-

to suppor t you an d ch eer

o n e yo u pu t o n s peed dial

head over heel s. Th e s i t ua -

l a un c h e s, we d d i n g s, b a by

fe e l va l ue d a n d l ove d

enizik a simjui ’ means ‘I don’t

yo u u p from front lin e at all

b ecaus e yo u k now they are

tio n g ets wo r s e w h e n p r i n ce

s h owe r s… e ve n f un e ra l s.

yo u r m u s i c re c i tals an d all

r ight dow n fo r yo u any tim e,

c har m ing happens to b e a

to u r n ame nts. Th ey ’re yo ur

go o d o r bad. They are al s o

‘pl ayer ’ and real izin g t h at

fi r st i nv i te s to any impo r t ant

t h e o nes we have l o ts o f

his gir l ’s f r iend is a l s o i nto

e ve nt.

t h in gs in co m m o n w ith,

him , k indl es a ro m a nt i c re l a -

wh ich s o m etim es beco m es

tio ns hip w ith the f r i e n d to o.

Th e happy- go - luck y, t h is

an issu e. D es pite the f ac t

Am o ng c am pu s du d e s t h at

o n e was jus t bor n o n t h e

t h at it ’s a wo nder f u l and

is a l u c k y g u y, he’s g o t m a i n

r i g ht d ay of the year an d

in deed heal thy k ind o f rel a-

and s ide c hic k al l at o n ce, o h

he /s he a lways wakes up o n

t io n sh ip, this is al s o the k ind

hail him !

t he r i ght s i d e of t h e bed,

o f f r iends hip w hic h is the

The m ain c hic k neve r g e t s

s o to s pe a k . You k n ow,

b est exam pl e I have s een fo r

a ho l d o f it s o o n en o ug h

t he o ne who, on t h e day

t h e K is wahil i prover b ‘ ’ k ik u -

bec au s e s he bel ieve s t h at

he /s he doe s n’t car r y an

lach o k i ng u o ni mwak o.’’ I n

her bes t f r iend and b oy-

I d e nti fi c ati on Card, t h e

my cam pu s l ife I have s een

f r iend are g etting to k n ow

s e cur i t y gua rd at t h e club

cases w here t wo f r iends

eac h o ther, and s pe n d s o m e

d e ci de s not to ch eck . Yo u

f all in l ove w ith the s am e

tim e to g ether, s ince I m e a n ,

k now how the Bible says G o d

guy, ver y co m m o n am o ng

they are bo th ver y i m p o r-

t a k e s c are of the b irds o f t h e

t h e la dies. I think this is s o

tant par t o f her l ife. O f

a i r ye t the y ne ver sow, reap

b ecaus e thes e l adies, B F F s

co u r s e yo u c an g u e s s h ow i t

o r store ? N ow this is o n e o f

(b est f r iends fo rever ) tal k

al l pl ays o u t w hen t h e m a i n

t he b i rds.

ab o ut prett y m u c h al l thing s

c hic k f inal l y dis cove r s

a nd als o a gre at listen er.

a l ways be the re, bu t my pe rs o. n a l slog a n ha s g ot me g o i n g, ‘D o G ood, D o I t BI G.’

choose, the one that bur ies me, I don’t k now him/her ’