THE DAY I BECAME A WOMEN ADVOCATE and ACTIVIST.

I was raised in a local community so noisy and with constant shouts and cry for help from mothers I clearly still remember them. As a teenager, I was very inquisitive and I wanted to know why women must cry for their voices to be heard so when I was 12years old during my summer holidays I took time to investigate why some women will constantly snivel both night and day. There was this lady called ma Bernadette but fondly referred to as ma Ben. She lived all her life not given the chance by her husband to speak up. And when I say all her life I mean because I saw all she was going through and how she tried to overcome domestic violence all to no avail. This woman’s opinion never mattered in her marriage and when she tries to complain she will be molested seriously by her husband. She was did farming and small scale business to chatter for her 7 children.

One day I met her carrying her 5th child and seriously crying. As small but as bold as I was  I walked up to her and asked her reason for crying “my daughter you cannot understand, I wished I had an opportunity to tell plight to someone who can in turn help me “. As she was talking her husband came out and began beating her because of the statement she made. The next day I met her on my way from church (morning mass) and I manage to ask her if I could tell my mom about the constant beating she quickly agreed but told me to be wise in order not let her husband know.

                So I rush to my mom crying as a mother she asked what was wrong and after listening to me, she quickly went to ma Ben’s house. She spoke softly the man and promised to change. When my mom left her started molesting her for reporting top another woman. Ma Ben was an epileptic patient. As her husband beats her that she was attacked by the sickness and unfortunately for her she was in the firewood kitchen and upon falling she fell into the blazing flames got burned and died because there was nobody to help her since her kids were all in school.

                Her dead gave me the zeal to stand the gap for my fellow women and save thousands of ignorant women dying daily just because some men still feel women are inferior, women’s voice are not valued and women seen as decorative objects for the house. So as I grew up, I started standing up in situations concerning women. Back in secondary school days I was noted for always speaking up for the girls and even in my community.

                Today, I am ready to join the team of women organization to bring out the voice of our fellow women. My dream is to endeavor that every woman should “have a voice “, speak up, never compromise on your dignity.

                Despite the bitter scenes I still have a sense of pride of been a woman. I promised myself to take my fellow women out of their ignorance.