World Pulse @20 : From A Ripple to a Waterfall
Jun 25, 2024
Story
Seeking
Collaboration

Leonida Odongo
Kenya
Joined Oct 2, 2008

I got to know about World Pulse when I was cruising online.I found the website fascinating , with stories from different parts of the world .At the onset , I was just a by-stander , a silent observer, perhaps because I lacked the confidence that I could tell a story through writing or perhaps it was the heavy cloud of self doubt.
I had so many stories bottled up inside me.I was just wondering how best to weave them and if I did , would anyone be interested in reading them?.Little by little , I gathered the courage to write , to share the community experiences ,to challenge existing narratives through tales.
With time , Voila the comments on my writing started to emerge, readers started looking forward to my stories , I got so many encouragers on World Pulse.With World Pulse , I literally reclaimed the power of my voice.I got to be recognised as a Featured Change Maker and a Vocal Contributor , mark you , these are not ordinary titles.To cap it all , the World Pulse https://www.worldpulse.org/ #CEO in the visit to East Africa decided to visit Kenya , particularly Machakos where through Haki Nawiri Afrika https://hakinawiriafrika.org/ we engage communities on Food Justice https://hakinawiriafrika.org/food-justice/ , Climate Justice https://hakinawiriafrika.org/climate-justice/ and Gender Justice https://hakinawiriafrika.org/gender-justice-2/ and Youth Engagement https://hakinawiriafrika.org/students-engagement/ .With the visit came World Pulse Kenya members that I had only known either via zoom or phone calls .This mini-reunion was another propeller to how much we all had in common in countering social injustices in our communities .
Co-organising joint events started with fellow Kenya based World Pulse members , online dialogues as a contributor also took place with World Pulse members in far off places. With technology we all got connected , shared our experiences and nurtured each other .Come 2024 , in collaboration with Safina Empowerment Organisation , Haki Nawiri Afrika won the Collaborative Initiative Award for the recognition on work on agroecology and climate change.
My engagement in the World Pulse started as a ripple but is now a waterfall , connecting and reconnecting , transforming mindsets and building community-led alternatives.
Thank you World Pulse !