Margaret Atieno

What ignited your pursuit for gender equality?

Gender equality means equal chances for men and women to access resources and opportunities with minimal or no biases based on individual's sex or sexual orientation.Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. I like a lot to work with the adolescents and young people.I have always wanted them to have an opportunity to access to correct information about sexual orientation, menstruation,rape and sexual assaults,HIV/AIDs, sexual harrassment,teenage pregnancy and any discussion that revolves around Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV). A well empowered young person is likely to get proper education, have ability to handle issues mental health and become economically empowered.They are also able to make speak up to issues that affect them and therefore a chance to be heard.

Please share your biggest wins as an advocate for gender equality.

I was program officer at Young Women Christian Association of Kenya -Kisumu branch in 2019-2020, during which I got the Chance to work with young people,women,persons living with disability and policy makers on matters gender based violence,climate change, peaceful counter violence extremism and on Sexual Reproductive health and Rights agenda. As a young Advisory Champion for Health member, a group of young people with an association with LVCT-Kenya on HIV prevention and adherence to HIV drugs, school outreaches on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights(SRHR) information.Various trainings on the information above has also been provided to us by UNICEF sponsored programs. As Young Women SRH champion of YWCA, have been engaged directly on activities that promotes gender equality such as attending and participating on gender based violence awareness and sensitization trainings and workshops, at some point I was featured on YWCA Kenya twitter handle during a GBV street campaigns as the ability as a young leader with ability to stand and speak on GBV. As women deliver young leader through digital university's module, have been able to articulate issues well in the activities I participate in. Have attended public forums that calls the general public to come out and speak up, one such forum was on climate change and peaceful elections in Kisumu county.

Outside of your gender equality advocacy work, what do you enjoy doing?

I do Corel draw for fun and sometimes back in Cyber for clients, I do write some articles writing based on the most current issues on SRHR, I read books for fun. Sometimes I watch movies and enjoy family times as a mother. I enjoy cooking too.