Margaret Atieno – Women Deliver

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2020

Margaret Atieno

  • Age: 30
  •    |   She/her/hers

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Gender equality is achievable, though it may take time. It will take the effort of every individual, including men. Male involvement in all strategies for achieving gender equality is necessary, whether in law or policy formulation, and at any level, whether national, regional, or international.

- Margaret Atieno

Bio

Margaret studied gender and development studies at Egerton University in the year 2914-2018 where she graduated in Dec 2018. She then joined Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) of Kenya between the year 2019-2020 as a program officer. At YWCA her main roles were Planning and organizing activities and events, report, minutes and proposal writing.

 

Margaret is a Young Women Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Champion(YWC) at YWCA and Kisumu SRHR Youth Network(SYNK); YWCA group. She is also the secretary for Kisumu Youth Advisory Champion for Heath(KYACH). As YWC, K-SINK and KYACH, she is involved in advocating for better SRH services through awareness creation and sensitization.


Margaret was a member of Kisumu Egerton University Student Association (KEUSA) as lady’s representative and her role was mostly on working towards the better affairs of female students during the 4 year study. She has attended many training especially on countering Violence Extremism amongst the youth, climate change, youth affairs, health, youth advocacy, adolescent care and HIV prevention, entrepreneurship and generally on the achievement of gender equality. Through YWCA, she has worked with some of the Kisumu county policy makers, persons living with disability, the adolescents, young women and the youth. She is a champion for gender equality and believes in engagement of each and every individual in achievement of the same. Margaret is humble and God fearing woman who value integrity and hard work. She believes in efficiency and creativity at work place.

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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.

Languages Spoken:

  • English (Advanced/Native)
  • Kiswahili (Advanced/Native)
  • Luo (Advanced/Native)

Publications:

Speaks On:

  • Adolescent care
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Gender based violence

Past Awards, Certifications, or Fellowships:

  • Kenya Redcross Egerton Chapter Certificate of Participation on Community Services
  • Egerton University Certificate of Participation in Alcohol and Drug Abuse
  • Leonard Cheshire Disability Certificate of Participation in Entrepreneurship Training for Parent Support Groups
  • Emmanuel Computer Academy Certificate Course
  • Department of Social Services Letter
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