Alice Wairimu, a youth based in Kenya and who is disabled recalls her journey as a person with disability. She remembers how her life in school was and how she navigates through the public transport system as a girl with disability.
Wairimu is a Project Officer, Youth with Disability.
She talks about her journey as a young woman with disability and also how she has managed to pursue her dreams despite the challenges out there.
First she believes that inclusivity is needed to help empower all girls and young women despite their status.
“ Successful inclusivity is what we need as young women and gils to be able to achieve our ;life goals, at times this never happens as expected and leaves many girls losing on their opportunities.
She says that women with disability face alot of discrimination and gender based violence, they are exposed and at times people take advantage of them.
Wairumu was speaking during a panel discussion where FEMNET members and partners will be reflecting and discussing #MaputoAt20 anniversary during the African girls and young women festival held at a Nairobi hotel.
“ It is very hectic for me to use public transport within Nairobi, the conductor at times offers to carry me but in the process you can hear him saying he has tested how it feels to carry a women, this really hearts me as a women but it is because of my condition.”
Wairimu further says that she las beaten all odds despite her disability. “ I school I was among top performers, i got awards and everybody realised that I was just abled differently but I could perform just like everyone.”
Wairimu says the it is how she believes in herself that makes her push for her rights as a person.” We need to create more awareness around the issues affecting young women and grls, I believe not so many people understand them.”
People living with disability need to be given opportunities and also platforms like this one to help them air their views on various topics affecting them.
Wairimu says that wher she works they have a safe space where they talk about issues affecting them. “ We have counsellors that walk with girls affected by discrimination and this helps them alot in their journey of being included. Disabillity is not easy, it is a journey.”
The Maputo Protocol guarantees extensive rights to African women and girls and includes progressive provisions on: Harmful traditional practices, eg child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) Reproductive health and rights.
Source: Africa Science News