Meet Nelson Otieno: Femme’s Community Outreach Officer
Unfortunately, in most all parts of the world, openly discussing women’s oppression, especially in regards to their feminine health and hygiene, is difficult for men. In Kenya particularly, these are subjects that are still widely considered taboo. What sets Nelson apart is his strong belief that to invest in women is to create social change. Nelson believes strongly in Femme’s educational programming; he understands the importance of keeping young women in school, and providing them with the means necessary to respectively care for their bodies.
Nelson is a shining light, a true community leader. His passion for change within his community defines him; he works with a number of local organizations to affect change among the youth of Mathare and has been nicknamed Nelson Mandela by local residents. In our opinion, he is definitely worthy of the namesake.
My name is Nelson Otieno. I was born and raised in Mathare Valley slum of Nairobi, Kenya. I am an entrepreneur and a community changer.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I play boxing which acts as an inspiration to me; as I am boxing the bag it is my way of taking away my frustration and the challenges that I face.
What is it like to grow up in Mathare?
Life is not favorable in Mathare, there are a lot of both positive and negative challenges. I take being brought up in Mathare as a school. When you are mining for gold, you have to go through the troubles for to gain the glory.
When did you decide to focus on community development?
I can’t exactly remember because I had this push when I was still in primary school, and my mother was hustling so hard to see me through, provide for me an education, and give me that push to change my society.
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Mathare residents today?
Lack of proper infrastructure and planning, ignorance and lack of proper education.
As a man, why do you think it is so important to focus on women in Mathare?
Focus on main issues but more so to build on the positive aspects of life, rather than dwelling on the negative sides. When you empower a girl, you build up the entire community. She will help her family, and not spend money on alcohol like the men.
What do you think about Femme’s programs?
They are doing a remarkable job because the issues Femme is tackling has been neglected and in my community of Mathare, young people cannot share the issue of reproductive health with their peers. Hence, Femme has been acting like a bridge between the young and the old, and the community at large.
Sabrina Rubli & Ella Marinic
