Meet Rachael: Femme’s Field Coordinator
I first met Rachael in the summer of 2012, and we hit it off right away. This dynamic young woman was already working for The Mwelu Foundation, and had also begun an informal girls group making jewelry to help raise money for sanitary supplies. When Femme was born, I knew I wanted to work with Rachael, and with her girls in Mathare.
Here, she shares her insights and experiences about growing up as a woman in Mathare.
What was it like to grow up in Mathare?
Mathare is a fun place to be just like they say home is home. Growing up is in Mathare is a bit challenging especially for a girl am talking from my own experience. There is a lot of peer pressure and no one to give you advice and if there are a few who can give you advice they don’t give it in good way. Lack of proper security, poor sanitation not to talk of poverty, everyone needs good things maybe that’s the reason why there is so much insecurity. Now I’m all grown up and I totally agree if someone says Mathare is not a place to bring up a child.
When did you get your first period?
I was in class six when I first had my first period and I was living with my grandma who had no money to buy me sanitary pads so I improvised my own. I took two of my pants and made them in a way I could put it on for the whole day. Worst moments.
Who do you live with?
Used to live with a friend but now moved in with my boyfriend for some time.
Tell us about your work with The Mwelu Foundation?
I become involved with Mwelu Foundation when I just finished my high school and had no college fee, no job – that was when Mwelu was started. Luckily I was chosen to be trained on photography by Julius Mwelu who is the founder. Up to now I work as the administrator and finance manager for Mwelu.
What do you like to do on the weekends?
On weekends I like watching latest movies. If no movie I spend more time with girls talking about new experiences in life.
Tell us about the girls that you work with.
The girls group was started when I saw that more girls were joining Mwelu foundation after sometime they get bored and leave, so I thought I had failed because all boys were there but no girls and only the boys were interested in taking pictures and making films. Most girls left the organization and are now mothers which made me sad. I came up with this idea of making beads to keep them in the organization, which they were so happy about and after selling these beads we would sell them and buy sanitary pads for all the 20 girls.
What is the hardest part about living in Mathare?
The hardest thing about living in Mathare is poor sanitation and insecurity.
What is the best part about living in Mathare?
The best thing about living in Mathare is that people are very friendly and the houses are cheap.
What do you think about Femme’s programs?
Femme’s project is the best thing that has happened to me, to Mwelu Foundation girls and the schools we are working with in Mathare. It will be a big help to Mathare girls since most parents are not able to talk to their daughters about reproductive issues not to mention buying them sanitary pads. With Femme project I feel that my passion of working with girls is being achieved and I pray that this Project will grow to a big one and cover so many regions in Kenya.
Please visit The Mwelu Foundation to learn more about their work in Mathare.
Sabrina Rubli
