Women For Influence programme inspires career in nursing

Married with two children and living in Bondo Constituency, Siaya, Western Kenya, Winnie participates in ActionAid International Kenya’s (AAI Kenya) two-year programme (2011 – 2013) called Women for Influence (WFI). The programme enhances women’s participation in devolved decision-making processes and builds the leadership and entrepreneurship capacities of young women aged 16-25.

Winne, 25, is one of many women who has benefited from the WFI programme. During a WFI workshop she described how she has become motivated to help improve conditions in her community and how she works as a volunteer at a Pharmacy:

"I am not selling medicine, but give counselling to customers in the community. I teach about HIV/aids prevention. The main message is to use protection, especially if there is any risk that your partner has HIV. We have many people, especially young girls, getting HIV because of ignorance."

The main message is to use protection, especially if there is any risk that your partner has HIV.

Winnie explained how the beaches of Lake Victoria cause a major problem because the girls exchange sex for fish. Many fishermen and truck drivers have HIV and they keep having unprotected sex. 

Being involved in the WFI programme has really motivated Winnie:

The Women for Influence-training has been very inspiring. Most trainers have been young women themselves, so we have also learned from their example. They are not very different from me. It is mostly their drive that inspires me.

Winnie wants to continue developing her knowledge and become a nurse.

“My work for the Pharmacy is the first step, but it takes a lot of money to pay for the education. I need 200.000 KSH, so there is a long way to go from the 25.000 KSH I have saved so far. It will take me four years to finish, but it is possible for me and will give me the career of my dreams.”