Today is International Women’s Day. Supporting and empowering women and girls are fundamental to the work of DSW, something which new strive to achieve every day.
To celebrate this, and the continuing contribution that women have made to DSW’s work, we are giving over the blog every day to members of DSW to talk about the importance of ‘Women working in Development’
This morning, we give the floor to Angela Mutegi, International Communication Officer for Faith to Action Network at DSW Kenya.
Tell us a little about yourself – who are you and what is your role at DSW?
I am Angela Mutegi, a Kenyan and a development communication professional working as International Communication Officer for Faith to Action Network, a multifaith platform that supports faith organisations that are involved in family health and wellbeing[1].
What excites you most about your work at DSW?
What excites me working with DSW is the opportunity to highlight and make visible the success and contributions of faith organisations towards family health and wellbeing, since faith organisations are very credible in empowering communities and they are respected by the communities they serve. I also get to work with colleagues who come from different cultural diversity and this promotes growth and learning on a personal level.
In your view, how have women shaped the global development arena?
Women have been invaluable especially their catalytic role towards achievement of economic, environmental and social changes required for sustainable development. Women have been involved in a wide range of activities such as agriculture, trade and commerce to human right activism, media and entertainment, education as well as reproductive and child nurturing role. However their role has largely been underestimated and their participation undercounted.
Who is your biggest role model?
I do not have a specific role model because I have found that every woman I have interacted with to be phenomenal in her own way. Every woman has a unique contribution to development and her beauty and talent gives hope to humanity.
How will you be marking International Women’s Day this year?
I will take time to join women’s celebrations in Nairobi. I will also take time to encourage and support another woman in need.
[1] Our operational definition Family health and wellbeing includes: birth spacing, fertility awareness, safe motherhood, PMTCT, MCH, age appropriate sexuality education, gender equity and prevention of female genital cutting, early marriage and all forms of gender based violence
