Dear Friends,
Long time no see! Or should I say, long time no read?
October has been quite a long month so many things have happened, some good, some worth celebrating, and some deeply saddening. But through it all, one constant remains: trust in ourselves and in the work we continue to do at the Alliance, reaching communities, leaders, educators, service providers, young people, and so many more.
The Alliance and CHOICE for Youth & Sexuality secured a cooperation grant from the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) in May this year. Our simple but powerful idea was to create a bridge between young people in Africa and Europe, connected by a shared goal to learn how to drive advocacy in their regions. In August, we held our first joint activity, a UPR Youth Extravaganza webinar. Beyond sharing tips on UPR and lessons from our experience, it became a space for young people from different countries to share their SRHR realities, their hopes, and their enthusiasm for a future where rights are fulfilled with ease. The calm after a successful activity was one thing, but the fulfillment of reaching more young people was even better.
Every year, I promise myself to actually use my 21 leave days. The first quarter always feels too soon, the ball has just started rolling, the team is warming up, sleeves are rolled. By quarter two, partners are doing incredible work and inviting us in and we have set a rhythm with our community. Quarter three flies by with implementation, and before I know it, quarter four arrives, with exhaustion setting in but still so much to wrap up. This year, I decided to keep my promise. I took some time off in October to reconnect with myself and my community. To be honest, I spent most of it running errands and catching up on my annual wellness routines and checkups. Still, a win is a win! Rest was partially achieved.
Last week, we had a charmed week in Kwale. Through the Kaleidoscope Programme, we established two key structures: the Technical Advisory Group and the Winning Coalition. Both are designed to ensure that implementation is guided by local expertise and community context. The County team brings technical depth in maternal health, and the community brings lived experience, together creating a holistic view of challenges and solutions. We also signed an MoU with the County Government, further solidifying our shared commitment to improving maternal health. The people of Kwale lightly call the project “Kwaleidoscope” both brilliant and warm. That’s ownership.
October has also reminded me how fleeting life can be. Hold on, I promise I’m not turning into a motivational speaker, but recent losses have had me reflecting deeply. We lost someone I used to work out with at the gym, young, strong, brilliant. And as a country, we mourned the passing of a great leader, the late Raila Amolo Odinga. A man whose politics shaped our freedoms and whose courage taught generations to stand firm for their rights. His legacy reminded me that human rights, including reproductive rights, are inseparable. One right does not override another. His support for the 2010 Constitution, which anchors so many of our freedoms, was not selective. He believed in its entirety. I hope his legacy inspires us to continue pushing for the fulfillment of all rights, sexual and reproductive rights included.
I warned you at the beginning that I had a lot to say! But I’ll pull myself away from this keyboard before I turn this Kona into a novel. I hope quarter four goes easy on you, and that you can still cling to the shine of the holiday season ahead. Thanks for reading!
Leading with Heart and Purpose,
Judy Amina
