I left Enoosaen this morning, and it will take me a while to fully grasp how the past 3 months have affected me. Spending time with the girls has truly been the highlight of my summer: they are the warmest, most genuine people I have ever met. They don’t ask anything from you, maybe just a little of your attention, but the amount of love they give in return is unbelievable.
I have learned a lot about the ups and downs of this type of field work, and I must say that learning and experiencing all this alongside Charlotte has been a pleasure. I could not have asked for a better colleague, and I have been incredibly fortunate for having also found a dear friend in her.
The KCE's girls and I
Living and working in Kenya has been a great opportunity for which I am grateful to the Enkakenya Centre for Excellence and to the Advocacy Project. But for feeling like I have a home and a family in Kenya I am really, truly grateful to Mama Kakenya, who received me with open arms since the moment I first arrived.
I hope that, by sharing what I was learning through my blog posts, I was able to shed a little light on the dynamics between the local culture and the issue of FGM in this region. This is a complex issue, but I’m leaving Kenya hopeful that there is a process in motion to end this practice. I don’t know how long it will take, but undoubtedly efforts like the one undertaken by Kakenya Ntayia in Enoosaen are extremely important in eradicating female circumcision.
In the past 3 months, I have learned a great deal, I have made countless new friends, and I have had the good fortune of experiencing another culture from the inside. For all of this and so much more, my humble thank you to everyone who helped me along the way!
Cleia – You and your posts have been absolutely amazing. Thank you for your groundbreaking research and your keen insight into the lives of the girls and their community. Doubtless you have taught them much both intellectually and with your caring spirit. Good luck to you!