Olivia Landau

In the international development industry, we often speak about going to “the field” and working “on the ground.” Prior to my fellowship at Children’s Peace Initiative-Kenya (CPIK), these phrases held little meaning to me. While I have worked for a donor agency before, I had not been exposed to what a grassroots civil society organization actually looked like.  Working at CPIK this summer, I witnessed a CSO that has built strong, trusting relationships with local leaders and civilians, which has enabled them to enact successful programming. This has taught me the importance of being impartial, patient, and loyal to the communities in which I will work in the future. Additionally, CPIK has allowed me to connect with tribal groups that I never thought I’d have the chance to meet. I was able to speak to individuals from the Pokot and IlChamus tribes that have different customs, norms, and overall ways of life than I. That being said, despite how “remote” one group of people is compared to others, I witnessed that we are all bonded by the universal desire for connection. I am grateful to The Advocacy Project and CPIK for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.