Newly Launched “Voice of Women (VOW)” And Challenges Ahead
During the International Women’s Day observed on Saturday 8th of March, a quiet event which could be of significant importance in the future also took place in Skarpnäck, Stockholm.
An organization that was formed a few weeks ago called Voice of Women (VOW) was launched at a moderately attended ceremony also marked by dance, food and social exchanges.
According to a KSB contact who was covering the event, the clientele included women from Kenya, Sweden, Uganda and other countries while a sprinkling of men of different nationalities also graced the occasion to show solidarity. It was impressive that the new organization managed to penetrate into the local Swedish TV channel to advertise the launching of the organization.
An important agenda that was highlighted when the group was formed was the fight for the rights of women in Sweden. Kenyan women playing leading roles in the new organization are Pastor Beatrice Kamau, Mrs Josephine Mberi, Mrs Margarett Njihia, Mama Keegan among others.
During the launch, where food cost as little as 50 kr, the youth were also represented. Funds raised from sale of food and soft drinks will be pumped into the new organization to keep it afloat.
The organization was launched at a time when women’s organizations led by focused women especially from Africa are scarce in Sweden. While the Swedish society is teething with well established Women’s organizations across the country, Immigrants are not well represented in this field. It is for this reason that the launching of VOW could be significant.
The main challenge for the new organization is to interest women from all walks of life to join in its agenda especially Kenyan women, some of whom are already in leading positions in VOW.
As a young organization, VOW should also include in its agenda a Program of taking contact with established Women’s groups and organizations in Sweden to borrow ideas which it could harness with its own independent initiatives as it goes about popularizing itself among its target audience in Sweden.
The organization faces a big challenge especially when it comes to tackling abuses of women within the tiny Kenyan community in Stockholm. In the past, cases of domestic violence against women have been reported with at least one death of a woman who was abused by her husband.
Many Kenyan parents are bringing up teen agers and organizing events targeted at this age group could also be an area that could led VOW into interesting the youth in the new organization.
VOW should not just focus on addressing fundamental rights of women but should also consider the issue of helping young mothers who come into contact with it as time progresses.
VOW has a challenging task in addressing the attitude problem that might still exist among certain men towards women, gender parity especially in Kenya and other African countries together with sensitive issues like prostitution and alcoholism especially among Kenyan women in Stockholm. Family or matrimonial crisis together with rebellion of the youth to parental guidance could also form part of VOW’s Program of action.
Okoth Osewe
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March 11, 2008 -
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Newly Launched “Voice of Women (VOW)” And Challenges Ahead
During the International Women’s Day observed on Saturday 8th of March, a quiet event which could be of significant importance in the future also took place in Skarpnäck, Stockholm.
An organization that was formed a few weeks ago called Voice of Women (VOW) was launched at a moderately attended ceremony also marked by dance, food and social exchanges.
According to a KSB contact who was covering the event, the clientele included women from Kenya, Sweden, Uganda and other countries while a sprinkling of men of different nationalities also graced the occasion to show solidarity. It was impressive that the new organization managed to penetrate into the local Swedish TV channel to advertise the launching of the organization.
An important agenda that was highlighted when the group was formed was the fight for the rights of women in Sweden. Kenyan women playing leading roles in the new organization are Pastor Beatrice Kamau, Mrs Josephine Mberi, Mrs Margarett Njihia, Mama Keegan among others.
During the launch, where food cost as little as 50 kr, the youth were also represented. Funds raised from sale of food and soft drinks will be pumped into the new organization to keep it afloat.
The organization was launched at a time when women’s organizations led by focused women especially from Africa are scarce in Sweden. While the Swedish society is teething with well established Women’s organizations across the country, Immigrants are not well represented in this field. It is for this reason that the launching of VOW could be significant.
The main challenge for the new organization is to interest women from all walks of life to join in its agenda especially Kenyan women, some of whom are already in leading positions in VOW.
As a young organization, VOW should also include in its agenda a Program of taking contact with established Women’s groups and organizations in Sweden to borrow ideas which it could harness with its own independent initiatives as it goes about popularizing itself among its target audience in Sweden.
The organization faces a big challenge especially when it comes to tackling abuses of women within the tiny Kenyan community in Stockholm. In the past, cases of domestic violence against women have been reported with at least one death of a woman who was abused by her husband.
Many Kenyan parents are bringing up teen agers and organizing events targeted at this age group could also be an area that could led VOW into interesting the youth in the new organization.
VOW should not just focus on addressing fundamental rights of women but should also consider the issue of helping young mothers who come into contact with it as time progresses.
VOW has a challenging task in addressing the attitude problem that might still exist among certain men towards women, gender parity especially in Kenya and other African countries together with sensitive issues like prostitution and alcoholism especially among Kenyan women in Stockholm. Family or matrimonial crisis together with rebellion of the youth to parental guidance could also form part of VOW’s Program of action.
Okoth Osewe
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March 11, 2008 - Posted by makozewe | Commentary