From peace-builder, to mother, to educator - Rose’s journey at Amala
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Rose, I’m from South Sudan. I came to Kalobeyei Settlement in 2016. The camp was unlike anything I’d experienced before. It was a bad option, but seeing different nationalities and cultures living together interested me. I come from a community where violence is a daily occurence, and fighting is seen as normal.
I first joined Kalobeyei Initiative for Better Life (KI4BLI) as a volunteer. I was the only female, and I had a mission: I was determined to accomplish something. I started working with Samuel (Director of KI4BLI), who introduced me to Amala through the pilot peacebuilding course at KI4BLI. He told me, "You have so much passion for peacebuilding; why don’t you apply for this course?"
It wasn’t easy. I had to walk for miles to attend the course and almost gave up. But Samuel kept pushing me. I managed to complete the three-month programme and got my certificate, which helped me get a job as a community worker and peace promoter. I would resolve conflict, and I was elected chairlady in my compound. I felt like something was building. I kept volunteering at KI4BLI and helped wherever I could.
How did you hear about the Amala Global Secondary Diploma, and how did you feel when you started the programme?
KI4BLI approached me and suggested that I apply. I hadn’t finished high school, and I didn’t think I would be selected, especially since I had a small baby at the time. But I was encouraged to apply anyway. I wasn’t expecting much, I had already lost hope.
When I saw the email saying I was selected, I was shocked! Despite the challenges of having a three month old baby and no babysitter, I felt hopeful. I attended the interview at Faulu [the building where the Amala Global Secondary Diploma learning takes place] with my baby. I felt so excited when I got the call to say that I had been successful. Amala choosing me meant a lot - it made me believe there is a lot I can do.
When I started the course, I felt nervous because I didn’t have a babysitter or any relatives to take care of the baby. Mayen [Head of Kenya Programmes at Amala] asked me if I had the motivation to study. He encouraged me to apply, and assured me that everything else would sort itself out.
The beginning of my Amala journey was hard. As a parent, studying, there were lots of ups and downs. Mayen and Holli [Amala Learning Lead in Kenya] always followed up on me. They kept pushing me, kept track of me when I missed class. I really appreciated that. I often took my baby, Salome, to class. Sometimes she’d sleep and I could concentrate, but other times I couldn’t and my classmates would help. Without them I don’t think I’d have completed the programme.
The programme was great, as it was really flexible. I spent the morning hours at home with my baby, and in the afternoon I could go to class, in the evening I did my assignments. The Amala team supported me until the very last day, and I graduated with my baby! She was part of my journey too. I was motivated to finish for her sake and kept pushing for her. Salome is named after my aunt, who I grew up with. She is the person who encouraged me to go to school.
Rose on graduation day with her Global Secondary Diploma
What have you been doing since you graduated from the Global Secondary Diploma?
I’ve been volunteering in my community. I have a passion for business and entrepreneurship, so I have been doing business courses, which led me to join the East Africa Leadership Programme in Nairobi. They needed young leaders with innovative ideas, and I used my Amala transcript to apply. I was successful, having already done the Social Entrepreneurship course at Amala. In November 2022, I travelled to Nairobi for the first time to attend the training, and when I got my certificate, I dedicated it to the Amala team. Especially Holli, he was my favourite facilitator. I am who I am because he supported me throughout Amala. I’m so grateful: Amala opened ways forward for me.
When I came back to the camp, I started working on a project to end period poverty in my community. I always want to help my fellow girls. During the peacebuilding course at KI4BLI I was the only woman, and then I was again the only female student from Kalobeyei Settlement on the Global Secondary Diploma. This really made me think: ladies are not being involved. I need to advocate for women.
Can you tell us more about your project?
My project aims to end period poverty. It’s all about advocating for women who are menstruating. 70% of young girls and working women don’t have access to sanitary pads. Most of them come from poor backgrounds and have no means to buy any. It’s part of our life as women, so why should we have to pay tax for these necessary things? In my community the women explain their issues to me. They don’t get any provision of pads, which stops women and girls from going to school. They feel ashamed. Some communities even discriminate against them, they think because women are menstruating that they should stay at home, that they are dirty, that they can’t be touched. They deny our rights, make us feel left out, and we lose our dignity as women.
Healthwise, not having access to sanitary products is not good at all. Women have to use old socks and towels - they can contract diseases. So my project is about bringing ladies back to school. Advocating in schools, to the government, and community leaders. Policies should include women. I also want to break the taboos around menstruation. Changing mindsets is hard, so it’s good to start in schools and clubs - teaching boys and girls together about periods.
My project also includes mentorship, and providing sanitary pads to girls. By educating people, we can change the community together, and this stigma around periods wouldn’t exist.
What are your ambitions for the future?
Ever since I finished the Peacebuilding course, I’ve been in a finance role at KI4BLI and later promoted to being the Head of Administration and Human Resources at KI4BLI which was truly inspirational to me and many others. I love to volunteer because it impacts my community and I see the changes. My ambition is to further my education and eventually join university. The more I can study, the more I can advocate for my fellow women. My biggest ambition is to lead the Amala Programmes in Kalobeyei to inspire many youths through my experience and journey with Amala and I can testify that God has been faithful and grateful to me.
I helped more women apply for the Amala GSD, and I am always here to support them. When they get selected, I feel so happy. When I came to Amala I was the only woman from Kalobeyei with my baby, and now I can see the changes. I hope future cohorts will include even more women. Ladies from Kalobeyei fear going to Kakuma as it’s a long distance and there are safety issues. We want to bring Amala here so that women can access Amala education more easily. It’s been two years since I started with Amala. I am proud to be an Amala alumna! It’s been a long journey, and it’s not yet ended.