It is never too soon to lead

Elena Okondo serves as the Executive Director of (WREPA), established in 2014. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU

What you need to know:

  • WREPA is a young women-led organisation that is dedicated to uplift the lives of women in Africa. Elena explains that the organisation came into being out of necessity, to highlight and address economic, social and political issues affecting young women, with a particular focus in Kenya.
  • WREPA also supports girls in early marriages by offering them information on sexual and reproductive health and rights, and enables them to continue with their education either through alternative training or regular education.
  • However, documentary photography is Elena’s selling, and she hopes to venture into this one day. And with skills in management to boot, she hopes to turn them into business.

A number of people travel abroad to study, along the way, they acquire foreign citizenship, never to return to their country of birth. But then there are those who yearn for home, those who look forward to visits to their motherland, and no matter how long they have stayed overseas, they have never completely felt at home there.

Such is the story of Elena May Okondo, 24, a freelance photographer who lives in Geneva, Switzerland.

Elena left Kenya in 2007 for the US, where she undertook her high school studies. Later, she joined Webster University in Geneva to study photography and management.

At the moment, she serves as the Executive Director of Women’s Rights and Empowerment Partnership in Africa (WREPA), established in 2014. One of the organisation’s projects is based in Budalang’i, Busia County.

“I was born and raised in Budalang’i, witnessing first-hand the blunt realities of life the local people face, including poverty, a high prevalence of HIV and Aids and early marriage,” she explains what motivated her to go into the humanitarian sector.

There is also the fact that her mother, Hendrica Okondo, has worked for humanitarian organisations since Elena was a child.

“Watching her working with so much compassion and dedication inspired me,” she explains.

WREPA is a young women-led organisation that is dedicated to uplift the lives of women in Africa. Elena explains that the organisation came into being out of necessity, to highlight and address economic, social and political issues affecting young women, with a particular focus in Kenya.

They emphasise on programmes around women’s sexual and reproductive health rights, ending child marriage, accessing education and economic latitude for women.

Budalang’i Sports team before a football match. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU

EMPOWERING WOMEN

“We encourage women to join support groups and come up with the viable economic activities of their choice. WREPA then funds their business proposals, this way, we are able to foster independence among them.” 

In Budalang’i, Elena says, the prevalence of school dropout among teenage girls is high due to poverty. These girls end up getting married in what is a dramatic domino effect.

“Poverty and the demanding motherhood responsibilities weigh down on these young women, leading to depression. Eventually, what we have are mothers who are mentally unwell.”

Besides healthcare and economic wellbeing of the participants, the organisation promotes other social activities such as games among the residents.

“These tournaments bring together tens of teams and hundreds of young women. The activities provide a good avenue to reach out to them for mentorship, and to encourage them to share their life experiences.”

WREPA also supports girls in early marriages by offering them information on sexual and reproductive health and rights, and enables them to continue with their education either through alternative training or regular education. They also connect them to organisations that offer them social and psychological support.

With regard to Kenya’s position on the front of human rights compared to Switzerland, where she is based, Elena says: “With the headquarters of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) being here, there’s a strong atmosphere of human rights in Geneva. The city hosts hundreds of human rights conferences and marches every year.”

The biggest problem in Kenya, she observes, is the lack of sufficient information on how to handle abuse.

“A married woman for instance will suffer abuse silently because she doesn’t know what appropriate measures to take. The Swiss on the other hand have created many avenues that address the rights of every person.”

On leadership where women in Kenya are concerned, Elena pulls no punches. According to her, women leaders have not done enough to encourage and support more of their peers to take up leadership positions, which, she argues, defeats the very purpose of their roles.

“Women should lead by example, and in dignity, and acknowledge that they have a duty to help other women to prosper.”

Nonetheless, she thinks that one does not need to hold a high office to be able to articulate issues affecting women. “Attending workshops and seminars and even participating in walks is a good start,” she says, adding that starting a blog or a page on Facebook to promote the welfare of vulnerable groups is a noble contribution too.

BUISNESS IDEA

So, how does photography marry with her work with women? Don’t these two endeavours antagonise each other?

“Not at all. My role as a women rights activist doesn’t conflict with my photography. In fact, they complement each other. Whenever I attend conferences, I take photographs which I use in my work.”

This way, Elena has polished her finesse in conference photography, and worked with TEDxLausanne and YMCA.

“I’ve had short contracts with international charity groups, which augments my income. Life in Geneva is extremely costly,” she says.

However, documentary photography is Elena’s selling, and she hopes to venture into this one day. And with skills in management to boot, she hopes to turn them into business.

Has life in Geneva been a piece of cake for Elena? Far from it.

“Initially it was hard for me to adjust to the way of life there, even harder to get a job. I would just go to conferences and take photos. People out there are somehow cold, so it is possible to stay for long without friends.”

It is not all bad though.

“Switzerland has the most breath-taking geography the world over. There are wonderful recreational spots for merrymakers. With trains, trams, buses and ships - the Swiss transport system is one of the best in the world, and moving around is a smooth experience.”

Elena, who is fluent in German and French, and who has toured several countries, says that at the end of the day, no where beats home, where her heart is.