Ariella Kissin, who is pursuing the MA in Human Rights Studies, is one of three students participating in ISHR’s Student Volunteer Program (SVP) this summer. SVP pairs Columbia students with volunteer opportunities at HRAP alumni-led organizations. Since 2011, more than 25 students have gained field experience through SVP in countries including Kenya, Nepal, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. Following is a reflection piece by Ariella, who has been volunteering with Change 4 Planet Foundation (C4P), where she has been working with 2013 Advocate Absolom Shalakha, the Executive Director and co-founder of C4P.
“The child is the responsibility of the community,” a university student said, her peers nodding in agreement. C4P was conducting a gender mainstreaming training at a university in Nakuru, a city in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. The training focused on institutions of socialization and gender in the workplace. We reflected on how religion, family, and schools shape our understanding of gender roles. The training was a critical thinking exercise, prompting self-reflection, rather than instructing students on what to think.
Because socialization often sets its roots in early childhood, we asked participants to reflect on their upbringings and how these experiences shaped their perceptions of gender. One student shared that in his community, during harvest season, men and women take on different roles to cultivate crops. Another noted that, until recently, his tribe’s norms did not allow women to consume chicken or eggs. These norms have shifted, he shared, but his grandmother had never tasted an egg or chicken, despite being the best cook he ever knew. Students shared how their experiences in religious institutions have shaped their understandings of gender, from clothing to behavioral expectations.
As students spoke, I noticed how their reflections centered on community, togetherness, and shared values. Coming from the United States, where individualism prevails as a dominant cultural value, I was curious to learn more about the role of community in Kenya. Having spent a total of four months in the country over the past few years, I’ve observed the innate friendliness among strangers, a tangible kindness, and hospitality.
One time, while commuting on a boda-boda (motorcycle taxi), my driver pulled up next to another boda at a red light. The two drivers struck up a casual conversation in Swahili, chatting like old friends until the light turned green. “Did you know him?” I asked my driver. “No,” he replied, “but he’s still my friend.” I’ve observed this sense of community and belonging in all corners of Kenya, from the northwestern region of Turkana to the coast of the Indian Ocean. Participants in the training explained that this is rooted in tribal culture; I learn that if a child loses their biological parents, they are quickly embraced by the community, raised by aunts, uncles, grandparents, or even parental figures not related by blood.
During the university training, what began as a conversation about gender organically evolved into a broader reflection on community and belonging. Every participant agreed that they are a product of their community.
At C4P, self-reflection has been an important part of our community work. During my volunteer placement with the NGO, we traveled to schools, universities, and community centers all over the country, not with the objective of instructing, but rather facilitating a safe space for participants to empower themselves through self-reflection. No place has this been demonstrated better than in the #Seeds4Progress project, where the organization trains and distributes Sorghum seeds for food and fodder to farmers in Kakamega, Vihiga, and Kajiado counties, to combat food insecurity. Additionally, the organization is setting up a C4P Community Resource Centre and Digital Hub in partnership with a local partner in Chegulo Village, Kabras Sub-County, Kakamega County, to enhance digital literacy in the rural community.
In Kenya, where challenges like climate change, gender inequality, and limited access to education intersect, C4P stands as a beacon of hope, driving transformative change through innovative programs. Founded on the principles of empowerment, sustainability, and inclusivity, C4P’s work focuses on Women, Youth, and Empowerment, Climate Action and Agriculture, Governance, Peace and Security, and Research and Documentation. At the heart of the NGO’s mission is a commitment to fostering resilient communities, with a particular emphasis on SRHR sensitization and mentorship programs in primary and secondary schools. Through these initiatives, C4P aims to equip Kenya’s youth and women with the tools to shape a just and sustainable future. C4P’s social media pages include
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