As a 10 year old, I was sorry for everything, “Moraa you left the kitchen door open!” “Sorry,” Moraa, why are clothes not folded yet?”” Sorry, “Did you get milk from Nyagothie’s that I pay for?”” Sorry..sorry.. Sorry….” A litany of apologies for Clumsy, messy, forgetful self, who spilled evidence of such all over the…
How my period journey became less painful
It was a normal high school day, and I was chatting away with my friends in between class breaks when I suddenly felt an uncomfortable abdominal pain. There was not much I could do so I ignored the pain throughout the day even though it was persistent. As usual, after school we all went to…
As a bystander to domestic violence, here are ways you can help
A few years ago, I found myself in a situation where a woman was being abused and, as a woman myself, I was too scared to help. I lived in the quiet section of a big township in Gauteng. My living space was in a communal set up, with several tenants sharing a house that…
Contraception is key
Sexual and reproductive health rights are one of my biggest passions. I believe that everyone has a right to enjoy safe and consensual sexual intercourse without the fear of unintentionally becoming pregnant, before being ready for it. This is evidently more fundamental to women; for they bear the responsibility not only to carry the baby…
Maybe One Day: Dream of My Future
“Thanks for coming” It was as if the voices came from miles away. My eyes darted from left to right as I looked for a boda boda that would take me to town. I spent the previous night drinking, dancing, and laughing with friends I hadn’t seen in a while. It had been a long time…
DREAMS OF MY FUTURE ‘Finding who I am’
Being a woman is like being on an adventure—you get to experience and explore life as it rocks you into different directions. However, all these directions are driven by one word: CHOICE. Whatever direction we take, we have made a choice. One of the areas where making a choice is the most important is our…
Be kind: How certain words can affect your mental health
Weak, attention seeker, crazy, nuts, cry baby, anti-social, moody, selfish, psycho, lazy, angry, bitter, bipolar, disturbed, schizo—have you ever said or had these words said to you? These are some of the hurtful words used when referring to someone experiencing a mental health condition. October is World Mental Health Awareness month, which aims to educate…
Contraception during the Covid-19 epidemic
When international news began to be flooded with reports of a rising number of coronavirus infections at the beginning of this year, the virus seemed to me like a distant threat that was unlikely to reach Africa. In retrospect, I realize that was very naïve! South Africa recorded its first case of COVID-19 on March…