Reflection On My Networking Experiences
Networking is the human connections and relationships established interactions with people. Echoing Arese Ugwu’s words, “Having an extensive network allows you to maximize your potential. There are no level playing fields, but it can be argued that in Kenya the field is a little more uneven. A person's ability to lead and influence others is tightly linked to how well they are able to grow and leverage his or her network to take advantage of opportunities”.
As a program officer, I had the privilege of meeting children, youth and adults from low and high economic status affected and infected by disease together with experts in HIV programs. I often asked questions about their experiences, found common points of interests and found interesting titbits about myself into the conversation. The older people shared knowledge that formed insights during the writing of parenting skills curriculum. Additionally, I got mentors who invested in my growth and saw me succeed in community programs through the elevator pitches I made through their guidance. They linked me to opportunities to date, I maintain friendship with the children through mentorship. In 2016, I attended the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) training in Nairobi for 8 weeks.
The training was the Eastern African regional platform where young leaders shared experiences and learning on a journey to success as community leaders. It was invigorating as leaders were not only making a huge positive impact in communities but also making a killing financially. The network enabled me to deal with different professionals in the public sector, academia, government, and business and from diverse cultures. It is here where I worked with a team from 5 countries on design challenge, a real-life challenge for a real client with learning programs. After training, I leveraged on the connections and mobilized resources worth $15000 to roll out sexual reproductive health program and later conducted online activism against gender-based violence. To date, we still share opportunities and continue mentoring one another. Currently, I run Health Renaissance network; an online platform that seeks to improve county health sector and nurture interests of young health professionals as well as sharing experiences, challenges and best practices about health profession.
Moreover, I engage in health outreaches, youth and women empowerment as a speaker, facilitator, and mentor. As youth governor, I have organized youth networking forums with stakeholders to spur social, political and economic development through advocacy. I have engaged in several media platforms, coordinated with organizations like Centre Study for Adolescence, to engage, connect, collaborate, update and find opportunities beyond reproductive health. My diverse networks has been source of better identification and greater levels of solutions due to divergent thinking. I have been able to access opportunities, information and resources that I could not have managed by myself. I am convinced that the Chevening platform shall help build quality friendships across the globe.
