Committed To Advancing The Status Of Women

By Redemtor Atieno

The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK), an association that promotes an informed society through transformation of the media to enhance the status of women and children in Kenya is the best thing that ever happened to media women in this country. A confirmation to this is my experience which I want to share on this issue of the connection.

Initially I joined AMWIK for a very simple reason – to interact with the ‘who is who’ in the media, share ideas and experiences. My scope was that narrow when, but a lot more was in store for me. My professional growth and capacity as a journalist has been tremendous.

At AMWIK I have experienced professional growth, progress and success. I look back to the year 2002 with a smile on my face as this is the year I joined this vibrant association. At the time I was a student at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication KIMC studying journalism. Since then, I have never looked back. I would confidently say that joining AMWIK is best decision I made in my entire life.

I was in the first lot of beneficiaries of the scholarship fund at its inception in 2004 and I am extremely elated and thankful to AMWIK for giving me this chance. The chance came at an opportune time when journalists without first degrees were being laid off from local media houses

 It is common knowledge that without a first degree it is very difficult to secure and maintain a job in journalism field which has become extremely competitive. This coupled with the fact that the media industry is very vibrant and changing every day, journalists therefore have to be equipped with the latest information in terms of knowledge and expertise to fit in the media industry.

The scholarship enabled me pursue a 3 year Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Communications at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). I would say that I am a more confident, knowledgeable and skilled journalist now compared to who I was three years ago and I hope to use the knowledge and skills I have attained to transform the status of women and children. I would say I am now a better ambassador of women and children especially women in the media.

Currently I write stories for AMWIK’S various publications such as the Dawn and the website has made me a better writer. Various trainings organized by AMWIK, membership activities including social responsibility activities such as the visits to Shangilia Children’s Home, have helped my career advancement and helped me develop holistically. AMWIK has also linked me to other organizations that have given me great contacts from where I earn a livelihood.

I am very grateful to God for giving media women in Kenya an organization that devoted itself to improve their lot and fight for their professional freedom and growth. I would like to encourage every media woman in Kenya to join AMWIK since “you’ll never go wrong with it!”

At AMWIK you give very little but get so much!