Phase 2: Module Training Session

On Tuesday 26th January Ally and Wambua met with the KIMC students for a training session using the resource packs developed by Melbourne University students in November 2009. The team of seven were excited to get started and although everyone was initially quite quiet, the group warmed up to one another and the discussions and brainstorming commenced.

Following initial introductions, we went right into the module material covering our major areas of health, social issues and human rights, business and entrepreneurship and journalism skills. Potential article ideas from these topics were also discussed as well as our new broader focus on other issues such as adolescence health, mental health and career pathways.

We then started brainstorming ideas for magazine titles. Some of these included; 'Girls did you know...', 'Diva' and 'Pretty, Hot, And, Talented GALS' (aka PHAT GALS). These ideas were all great but in the end we decided to use the sheng (kiswahili slang) 'G- Amini' which can be translated to 'believe in yourself.'  We all agreed that this title would be both appealing to young readers and also embody the core idea of the magazine; to empower and encourage young women.

After this, we began brainstorming and discussing articles for the first edition in which the key feature article will focus on a health topic. The content for the first edition so far includes;

• a major feature article on 'adolescence pregnancy' followed be case studies and interviews with young women about their experiences
•  an article on an area of women's reproductive health
•  an article on verbal, sexual and physical harassment
• a profile of Beth, one of our contributors

There is also scope for other articles to be included in this edition and ideas include; the new Kenya constitution that is currently being drafted, an article about studying and an article on highschool strikes.

The meeting concluded with setting the deadline for drafts to be submitted and planning the date of the 'G-Amini' Magazine launch party.

We are all very excited that the project has been successful thus far and look forward to watching it develop and become a reality over the next few months.