County Gender Officer | Youth Leader | GBV Champion
I was born in the year 1997 and brought up in a very humble Muslim family, I was enrolled to my primary education in Racecourse primary school in Nairobi and completed in 2011. In 2015 I did my Kenya certificate of secondary education at Waa High School and qualified for university entry. I enrolled for a BA in Social Work at Catholic University of Eastern Africa and minored in Sociology, in addition, I have a certificate in counselling psychology and ICT. My journey of becoming a GBV Ambassador of Mombasa County can be traced when I was a volunteer in the department of Youth, Gender, Sports and Cultural Affairs as a youth representative, even though I never received any material gain from the work that I was assigned I never gave up because I knew that success comes through patience and perseverance. I have previously worked at Kenya Red Cross Society and County Department of Health services as attachee, in Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent health projects and in the Medical Social Work Section respectively.
In the year 2020 I was Identified because of my hardwork by UN - Women through the directorate of Gender Affairs to represent the youth of Mombasa County in the County Emergency Response Committee on Covid-19 under the Council of Governors, I also worked with World Food Program as a data collection officer on cash transfer program to caution families affected by Covid-19. I'm a proud employee of the County Government of Mombasa and being the youngest serving Gender officer. I am also an active member of the Governor's young leaders program in Mombasa County.
My key role as a GBV champion is to ensure that; Mental health is properly managed, the community is fully informed of GBV, give psycho-social support to GBV survivors, provide legal aid, trace families and do reintegration and provide good medication to survivors. I also coordinate the Maisha Bora recovery program that is a GBV founded and targets children and parents affected. I am currently on an upward learning curve and furthering my studies to become a future leader with vast experience in my area of interest.
Through the implementation of my objectives as a public servant is to ensure that we live in a GBV-free Country. In future collaboration with international partners to open avenues for sharing success stories from different survivors globally and adopting a unified GBV legal policy for a safer World.
What were the biggest initial hurdles and how did you overcome them?
My biggest hurdle has been; lack of financial resources to cater for my studies, accommodation and other basic amenities. Getting employment was not easy due to the high level of competition during new recruitment, I worked as a volunteer for two years without pay before I was considered.
What books are you currently reading?
I have a passion for reading, I am reading two books, "On becoming a leader" by: Warren G. Bennis and "Start with Why" by: Simon Sinek. I am also interested in sharpening my knowledge by reading the "Consolidated popular Version of GBV laws of Kenya - 2015 booklet.
What advice would you give to an upcoming youth or talents locally and internationally?
My advice to my fellow youth is that;" you can not depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus" by: Mark Twain.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram @ sameer_ empire17
Facebook @ Sameer Hashim
LinkedIn @ Sameer Hashim