It’s every parent’s desire that their children grow into great members of the society with high discipline and morals that can be emulated by all.
These were words by Lydia Namisi Mwelu the head teacher of Nzoia Sugar Primary and Junior Secondary during the Usemi wa Kina mama show on West Fm.
She says a girl child in society nowadays is looked upon by many and once a child is born, parents should ensure high levels of discipline and stop regarding them fragile but help them adhere to tough times and life.
Mrs. Namisi says many parents employ house managers where all the house chores are left to them while kids grow into irresponsible people in the society saying this is very wrong because this will greatly affect them in future.
She says when parents do this they are encouraging laziness in society and should be condemned in all aspects.
She adds that she is lucky being one of the empowered women whom society looks up to.
She counts herself lucky because as an empowered woman she can stand on her own, make decisions and lead from all corners as a leader without anyone disregarding her.
She says having been raised in a humble village of Miendo in Webuye Bungoma County, it all started when she attended Miendo Primary, joined Chebosi secondary before proceeding to St. Cecilia Misikhu Girls, then went to Kericho Teachers Training College, Kenyatta University pursued Diploma in education, proceeded for her degree course in education in Mt. Kenya University, did her Masters in Laikipia University and is currently undertaking her Phd in education at Mt. Kenya University.
She says despite all this having come with challenges, she has managed to rise to greater heights and provided a platform to mentor young girls plus women who feel have failed in life.
She says women have voices in society because they can lead, be listened to and also give direction, giving an example of herself who is looked upon by many parents because of her role in guiding and mentoring young girls in school and also give direction on what they are supposed to do to become successful people in life.
She says having been a head teacher at Webuye SA and currently heading Nzoia Sugar has a voice in society and also the roles enabled her to become better day by day.
She prides herself because through the voice she has, she has also managed to give a platform to her kids to participate in games, nurture their talents and through this enabled them to become fearless and make firm decisions and choices in life.
Mrs. Namisi says she has imparted a sense to a girl child on the importance of being self-reliant saying this is important because they become independent and can make decisions that look tough.
As a head teacher in her line of duty she spends some time talking to the children, especially girls whom she says teaches them survival tactics including competing in the environment they are in to help them survive anywhere where men or women are.
She says as a woman she gives priority to women by educating them on how to make ends meet and also enabling their girls acquire quality education even in her school by allowing some tender services to the school.
She says the work of a woman is to fend for her and her family without relying on a man whose predicament is not known
She advises women to take part in farming activities saying with farming no one can go wrong citing that through her involvement in sugarcane farming it gave her opportunity to rise to where she never expected.
Through farming women can get chances to travel or even acquire many that they never expected.
She says as a woman she did various small jobs without looking at what people would think of her, the move enabling her to get the education she dreamt of.
She also applauds men leaders who have been in the forefront to hold other women’s hands saying that it’s the only way to go, giving an example of Bungoma, Trans Nzoia Governors who gave an opportunity to women be their deputies saying this is encouraging and asks other men to emulate such.
The head teacher has also urged women to network as a way of learning from each other and enhancing the unity amongst women.
She advises women to join chamas and merry go round plus investment groups but cautions them to be careful with whoever they interact with lest they fall into con traps.
She says many women engaging in chicken farming should embrace it more because the chickens are marketable bearing in mind that Bungoma has many hotels and people’s love for chicken too so if they do so they may curb the shortage of chicken which is loved by many.
She insists that an empowered woman plays a great role in the family, in matters of education and also knows when to receive and when to give out.
She encourages all women before joining any group or chama to thoroughly vet the group’s treasurer and leadership before they start regretting for having not done enough research
She encourages hard work amongst women and girls because this is the only assurance to better life saying that as a head teacher she discourages laziness amongst her pupils whom she wants them to be better people in future and by doing so helps every girl in her school know girls roles in society and also self dependence.
The Nzoia Sugar head teacher encourages women to grab every opportunity that avails itself and stop the idea that men are providers but rather go for anything that can bring money on the table and help their men instead of laying all the burdens to their husbands.
