WISER/Sherryl Broverman

First off, I think that the whole idea and perspective of WISER is great with a great intiative and idea/mission. It touches so many aspects that are important to girls and women growing up in Africa (specifically Kenya), which in turn affect the society as whole. It's great that people are the world are working to want to improve places that they may have no direct connection to, but still want to see succeed. This is especially true because especially in areas such as Nyanza, women do not have as prominent a role in society, and to be able to help them achieve better lifestyles, become literate, healthy, etc. is important. At the same time however, it will probably take more than just one organization, and one girls' school, and the start-up money they have to help the situation, especially in the poor, male-dominated region, but it is definitely a stepping stone that has an impact.

I thought Sherryl Broverman's lecture was really interesting, especially in noting how Kenya is very technologically advanced in many ways, for being as poor as it is and not having some basic necessities. It just kind of shows how priorities have changed these days. However, this is mainly the case for males - women in Kenya (and much of Africa) don't receive the same privileges, which is where WISER steps in as a way to make things more available to women and equal. As Ms. Broverman said, trying to do this - to make women aware of political issues, health issues, economic issues, etc., through introducing and allowing women access to more technology, is an effective way to do so because of the pace at which things are changing not only in Kenya, but worldwide. I also thought that websites with different initiatives such as Ushahidi.com to be updated and connected to others, and Kiva.com where people all over the world can donate money to help advance Africa, were other sources that could be very beneficial to the process. I think that one of the biggest things I took away from the lecture is how much we take technology for granted here (in the U.S.), by seeing how it is so empowering in places like Kenya, especially in terms of gender roles between men and women, and how it is beginning to change so many aspects of society for these people, whereas here we are "behind" if we aren't already adapted to it.