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As I look back on the past twelve months, I realise how much can happen in a year. Some moments were filled with excitement and achievement, while others brought uncertainty, challenges, and deep reflection. Growth, I have learned, is rarely straightforward. It unfolds quietly through everyday experiences, small decisions, and the lessons we gather along the way.
Reflecting allows me to see the year not just as a series of events, but as a journey of victories worth celebrating, challenges that taught me resilience, and moments that required great patience and compassion. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the value of acknowledging progress. Participating in training, seminars, and meetings has been a powerful journey, transforming both my mindset and my understanding of the progress happening within our Kenyan community.
I remember last March, when I planted red onions and garlic. They grew so well that I was incredibly optimistic about a good harvest. But then, the rains disappeared. I tried irrigation to salvage the crop, but it became too expensive, and within three weeks, the plants withered and died.
“What a mess!” I thought. “My efforts and resources were wasted. What happened? The weather forecast was so promising”.
Climate change is affecting so many people in my community and across Kenya, leading to hunger, hardship, and conflict. However, our CEO researched the best drought-resistant crops and shared them with us to study and teach the community. The community was impressed and committed to practicing these new methods.
Another vital lesson has been the power of socialising and sharing, which is essential for personal growth. It has helped ease my burdens and brought healing. It is easy to become overly critical when things do not go perfectly, but I now understand that growth requires patience, and mistakes are an inevitable part of learning. At my workplace, our “edible classroom” provides a space for mothers to have sharing sessions that solve both personal and family issues. These lessons have brought great transformation to my life and the wider community.
Some of my wins were measurable, while others—like developing resilience and building better habits—were personal. Though these moments may not appear extraordinary from the outside, they represent meaningful progress in my journey.
Reflections from the Field
This past year has been a meaningful journey of leadership and learning as the Facilitator of Mothers of the Forest, Rusinga Island. I have grown in my ability to bring women together to support forest conservation and encourage environmental responsibility within our community.
Through our activities and discussions, I learned the importance of teamwork, communication, and empowering others to take part in protecting our natural resources. I also developed stronger leadership and organisational skills while guiding and supporting other mothers. Although there were challenges, they helped me become more patient, resilient, and committed to our mission. I am proud of the progress we have made and look forward to continuing our work to protect the forest and inspire more mothers to take an active role in conservation.
Joy Maseno, MOTF Facilitator, Rusinga Island
Extracting Lessons from Challenges
Not every moment this year was easy. There were times when setbacks felt discouraging and uncertainty made the path forward unclear. Yet, reflecting on these experiences, I can see how much they have taught me.
Looking back reminds me that growth is a continuous process shaped by success, lessons from challenges, and the willingness to treat ourselves with compassion. As I move forward, I carry a deeper understanding of my path. Each step, no matter how small, has played a role in shaping who I am today. With that perspective, I step into the future with gratitude, hope, and a renewed commitment to continue growing alongside my community.
Juliet Anyanzwa and The Team