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Sheila Chepkoech

Sheila is the VOICE regional contact for Africa, and also shares her story as a contributor in ‘Another Side of the Story’.

While pursuing my master’s in Paris, a friend of mine from Germany and I used to joke that Africa is a country and all the 54 countries are just villages. There was an element of truth deeply rooted in this joke, which stemmed from people’s perceptions of Africa and how the continent is projected in the mainstream media. This joke would ring true in many instances during my interactions with people from different countries, mostly Western countries, while in Paris. For instance, when someone would narrate to me their visit to Senegal with an expectation that I would completely understand what they were talking about, despite the fact that Senegal and Kenya, where I am from, are not only thousands of miles apart but have different cultures and history. It would ring true when at an event where I was the only African, the master of ceremonies led the crowd in singing the theme song from the animation The Lion King while joyfully looking at me, expecting that I would relate to it or feel at home. It would also ring true in class when fellow students or lecturers would make blanket sweeping statements about ‘Africa’, as if all the 54 countries were exactly the same. Our joke, however, never used to end at that: it was always an opportunity for us to deliberate on the frustrations and the ignorance that was constantly being perpetuated with this kind of world view.

When the idea of VOICE was pitched to me, I was not only excited but also delighted to be among the contributors. This is because, to me, VOICE provides an opportunity for citizens of developing countries, working in their own countries, to present their perspectives. More often than not, audiences from around the world are presented with the notion that humanitarian or NGO work is mainly done by people from developed countries who go to work in developing countries. What is constantly missing is the perspective of nationals working within their own communities to address the challenges facing their societies. Once in a while their story is told, but usually by a third party, when you see reporters interviewing them. VOICE therefore is a unique project. It gives people an opportunity to tell their own stories, as seen through their own eyes, in the best way possible. It opens up the world the writers live in, inviting the entire world to come and share in their experiences. Giving a first-hand account of their experiences, the writers debunk myths, they challenge stereotypes and they give a much clearer perspective on their work. Moreover, in most of the stories, readers get an opportunity to learn about beneficiaries of various initiatives, from the point of view of their fellow citizens.

As a writer, VOICE has enabled me to revisit my experiences and the work I have done, and still continue to do, to impact my world – and what a refreshing experience writing about it has been! I have come to appreciate the value that has been added to my life by the people I have worked with and the experiences I have been through. The most exciting part of this journey, importantly, is the opportunity to share all these lessons and experiences with the world at large. As I write for VOICE, I am constantly reminded of the bigger picture, the purpose that this project aims to fulfil of debunking myths and creating greater understanding, and this brings me a lot of satisfaction. I believe it gives the same satisfaction to my fellow writers. My hope is that this will be the start of an initiative that will challenge long-held stereotypes and uninformed assumptions that we continue to face as citizens of developing countries. As people from different corners of the world read these stories, our hope is that a clearer understanding will be achieved by our readers. We hope that these stories will compel readers to take the initiative to learn more about the countries that writers come from, and perhaps even visit these countries one day.

It is my hope therefore that the perception of Africa as a country, constantly perpetuated, will be laid bare, and that in years to come, the joke that my friend and I share will no longer make sense. It is my hope that through VOICE, the work that citizens of these countries do will be appreciated more and better supported. And as people from developed countries offer to help or extend support, they will do so as partners, as co-workers, and not as heroes going in to save ‘poor’ people. The long-held view that people from developing countries are helpless is challenged through VOICE as it demonstrates the same people working tirelessly to bring a change in their societies. We therefore invite you, dear reader, into our world. We hope that as you enter our world through our stories, you will be moved, challenged, refreshed – but more importantly – enlightened.

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