My introduction

Born and raised in an extended family had its fair bit of fun and challenges that must be credited with having given me the experience to tolerate and understand other people. In our family, we had all kinds of people: I had three brothers, two sisters and an endless cast of cousins, uncles and aunties that would come and go. This taught me — albeit in a crude way — that there can be positive competition for resources and attention. Being the last-born, attention was very paramount to my joy and happiness.

This upbringing in a "competitively hostile" setting has proved to be my asset in the peace building efforts that Mercy Corps Kenya is currently undertaking in the Rift Valley province of Kenya. Ironically, I was a trouble maker in the family — with constant arguments and fights among my siblings — but this also served as a learning experience for future tasks.

Over the last days, I have had to travel by bus miles away from my home — Kenya — to Uganda and then across Uganda, another long and gruesome bus trip to the remote northern town of Kitgum. Here it feels like I am back to my extended family that I so loved and cherished: 22 participants from across Africa are here with me to learn how writing and photography complement each other.

It has been a great experience and as we group together from 10 African countries where Mercy Corps works — Kenya, Somalia, Central African Republic, Sudan, Ethiopia, Niger, Liberia, Congo, Zimbabwe and our hosts, Uganda — I can only remember with nostalgia the days of my extended family, full of fun, love and diversity.