My mask: I decided to paint this part green – it symbolizes our vegetation. Most of our plants are green, and even the foods we take are green. They have made me to be healthy as I am. The whit e symbolizes peace. Our country is in peace, compared to such countries as Rwanda. The black symbolizes my color. I’m an African and I like my color; I’m proud of it. Red symbolizes the blood of Christ that was shed also the blood shed during the struggle for independence. The yellow symbolizes the mining; the minerals. Our country is also a mining country. Most minerals are yellow in color. As for the hair on my mask, I like to be a modern lady and as I am African, mostly we have black hair as I have put. Today things are different. In the past they believed that women should not handle any property. Now there are women in the Parliament and if women can be given the freedom to lead, that is fine. An issue that concerns me is that widows should be helped and also orphans. Questions that I have about NY: is there a plan to help orphans in NY? What I would like you to know about Kenya: it’s a beautiful and peaceful country. I would like to be a lawyer defending orphans and widows because there is a high rate of widows and orphans who are left when still young.

Nancy Awino Okwehan

Oasis Secondary School, Kenya