Pascaline Wangui Wambugu

CURRENT JOB-National Director, Africa Pageants Kenya

EDUCATION- College

FIRST JOB- Stage Actress

NECESSARY LUXURY- chewing sugarcane while walking barefoot on grass

PASSION- Empowerment. Every time I am empowered to be or do something, I must extend it to somebody else.

WHAT FUELS ME

AWARENESS-I am always aware of the fact that I am a woman and that comes up in every sphere of my life. I have experienced situations that worked for or against me because of my gender. I am aware that it is not something I can wish away and have learned to be authentic about it.

BEAUTY– Life has taught me to appreciate beauty in its rawest forms.it has been an important lesson for me. Owning beauty is powerful.

PURPOSE-To seek it daily is living.

MY GREATEST INFLUENCE:

My son.at nine years old he continually opens me up to levels of love and responsibility that I never imagined possible.

MY TOP THREE ROLE MODELS:

WANGARI MAATHAI– she stayed on course through many situations impacts me greatly through education, politics, leadership and everything else, she planted trees and fought for the environment.

ARETHA FRANKLIN– Telling her stories beautifully in song and poetry, inspiring generations

MUKAMI KIMATHI-Her role in the freedom fighting movement in Kenya and after are a measure of strength.

IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS…..

To have women building their societies to greatness at all levels. I share this vision with my friends

THE AFRICAN WOMAN’S CHALLENGE:

There is little space in the African society for women to make decisions that empower them politically and socially. I encourage women not to get lost in the patriarchy, the matriarchy must not die. It is our space to thrive and we must guard it and triumph in its power

WHAT I DO TO RELAX:

I create time to be with friends and family. It is the perfect grounding time for me

MY   –   I.C.E. [INSPIRE|CELEBRATE|EMPOWER] VISION

I think the African woman should be inspired, celebrated and inspired because the future of Africa lies in/with her right from the family unit, the woman’s role in nurturing and imparting life gems should never be discounted. Everyone will pass through her; she must be empowered to be the best she can be.

MY AFRICAN UNION PLANS:

If I had the privilege to work in the AU women advocacy and empowerment department, I would want to have a role that directly touches capacity building in women rights. I would be the happiest seeing women thriving in secure environments. I would be honoured to advocate for health and leadership as well as financial empowerment.

FINAL WORDS OF ADVICE:

Shine in your feminine strength. It is your birthright, it is your purpose. Let nothing blur it.