Hi, I am Joan Okitoi-Heisig. I am a Kenyan living in Geneva, Switzerland with my little family.

I’ve had the joy of calling Uganda and Germany also home in the past. It took me moving to Geneva to rediscover my love for writing, connecting with others by telling their stories and how stepping back to see the bigger picture is important for me.
Kujinafasi, a Kiswahili word meaning freedom to be, to enjoy, to own the space where one is, was born during the pandemic. I started thinking about it when my job search became long and winded into more than a year of applying and networking. In the process, I also reflected on untold human interest stories in international development (#Globaldev) – a sector I work in. I am very familiar with the frustration that comes with the way Global South is portrayed in #Globaldev.
Kujinafasi is my space to challenge the ‘single story’ narratives about Global South professionals in #Globaldev and the diaspora. Kujinafasi is about daring to imagine who you can be irrespective of where you are especially when in spaces that may not have been designed for you in the first place. It is the home for human interest stories celebrating authentic, unboxed and courageous black and brown professionals.

Are you a black or brown professional with a story to share? I would love to hear from you –

Email
jokitoi@gmail.com