Polycom Girls, a grassroots feminist non-governmental organization convened 40 adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 25 in Kibera, Nairobi, on March 6, 2026, for the launch of the 2026 Community listening podcast series under the programme “Passing the baton – phase 3: Community based podcast listening Session #1.”
Held on the eve of International Women’s Day, the event brought together young women, mentors, and feminist leaders under the theme ‘Give to gain listening, learning, and leading across generations.’ The gathering transformed feminist storytelling into a dynamic space for grassroots political education, dialogue, and leadership development.
Participants collectively listened to selected episodes from passing the Baton Season 1, a podcast series documenting the experiences, struggles, and leadership journeys of seasoned feminists.
Board member at Polycom Girls Brenda Kalekye emphasized that investing in young women today helps build stronger communities tomorrow.
Through guided discussions and reflections, the young women explored how these stories connect to contemporary realities affecting women and girls in their communities.
“Passing the baton means believing in the next generation,” Kalekye said. “When we empower girls to continue their education, start businesses, or take leadership roles, we are creating the future we want to see. Leadership should never be about holding positions forever. It is about preparing others to continue the journey.”
She noted that many women and girls at the grassroots level simply need someone who believes in their potential and helps them unlock opportunities. She said that at the core of the initiative is the leadership concept of “Passing the Baton,” described as the intentional transfer of knowledge, responsibility, mentorship, and opportunity from one generation to another.
She said while the platform centers women’s experiences, the philosophy is universal adding sustainable leadership in communities, institutions, and movements depends on preparing future generations to continue the work.
“Passing the baton is not just about women and girls, It is about how leadership everywhere should function ensuring that experience, lessons, and opportunities are shared so that progress continues across generations,” she said
Podcast episodes formed the basis of the day’s discussions examining the growing threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence including the nonconsensual sharing of intimate images online.
Participants discussed the risks young women face in digital spaces and the need for stronger awareness, legal protection and accountability.
Young women reflected on the economic challenges faced in informal settlements and how financial independence can transform their opportunities.
Through small-group discussions, collective reflection, and a cross-generational dialogue circle, participants connected the podcast narratives to their own lived experiences and aspirations.
The event also introduced participants to the Trio-Tier Mentorship Programme, designed to connect seasoned feminist leaders, mid-career professionals, and emerging young leaders.
Programme Officer at Polycom Girls Aphline Yogo explained that the listening series was designed to bring feminist stories and knowledge directly to communities. “Many of these powerful stories exist in books or conferences,” Yogo said adding: “But we want communities to listen together, reflect together and connect these experiences to their own lives.”
She noted that the initiative represents the third phase of the Passing the Baton programme. Earlier phases involved live dialogues among feminist leaders and digital documentation of their stories through video and podcasts.
“This phase is about cascading those stories back to the grassroots. When women hear these experiences, they realize they are not alone. These conversations help women move from agonizing about problems to organizing around solutions,” she explained.
Yogo added that more community listening sessions will be held throughout 2026 in spaces where women gather.
A mentor at Polycom Girls Sumba Njeri described the initiative as a leadership apprenticeship grounded in feminist history. “Passing the baton is essentially an apprenticeship. We listen to women who walked the path before us. Many of the rights and opportunities we enjoy today exist because of their sacrifices,” she added.
She explained that digital storytelling through podcasts ensures these experiences remain accessible even when it is difficult to bring seasoned feminist leaders together physically. Njeri also encouraged young women to become more engaged in civic and governance processes.
“Young people must understand how systems work. Issues such as education, healthcare, and taxation affect our daily lives,” she said, adding that civic participation, including registering as voters, is one way young people can shape the future they want.
Participants also discussed the legal framework addressing digital abuse in Kenya. Polycom Girls encouraged victims of online abuse to report incidents and seek legal support. They emphasized that the initiative is ultimately about sustaining leadership across generations.
By Anita Omwenga
