Josephine Gitome

Josephine Wanjirū Gìtome ni mtafiti wa kitaaluma, mtetezi wa elimu na uwezeshaji wa wakimbizi kutoka Kenya. Alikuwa Mkurugenzi katika kituo Centre for Refugee Studies and Empowerment kutoka Julai 2012 hadi 2018, alikuwa pia mkurugenzi katika kituo cha Regional Centre for Capacity Development katika Chuo Kikuu cha Kenyatta (KU). Miradi ya Elimu na utafiti ya Gìtome inalenga elimu kwa wakimbizi na watu waliopoteza makazi yao ndani ya nchi, maendeleo na ushauri wa vijana kwa ujumla, afya ya uzazi isiyo halali, ufumbuzi wa afya za kidijitali, na ujumuishaji wa mbinu za kiasili katika utunzaji wa kichungaji.

Masomo

Gìtome alipokea PhD yake ya Masomo ya Kidini kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Kenyatta mwaka wa 2003. Ana Shahada ya Uzamili ya Sanaa katika Masomo ya Kidini kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Nairobi (1989). Alimaliza Shahada yake ya Sanaa katika Sosholojia na Masomo ya Kidini kwenye chuo kikuu kimoja mwaka wa 1986. Kando na sifa zake za kitaaluma, amepokea vyeti kadhaa vya kitaaluma, kukiwa ni pamoja na Cheti cha Juu cha Elimu ya Juu ya Dharura kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Geneva ; Cheti cha Mafunzo kwa Wakufunzi kuhusu Kuunganisha VVU/UKIMWI kama suala la kijamii katika mihtasari ya Elimu ya Juu kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Afrika Kusini; na Cheti cha Advanced Leadership Seminar kutoka Taasisi ya Haggai huko Maui.

Kazi

Gìtome ni Mhadhiri Mkuu katika Idara ya Falsafa na Mafunzo ya Kidini katika Chuo Kikuu cha Kenyatta, na amebobea katika Historia ya Kanisa na Dini za Ulimwengu. Mnamo 1989, Gìtome alifanya kazi kama Afisa wa Marejeleo ya Vijana (Juvenile Probation Officer) katika Wizara ya Mambo ya Ndani ya Kenya. Alihudumu kama Katibu wa Uratibu wa shirika la Puberty to Adulthood Camps Kenya (2004–2014),mradi ambao unawawezesha vijana kupitia ushauri na stadi za maisha wakati wa mabadiliko yao ya kuwa watu wazima. Pia aliwahi kuwa kaimu mkurugenzi wa Kituo cha Centre for Capacity Development in Higher Eduacation (2009) na Mkurugenzi wa Kituo cha Regional Center for Capacity Development (2011). Gitome aliratibu kuanzishwa na kuasisiwa kwa Kituo Centre for Capacity Development & Empowerment katika chuo kikuu cha Kenyatta, ambapo alisimamia matawi ya Chuo Kikuu cha Kenyatta na Chuo Kikuu cha Moi yaliyoko Dadaab (2012–2018). Katika kipindi hicho, alikuwa mratibu wa kitaasisi wa Chuo Kikuu cha Kenyatta kwa mradi wa Borderless Higher Education For Refugees (BHER) kwa ushirikiano na Chuo Kikuu cha York, Tume ya Umoja wa Mataifa ya Wakimbizi, Windle Trust Kenya, Danish Refugee Council na Chuo Kikuu cha Geneva ili kupanua upatikanaji wa elimu kwa wakimbizi, raia wa kitaifa na wafanyakazi wa Umoja wa Mataifa wanaofanya kazi katika kambi za wakimbizi. Alihudumu kama Mkurugenzi katika kituo cha kimataifa International Centre for Capacity Development (ICCD). Yeye ni mwanachama wa Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians.

Utafiti na usomi

Gìtome ameshiriki katika utafiti kuhusu uwezekano wa ugavi wa Elimu ya Juu kwa wakimbizi katika Kambi za Dadaab nchini Kenya (2011–2012), ambao uliangazia mahitaji ya mafunzo bora ya washauri-walimu, uingiliaji kati wa kitabia unaotegemea utafiti, na mkabala kamili wa maendeleo ya vijana . Pia amefanya utafiti unaozingatia maisha na changamoto za makundi madogo kama vile wakimbizi, wakimbizi wa ndani ya nchi, watu walioambukizwa ukimwi na wanawake katika mazingira mbalimbali ya kijamii, kisiasa na kidini, hasa katika muktadha wa Kenya. Kazi yake inaangazia athari za kijamii, kitamaduni na kisayansi kwa afya ya uzazi na haki za wanawake wakimbizi, na anasoma dhima ya mbinu za Wenyeji wa Afrika katika Ushauri wa Kinga na Maendeleo ya Jumla ya Vijana kanisani ili kuepukana na changamoto za mgogoro wa utambulisho na majukumu ya kijinsia, ambayo ni muhimu katika mabadiliko ya kuwa watu wazima, hasa katika maeneo ya mijini na makazi yasiyo rasmi.

Kuhusu afya ya uzazi, Gìtome anaandika kuhusu wajibu wa wakunga wa jadi katika kuboresha afya ya uzazi na watoto wachanga kwa mafunzo ya kabla ya kujifungua na baada ya kuzaa kwa akina mama katika kambi za wakimbizi za Daadab, na jinsi dini, utamaduni, na sayansi ni mambo muhimu yanayoathiri chaguo la wanawake kuhusu huduma za afya ya uzazi katika kambi la wakimbizi. Anaona mila ya ukeketaji kama suala nyeti kidini na kitamaduni ambalo linaathiri afya ya uzazi ya wanawake na kuathiri uchaguzi wao wa huduma za afya ya uzazi. Gìtome alishiriki katika mradi shirikishi wa kuchunguza suluhu za afya za kidijitali ili kupunguza vifo vya uzazi na watoto wachanga katika mazingira ya wakimbizi. Alishirikishwa katika kongamano la Umoja wa Mataifa la SDG Global Festival of Action mnamo 2021 kwa mradi wake wa "Birthing Across Genders", ambao uliwapatia wakunga wakimbizi mafunzo yaliyoidhinishwa ya Uhalisia Pepe ili kuimarisha ujuzi wa kidijiti, kukuza elimu ya kudumu na kuboresha huduma ya afya ya uzazi.

Kazi zake zilizochaguliwa

• Gìtome, J. W. (2011). Pastoral care in African context: The use of African indigenous practices in adolescents pastoral care. Germany, USA, UK: Lambert Academic Publishing.
• Gìtome, J. W. (2003). "The church's response to AIDS in Africa." In Theology of reconstruction: Exploratory essays (2nd ed). Nairobi, Kenya: Action Publishers.
• Gìtome, J. W. (2003). "Integration of African indigenous guidance practices to adolescents' pastoral care and counselling programs in selected churches of Nairobi" (Doctoral dissertation). Kenyatta University.
• Gìtome, J. W. (2002). "The conflict of single motherhood: A challenge to the church." In M. N. Getui & H. Ayanga (Eds.), Conflicts in Africa: A woman's response. Nairobi, Kenya: Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians, Kenya Chapter.
• Gìtome, J. W. (1989). "Pastoral care and counseling to educated young adults in the PCEA church with special reference to Kikuyu Parish" (Master's thesis). University of Nairobi.

Kazi alizoshirikiana kuandika

• Bagelman, J., & Gitome, J. W. (2020). "Birthing across borders: ‘Contracting’ reproductive geographies in dialogue." Human Geography, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/2043820620965825
• Gìtome, J. W., Kahumbi, N., Mainah, M., Kituku, J. M., Mwoma, T., Ndegwa, P., & Bagelman, J. (2023). "Female genital mutilation: A religio-cultural sensitive issue determining maternal healthcare choices among Somali women in Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya." European Scientific Journal, 19(15), 16. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2023.v19n15p16
• Gìtome, J. W., & Tinuola, F. R. (2007). "Socio-cultural determinants of abortion among younger women in Nigeria." Chemchemi International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 4(1), 1–9.
• Kahumbi, N., & Bagelman, J. (2024). "Gender differentiated attitude towards caesarean: A case of Somali refugees in Dadaab, Kakuma." ACTA Scientific Women’s Health, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.31080/ASWH.2024.06.0559
• Kahumbi, N., Gìtome, J. W., Bagelman, J., Maina, M., Kituku, J., Mwoma, T., & Ndegwa, P. (2021). "Family planning as a determining factor in preference to traditional birth attendants among Somali community in Dadaab refugee camps, Kenya." European Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 1(6). ISSN: 2736–5522
• Kathambi, F., Gìtome, J. W., & Bwire, J. P. (2023). "Integration of information and communication technology in church worship." International Journal of Innovative Research in Sciences, Engineering and Technology, 2(11), 1–3.
• Kathambi, F., Gìtome J. W., & Bwire, J. P. (2022). "Use of social media for evangelisation: A case of Full Gospel Churches of Kenya (FGCK), Meru, Kenya." Journal of Pastoral and Practical Theology, 1(1), 25–34. https://doi.org/10.51317/jppt.v1i1.268
• Kituku, J., Mwoma, T., Gìtome, J. W., Kahumbi, N., Ndegwa, P., Mainah, M., & Bagelman, J. (2022). "Respectful maternal care and by who? Perspectives of Somali community at Ifo refugee camp, Dadaab, Kenya." International Journal of Pregnancy & Child Birth, 8(1). https://medcraveonline.com/IPCB/IPCB-08-00252
• Mainah, M., Bagelman, J., Gìtome, J. W., Ndegwa, P., Mwoma, T., Kituku, J., & Kahumbi, N. (2021). "Placenta disposal rituals among Somali refugees in Dadaab camp." International Journal of Arts and Commerce, 10(6). ISSN: 1029–7106
• Muriethi, N. E., Gìtome, J. W., & Waweru, H. (2023). "Ecclesial-indigenous paradigms of nurturing and growth in African context: Engaging Aembu and the Anglican Church’s rites of passage for child socialization." Jumuga Journal of Education, Oral Studies, and Human Sciences, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.35544/jjeoshs.v5i1.55
• Musili, T. K., Gìtome, J. W., & Ruth, M. J. (2019). "An ethical claim for administration of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in HIV and AIDS burdened Africa." International Journal of Arts and Humanities, 8(3).
• Mwoma, T., Gìtome, J. W., Kahumbi, N., Ndegwa, P., Mainah, M., & Bagelman, J. (2021). "Role of traditional birth attendants in providing pre- and postnatal care to mothers in refugee camps: A case of Ifo camp, Dadaab, Kenya." International Journal of Pregnancy & Child Birth, 7(3). https://doi.org/10.15406/ipcb.2021.07.00229
• Rotich, C., Gecaga, M., & Gìtome, J. W. (2024). "Role of church affiliation and the sexual behaviour choices of students in selected universities in Nairobi County, Kenya." International Journal of Humanity and Social Sciences, 2(1), 1–16. ISSN: 3005–5407
• Rotich, M. C., Gecaga, M., & Gìtome, J. W. (2023). "Effects of ACK and KAG teachings in sexual behaviour choices of students in selected universities in Nairobi County, Kenya." International Journal of Humanity and Social Sciences, 1(2), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.47941/ijhss.1524
• Wang’eri, T., Tumuti, S., Mugambi, K. D., Mutweleli, S. M., Gìtome, J. W., & Njogu, M. (2014). "Extent to which African men are able to meet physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem and self-actualization needs for themselves and family in Dadaab refugee camp, Garissa County, Kenya." Global Journal of Human Sciences, 14(11), 41–55.