Blog — Sophie Otiende

Frequently Asked Questions

If I am not meant to survive, I take every opportunity, every step, every win, every loss, and every day with a sense of gratitude and awareness that I was not entitled to it and will never be entitled to it. These words have also brought me a sense of power because when you fundamentally know that everything is designed to make sure you do not survive, you also realise that any power you have is not drawn from the things around you and, therefore, can never be taken away from you. This is the liberation.

Sophie OtiendeJune 15, 2024

Incoherence

Sophie OtiendeOctober 30, 2023

What makes you uncomfortable?

Care cannot exist when we focus on protecting the system rather than the people at all costs. We should be ready to burn down a system/organisation when it no longer serves people. A toxic culture eventually destroys your ability to recognise abuse. It slowly discolours your lens and numbs your instinct to be uncomfortable with what is harmful.

Sophie OtiendeOctober 24, 2021safety, safeguarding, black feminism, harm, abuse Comments

An Introduction to Ethical Storytelling: Why are Stories Important

Through stories, I explored and travelled to different continents without ever setting foot in them. Writers used their words and helped me explore these worlds. Stories helped me expand my imagination and concept of what is possible and impossible.

Sophie OtiendeApril 14, 2021storytelling, power, trauma stories, power dynamics, ethical storytelling

What I learned in 2020

I am trying to live more intentionally. Choosing those that choose me. Appreciating those that have loved me over the years and being more intentional about how I choose to spend my time because it is all that I have, realistically. I also have the gift of the people that love me. My family, my friends who see me in ways that sometimes shocks me. Loving and being loved back for who we are is really undervalued in our current world but it’s the true gift that we have.

Sophie OtiendeJanuary 31, 2021resolutions, 2020, activism

Being my Parents' Daughter - Thoughts from my Journal

The biggest lesson I have learned these past few months has been: Love is a verb, appreciate is a verb, value is a verb and just singing about them or saying them is not enough when corresponding actions are not applied to these verbs. When corresponding actions are not applied, in most cases the opposite is true. I am so glad I learned this lesson at home because of the parents I have.

Sophie OtiendeDecember 17, 2020family, values, love, home

Room/Space to Learn

For me, forgiveness is not about saying I am sorry. It’s about me understanding why I am sorry and when I don't there is no need to say it. Forgiveness is about me asking how I can make it right and allowing the person hurt to say what will make it better.

Sophie OtiendeSeptember 19, 2020forgiveness, accountability, movements, survivors Comments

The Low Bar of Becoming a Hero

NGOs made activism a profession and I struggle with that. I struggle with the fact that people can see injustice and walk away because they believe there is someone else responsible for fixing injustice. I struggle with being called a hero because what I have done is the work of an active citizen and we shouldn't be applauding people for the basic actions of being an active citizen.

Concept of Home (Part One) - Ivy

There had been several women that had been killed before Ivy, but Ivy's death lingered. I remember what I was wearing when I read her story, and I remember the sounds, I remember being frozen, and I remember the distinct smell of fear. I remember the fear because when I think of the trauma I have gone through and think of what has lingered, it is the fear that I am not safe and the fear that I could be abused again that has remained.

The Question About Response

The truth is no one has a timeline on when this will end. How it will end. What the world will look like. When it is over, because it has to end, right? We can pretend and be confident about the answers we are giving in our webinars for Covid-19 response but the truth is that we were not prepared for this.

Sophie OtiendeMay 18, 2020COVID-19, human trafficking, survivors, covid19 response Comments