My name is Cyprozz Otieno, a Gender and development specialist in Kenya. I completed my studies at Egerton University. I majored in Gender and development studies,  I'm looking forward to understanding and Combating Structural Inequality which leads to gender equality and combats discrimination against women and other marginalized groups.

Arts is a powerful means to foster women's rights as it enables them to learn, practice and rehearse; cultivating their inner creativity and natural talents in order to express their feelings and emotions, free from inhibition or rigid judgement from their society.

Through performance we are able to communicate our emotions without using words and still be understood by the different audiences from different backgrounds. The engagement in theatre arts educates and empower young women and girls by enabling them to act as agents of social change by ensuring their equal, active and meaningful participation which gives them the ability to express emotions, to build confidence, self-esteem and communication skills, relieve stress, and  to encourage creativity and imagination which leads to increased self confidence and self assurance and to enable girls to cope with different situations and emotions. I'm enthusiastic to be part of the International Girls Ensemble as I know we will achieve more in the milestone of empowering girls and the young women. Melinda Gates once said that a woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman, but the search to find the voice can be remarkably difficult. Let's give the girls and young women their voice so they can courageously  express themselves to overcome the obstacles faced in our patriarchal society .