October 20, 1999 -- Women in Kenya’s roles have changed in the last decades due to development, modernization, greater exposure to Western ideas, and the rise of feminism around the world, and this notion will be explored in the year 2000 for one 22-year-old United Methodist woman from Caldwell, Idaho.
At the annual Women’s Division board of directors meeting in Stamford, CT, on October 17, the Women’s Division announced Laurie Day, a member of Caldwell United Methodist Church, as the 2000 Theressa Hoover Community Service and Global Citizen awardee.
The decade-old award in the form of a grant "is for study, exploration, learning, research and/or observation in a subject area of the recipient’s choosing and in harmony with the current interests of the Women’s Division." Ms. Day’s research will take her to Kenya to look at the changing of women’s roles and their empowerment.
"From a critical academic perspective, I understand the value of women’s empowerment for themselves, [their] family and [their] community," said Ms. Day. "However, my personal experiences have proven to me that empowering women is not as easy as scholars deem."
Ms. Day believes that women’s lives are governed largely by their traditions, community, and family expectations and obligations. So change can be difficult.
"Most women are trying to silently make these changes occur, often in ways that men do not notice. How and why these roles are changing is an intriguing topic, which I wish to explore further," said Ms. Day.
Ms. Day graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and a minor in Religion. This will not be her first trip to study in Kenya. During her junior year in college, she participated in an international development study program that took her to Kenya with the University of Minnesota.
An active United Methodist, Ms. Day attended the World Methodist Council meeting in Brazil and was elected to the Council’s Youth Committee. She has served as a mission trip team leader, grant writing intern, office assistant, youth leader, cook and camp counselor, and mission trip participant.
The award Ms. Day received is made annually to honor Theressa Hoover for her years of service to the Woman’s Division/Women’s Division (1948-90), The United Methodist Church, and the ecumenical world. The Women’s Division established the award in perpetuity, in the amount of $100,000 with only the interest used for grants. The Award is designated for women of all races and nationalities, ages 21-35. Ms. Day is Caucasian.
The Women’s Division represents United Methodist Women, a one-million member organization whose purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders and advocate for justice. Members raise more than $20 million a year for programs and projects related to women, children and youth in the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world.
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