" Change makers Lab M3: Elevator Pitch."

My name is Kristine Yakhama, I was born and raised in Nairobi. In 2010, my parents and I relocated to Shinyalu Western part of Kenya.

Mining for gold can provide a solid livelihood for many living in Kenya's Kakamega county. But customary beliefs prohibit women from entering the mines, even on their own land, forcing them either to lease the land/leave the precious metal in the ground. Menopausal women can get close to a gold mine although never inside it and are given lighter duties such as winnowing, separating the gold from the dirt( silica dust is causing silicosis, chronic bronchitis and Tuberculosis) and crushing ore (sluicing using Mercury "Mercury in a mother's body is transferred to her foetus during pregnancy, exposing the developing foetus to the potent neurotoxin." Burning gold amalgam to separate Mercury is dangerous, but hunger can kill you in days while Mercury takes ages.

R2SN To Mercury campaign is to create awareness on Mercury and it's effects coming up with an alternative method to operate Mercury free processing system.On 23rd September, 2022 we had a successful meeting with Ministry of Health and one of our action plan is community outreach.

I do this because our Kenya constitution 2010 article 43 guarantees the Right To Health including Sexual Reproductive Health; It's sad majority of households in the mine children with defects have been abandoned not accessing physiotherapy in health facilities and education ( right to education). " Children are the same regardless of their status".