A Validation Workshop on Resilience and Innovation Amidst Chaos

On a chilly Saturday morning, the validation workshop for the “Exploration of Practical Wisdom and Resilience Overcoming Downside Risk” survey began at Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations. After months of gathering responses from communities and university students, the workshop aimed to validate findings led by Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs (proposed) Dr Odomaro Mubangizi, SJ, and Dr Kithinji Kinyua a fellow researcher from Sophia University and The University of Tokyo.

The study highlighted how Kenyans navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on healthcare strategies, education disruptions, and youth resilience through innovative income-generating activities. Participants shared personal stories of coping, mentorship, spiritual awakening, and the media's influence on public perception.

The workshop illuminated grassroots resilience, revealing how communities adapted to the crisis through collaboration and creativity. By the end, the pandemic had strengthened society’s spirit, encapsulated in the title: “We Emerged Stronger: Local Communities Accounts of Resilience.”