“I am proud to be intersex.”
Those were the first words Hunielle Nelly Chivatsi said as they began to share their story, a statement that carried both power and peace, shaped by years of silence and survival.
Hunielle is now the Executive Coordinator at Intersex Rights Initiative Coast Kenya, Co-Chair of Intersex Consortium Kenya, and Founder and Co-Chair of Grant Plus Kenya, where they also sit on the board. Their leadership journey also includes time with Boma Kenya and other organizations across the country. But as they recall, their first steps in advocacy began at Pema Kenya, where they found their footing as a human rights defender.
Growing up, being intersex in their community meant constant judgment and misunderstanding. “Abuse, intimidation, and threats were constant,” they said. “There were moments I almost gave up.”
Their turning point came in 2018. “Just when I was close to breaking, I received an invitation to the HRD Academy,” they remembered. “I didn’t know it then, but that invitation would change everything.”
At the academy, Hunielle learned about personal and digital security, from using VPNs to enabling two-factor authentication, simple tools that transformed their sense of safety. “For the first time, I realized I didn’t have to live exposed to threats,” they said.
They also found healing. Through mentorship and wellness sessions, they began to understand the importance of caring for themselves as they cared for others.
“If I cannot defend myself, I cannot defend anyone else,” they told Defenders Coalition. “At the academy, I was able to let go of years of silence, listen, and be heard. It was the first time I felt truly seen.”
Since then, self-care has become part of their advocacy. They practice yoga to reflect, stay calm, and think clearly. “When backlash comes, I no longer break down,” they said. “I respond with clarity and often with a smile.”
Their calm confidence has begun to influence those around them.
“By engaging openly, I’ve seen people slowly shift their perceptions,” they explained. “They start to see us as people deserving of dignity.”
Looking back, Hunielle calls their transformation proof that change is possible.
“I am living proof, and the HRD Academy played a huge role in that transformation.”