These women are tackling long held beliefs in their community.
Hi John,
Would you speak up if you witnessed an injustice?
A group of women in Kajiado County, Kenya are doing just that. They had enough of the violence and inequality in their community. They wanted action.
Caroline (pictured in red above and below) started a local women’s group, Omega Winners Initiative, with 20 other women. Together they’re making a stand against the high rates of female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early and forced marriages that have blighted the lives of local women and girls for generations.
We spoke to three members of the group about their activities and motivations for getting involved.
Caroline “I was in an abusive marriage… and that’s why I involve myself in my community to help other women.
Now I can get transport to go and train our girls, to mobilise our people, to rescue a girl who is at risk.”
Faith
“We meet and train girls. We also talk to women about dangers of girl’s circumcision.
Also about girls being married off while young.. we travel around to inform them.”
Senia
“If a girl has been married off, we rescue her and take her to school.
Our group does great work..”
Watch the video below to hear more from Faith, Senia and Caroline.
The Omega Winners Initiative received leadership training from Womankind partner FIDA Kenya through the AWESOME programme. AWESOME is an innovative five-year project funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and coordinated by Womankind Worldwide. You can read more about the AWESOME project here.
Caroline says of her participation in the project here;
“You have enabled me to teach my community to know their rights, to know that women are able to work in offices run their own businesses and be in leadership.”
Caroline now hopes to run for local office to represent the needs of women and girls in her community.
Thank you for helping us support trailblazing activism like the Omega Winners Initiative.
With best wishes,
Hannah Little
Supporter Care Team Womankind Worldwide
Header image: Women from the Omega women's group making beaded products to generate funds for their activities in Kajiado County, Kenya (Photo credit: Sarah Waiswa)
