Goals and visions

Who we are

The Friends of Umoja Association is a registered non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the women's village of Umoja, founded by Rebecca Lolosoli in the Samburu region of Kenya. Our association was founded on July 3, 2015.
Umoja means unity and stands for the solidarity among the women who live there. This village is a refuge for women and their children who want to lead a non-violent, self-determined life free from domestic violence, rape, forced marriage, and female genital mutilation (FGM).

We provide direct and immediate support in our development cooperation with the self-help group “Umoja Uaso Women Group” in the women's village of Umoja.

We are intercultural and not affiliated with any political party. We respect all religions and work exclusively with volunteers. We are committed people from different professions and age groups and welcome new members who want to support us or participate in the work of the association, e.g., by setting up action groups in their hometowns.
We are truly delighted to have every member, every donor, every sponsor, and every cooperation partner who supports us throughout Germany.

What do we want to achieve?

In the women's village of Umoja...
• Preservation and further expansion of the women's village as a refuge for girls and women against violence, genital mutilation, forced marriage, and discrimination
• Immediate assistance in the event of disasters of any kind
• Provide long-term, reliable, lasting assistance, thereby serving as a predictable partner for the women's village
• Provide assistance on the ground and thereby prevent migration
• Promote projects in the following areas

Education and vocational training
Women's rights and human rights,
Water supply/electrification,
Health and hygiene,
Generation of income.

In Germany ...
• Raise people's awareness of solidarity-based action
• Providing information about the culture and living conditions of our project partners in Kenya
• Collaboration with experienced project partners and establishment of an effective network

How do we work?

Volunteering, passionate, and highly motivated!

All projects are coordinated with the Umoja Uaso Women's Group and tailored to local conditions. The projects should be sustainable and manageable, significantly improve people's living conditions, help them to help themselves, be in harmony with the local culture and nature, and serve as a model for the entire Samburu region.

The donations are earmarked exclusively for projects in the women's village, the village school, and the surrounding villages in the Samburu region.

Accountability reports, documentation, and on-site visits serve to ensure transparency.

Our goals and visions

For us, providing targeted assistance to our partner organization in Kenya to help them help themselves means thinking globally and acting locally.

Through constant communication with those responsible and project partners, regular visits, documentation, and reports, we ensure that all donations and sponsorship funds are used for their intended purpose.

We want to offer the women and children of Umoja prospects for a self-determined, independent life through direct and effective support. Protecting girls from genital mutilation, early or forced marriage is particularly important to us.

*Addendum*

A detailed report on our collaboration with Umoja in the first five years since the association was founded can be found here (german):
Commemorative publication