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Upendo Women Initiative is a community-based organization dedicated to empowering women who have faced mental health challenges, gender-based violence, and other adversities.
Established in 2019, our initiative operates in the heart of Kawangware, a vibrant yet underserved community in Nairobi.
We aim to foster resilience, self-reliance, and holistic growth among women, equipping them with the skills and resources needed to thrive. At Upendo Women Initiative, we believe in the power of community and shared purpose to create lasting change.
"Even when things are bad, women need a place to go to remind them that everything will be OK."- Sabrina Black
Our Objectives
Upendo Women was established with 4 main objectives:
1
To uplift the educational and economic status of the women by empowering them to be self reliant
2
To develop and uphold the best of the cultural, social, and economic heritage of the members and their local communities
3
To organize training courses for single women and girls
4
To provide people with disabilities and their caregivers skills to be productive members of society
Our Community
Kawangware is a low-income area around 15 km West of Nairobi city centre, in Kenya. It is considered to be one of Africa's biggest slums. Most of the houses are makeshift structures, there is little access to clean drinking water, and the cases of HIV are very high.
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Over 65% of adults in Kawangware do not have a steady job, and unfortunately, many women must turn to prostitution to put food on the table. Early marriages are also common, as they are often the only option that women have to support themselves.