Our Profile
TUWAJALI WAJANE KWALE INITIATIVE
Tuwajali wajane kwale is a feminist organization based in Msambweni sub-county Ramisi ward Kwale county, sawa sawa village, the group has a total of 7 board members and is registered with the social development office as a community-based organization working with widows, young mothers and other vulnerable women from 30 women groups totaling to 821 women, the organization constitution dictates 70 % of members have to be widows while 30% other vulnerable groups of women including those living with a special ability.
The organization was founded by Mwanasha Gaserego who is the patron and director after seeing that there was increased socio-economic marginalization and stigmatization among widows and it was therefore formed to address this through community dialogue with relevant stakeholders.
The widows were identified through friends, the village elders and references from like-minded people, the group has 30 chapters all registered as self-help women groups.
Key achievements
Has supported 101 widows with business kits under the 1k business challenge in the pick of covid 19 where their businesses had collapsed
Has mobilized 821 women and assisted registration of 19 women self help groups registered with the organization
Has held meetings with different government departments to support widows, links to the department of children for OVC cash transfer services and social services for inua Jamii program awareness.
Have been linked to non-governmental projects for awareness of human rights, SGBV and matrimonial laws
Has held the first-ever international widows’ day where a petition was presented to the government on the need to have widows’ plights addressed.
Has healed 111 Women from trauma through its trauma healing project for peace in partnership with the Hifadhi initiative CBO.
Through the support of the global one foundation, the organization has reached 80 widowed farmers in Islamic farming project that targets 13 acres and 6 self-help women groups attached to the organization.
The group has been at the forefront in creating awareness of the covid 19 pandemic.
The organization has changed the mindset of two widows whose ideology was antigovernment to see the importance of working with the government which resulted in them asking their daughters to attend the NYS recruitment 2021 in Msambweni where they were recruited for paramilitary training.
The initiative was recognized by the department of social services as among the volunteer organization of the year 2020.
The initiative was the first ever to celebrate international widows’ day in Kwale County a holiday that was not popular among stakeholders in the county
The organization has built trust with stakeholders from both national and county governments the good relationship enhances better services to the beneficiaries
The group beneficiaries have had awareness of uwezo fund; women’s enterprise fund and thamini loan and are now applying for group loans.
Vision
A widow with dignity.
Mission
To empower widows out of STIGMA, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MARGINALIZATION, Transform and Mentor them and enhance safe space for inclusive society.
Areas of Focus
- Psychological support
- Leadership and governance
- Peace and security
- Referrals for justice
- Climate change and food security.
- Business support.
Our Core Values
- Teamwork
- Accountability
- Inclusivity
- Integrity
Our Objectives
- To enhance civic education and knowledge on the constitution, matrimonial and inheritance laws for access to justice among women in Kwale County.
- To increase general awareness of the importance of good health among women in kwale county
- To increase collaboration plans with other organizations, bodies or individuals whether national or international who are having advocacy strategies for a similar course.
- To empower women with livelihood skills include. Agriculture, entrepreneurship for income generation.
Stakeholders
The group works with widows, individuals, religious leaders, women activists, human rights defenders, and national and county government through relevant departments such as social services and agriculture.
Donors
The tuwajali wajane kwale initiative is run through members’ contributions, well-wishers’ support and government support through various departments.
Future plans
To extend widows’ support initiatives throughout the county and have a resource center for widows’ support.
