The village in the grasslands of Samburu northern Kenya began as a refuge for survivors of sexual violence. The Umoja village was founded in 1990 by 15 women who were raped by the British soldiers.
Umoja’s population has now grown to include any women escaping child marriage, domestic violence, FGM, abusive marriages and rape all of which are cultural norms among the Samburu.
Rebecca Lolosoli was the founder of Umoja village. Rebecca had received a beating from a group of men as a lesson to others for trying to speak to women about their rights and its then she came up with the idea of women only village as she was in hospital recovering.
The experienced women in Umoja educate and train others even those from other surrounding Samburu villages on issues to do with sex, abortion, FGM, early marriages and menstruation.
Early marriages was a norm back then even nowadays in some communities i am sure it still happens. This young girls would face a lot of challenges; they would bleed a lot and rupture. This village gave women a say and right to learn and to make money through selling their beads to tourists.
The women believe that outside women are ruled by men and can’t have change while in Umoja they have freedom. Surprisingly the women still have sex and children but on their own terms. One of the women told a writer from the guardian, “We still like men. They are not allowed here, but we want babies and women have to have children, even if you are unmarried.”
According to the guardian many of the women say they cannot imagine living with a man again after they have been living in Umoja.
As the community of Umoja grows, the memories of the rape they were subjected to by British soldiers and Gurkhas do not fade.
How would the world be if women could walk down the streets, with no fear in their hearts, during any time of the day?