Umoja Village, Forbidden to Men

Calling Umoja just a district It wouldn’t be right. This place has also become a story of resistance, a manifesto of rebellion and a symbol of women’s struggle for empowerment.

But how come women, from male violence Were they able to establish a village of their own far away?

Unfortunately, violence against women is not limited to our country. We face this problem in every region of the world.

Kenya is just one of them. Umoja VillageIt is known as a region formed by women escaping from male violence. In this village located in Samburu district of Kenya, there are only women, men are prohibited from entering.

In Samburu, women are second-class citizens, so to speak. They are seen as the “property” of men. Women who are harassed and raped are abandoned by their husbands on the grounds that they are unclean. As you can see, there are a lot of deplorable situations going on.

Rebecca Lolosoli, the bright face of Kenyan women, founded this village in 1990 with 14 women.

Rebecca Lolosoli

Against violence against women and forced marriage Rebecca was the name that ignited this resistance years ago.. Moreover, he is someone who has experienced this indescribable pain. Rebecca, who was subjected to violence by a group of men, thought of this idea while lying in the hospital.

According to Samburu tradition, women They could not coexist with men. However, in this established village, women live freely as they wish with children under the age of 11.

So how do they get along?

women living in the village Almost all of them earn their living by selling jewelry. Jewelry made of precious stones also attracts the attention of tourists coming to the region. Moreover, they even founded a school with this income.

Moreover, every woman He donates 10% of his earnings to the village to support needs. There are no men in this village, which encourages Umoja women to live as they wish.

The female population in the village is gradually increasing as young and marriageable women join the village.

Not just women, orphans, children, abandoned ones… Everyone lives together, when we looked at the population of the village in 2015, there were 47 women and 200 children. Their numbers are increasing day by day. There are also boys in the village, but it is a rule that they must leave when they turn 18.

Everyone in the village has equal rights, It is known that everyone has a say. This village, where equality and justice are ensured and every decision is taken together, has also been accepted in the international community. Kenyan non-governmental organizations and the ministry of culture also support the village.

Unwanted marriages, violence, harassment and we hope that Umoja Village, which stands in the face of many events that have become a scourge of society, continues to be a light.

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