MEN ARE NOT WELCOME IN OUR VILLAGE AND THE VILLAGE IS 25 YEARS OLD

'Women only' village celebrate their25th anniversary

 

- Samburuland women are celebrating their village's 25th birthday since it was born- The special local village, called Umoja, is exclusively inhabited by women. It was reportedly started by Rebecca Lolosoli, as the leader, and other 15 women- Men are not allowed to step foot in Umoja village, no mat
ter how aggrieved they feel, and this is for a good reasonIt's been over two decades of steady growth since Umoja village was established in the heart of Samburuland, in Northern Kenya. The local women recently celebrated their village's 25th birthday.

Only women are allowed to live in Umoja village.

The village was reportedly started by one Rebecca Lolosoli in 1990 toserve as a safe haven for women and girls who had suffered sexual and domestic violence. It was also created to shield young girls from forced early marriage, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and other challenges.
The village was started to provide safe haven for women fleeing from FGM and forced marriageIn this village, only women are welcomed, a position that is said tohave offended men, some of who have reportedly threatened Mrs Lolosoli with dire consequences.

Mrs Lolosoli has reportedly received threats from men becauseof her villageMrs Lolosoli reportedly started the village at a time when Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and forcedmarriages were rampant in Samburuland. She wanted to protect girls and women that were looking for a safe place to stay, far away from the abuse of men.

The village now has a clinic and school where the young girl can goIt started with just 15 women, according to Mrs Lolosoli, but the number has grown significantly over the years and the village itself has experienced tremendous socio-economic growth."We now have a clinic and school where the girls and the young women can go," says Mrs Lolosoli on her village website.Their economic activities include bread-making, which is their principal source of income. They have also set up tourist campsites on the edge of the village. Revenuecollected is used to supplement their incomes.


Economic activities include tourismand bread-making