OUR STORY

In  2010-2011, Ms. Irene Kinyua Njoki received a two-year training for fashion and design. This training built not only her motivation to succeed as a person, but also to inspire and empower fellow women through Oasis. Ms. Irene's training focused on sewing along with making paper beads and necklaces. As a result of the many interactions with the local women in the learning institution, the Oasis founder built amazing social relationships amongst them.These relationships increased Ms. Irene's passion to begin the "ladder of hope" which has currently meandered through a lot of challenges to the transformation of women in various communities.

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As a vibrant woman who was inspired by her humble, agonizing background meted with the bitter brunt of poverty; Ms. Irene thought of a sustainable project to empower fellow women with similar socio-economic challenges and more. Therefore, in June of 2013, Ms. Irene registered  the Oasis Community Organization. The birth of this initiative was at Nakuru Town; Nakuru County in the heart of Rift valley Region of Kenya. 

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The "Oasis of Hope" begun with only a group of 23 who were taught the art of making beads from used rolling papers. Through a project called "Table Banking," the cumulative earnings from the venture would enhance the financial management and discipline within the group. The Organization continued to grow promisingly and in January 2016; the ambitious Irene started teaching cumulative weekday sewing classes in the community with a team of ten women. The women were so inspired to learn new skills even with the challenges they face balancing their sessions as learners and their roles as mothers in their families.

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The impact on these women was tremendous and was key to the alleviation of the bitter struggles involving poverty in their respective families and within the community. Being cognizant of the key role women play in the development of communities; the organization expanded. In January 2020, Ms. Irene took her initiative to the Kabiro community at  Kawangware in Nairobi. There, she welcomed ten women who were successfully trained. With joy and sheer motivation, it's key to celebrate the fact that by the end of 2021 year; the Organization will have trained, inspired, and empowered over sixty women. These women have had their lives and those of their families or communities transformed both socially, economically, and healthwise. With the continued recognition of the inequality in gender roles and inequities that come up with most cultures that down look women and pay attention to male dominance; such empowerments are to be embraced.

 

During the initiation of the project in Nairobi in 2020; the country and the world were shaken by the Covid-19 pandemic. Ms. Irene's innovative nature was unquestionable as she started a sewing class in the community which led to the production of face masks. The Organization thereafter conducted a funds drive which concurrently led to donations of over 3000 facemasks, within the community. The drive commendably led to the Organization's donation of food to over 100 families within the same area.

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Smiles are all worth celebrating for as the project has evolved to reaching over 3000 women through the various monthly workshops which have been running since the years of 2016 to 2019. The main inspiration has been how the project bases its growth on utilizing used and waste to production of valuable items. For instance, use of waste rolling papers to produce jewelry, production of sawdust and charcoal beads as well as embracing production of the well-known items of Maasai Beadwork. This is a key component of the Organization's sustainability and inspires more stakeholders who are passionate about women empowerment whilst eradicating the stereotypes in most cultures.

 

Despite these successes, the organization's operations have been derailed due to the effects of the pandemic and therefore haven't managed to hold major community workshops from the end of 2020 and the early periods of 2021. However in attempts to keeping the activities and positive trajectory of growth to touching lives; Oasis has curtailed the temptations and effects that young girls and women undergo in various socio-economic situations by donating sanitary towels and panties to over 2000 girls in various communities in tandem with Real Hope Youth Community Organization ( RHYCO).

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The commendable deed has saved the better percentage of nearly 30% of girls from sexual abuse and or violence.

It is significant to note that transactional sex and or sex for favors like; sanitary pads for sex is common amongst girls in the informal settlements, shanties, and poverty-stricken areas in most communities. Menstrual health is something that isn't guaranteed in most communities where the standards of living are low. Health is not only the absence of disease or infirmity but the physical, social and mental well-being of an individual. It would therefore be poor judgment to focus on the fight against Covid-19 as a disease while failing to address the effects of the pandemic on people's mental health and well-being. It would also be a sad denial to focus on addressing mental health challenges while not recognizing that poor menstrual health contributes to a bigger percentage of mental health problems in young girls and adolescents.

 

The Organization's human resource personnel are few but not limited to the task. We have well-motivated 15 volunteers in Nakuru. The place bears a lot of operations due to it being the founding place of the organization and one would argue that it's the headquarters for Oasis. In appreciation also, we have one competent accountant - Grace Wanjiru, determined social worker, and counselor- Betty Kinyua. We value the efforts of the 6 seamstresses and 7 jewelers who in unison make up our Oasis.

 

As an Oasis of hope to many; we're resilient and strategic with a long-term goal of addressing the pertinent challenges that have been left at dims length in various communities. As rooted in the motivation of a society that bears a women generation experiencing numerous socioeconomic challenges; we lobby for partnerships with various stakeholders for the better good of women and other vulnerable persons in communities.

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Health and well-being will be fully realized amongst the special groups like women, girls/ adolescents, and general disadvantaged communities by having efforts as such in Oasis. We believe that addressing the socio-economic determinants of health in populations will lead to the direct and indirect achievement of health and improved standards of living amongst the constituents in such communities.

 

God's triumph and Grace will always be sufficient in our mandate and efforts.