Umoja - “unity” in Swahili - is a village located in northern Kenya where no men are allowed. The village was created by 15 women from the Samburu tribe who survived sexual assault by the British soldiers in 1990. Nowadays, it is a refuge for all women trying to escape from genital mutilation, sexual assault, domestic violence, child marriage, etc. 

 

There are about 50 women and 200 children in the village. Boys are required to leave the village when they reach the age of 18. Umoja runs a campsite for tourists with an entrance fee and sells handmade jewelry. There is also a school open for the neighbouring villagers too. The villagers of Umoja are not completely isolated, they are able to go out when needed to the other villages. In Umoja, women with experience educate girls and women from the neighbouring Samburu villages about issues such as female genital mutilation and early marriage. 

 

Filled with wonderful women who all have interesting life stories, the village of Umoja helps women in northern Kenya, but inspires the entire world by their feminist fight against patriarchy and misogyny.