Who would imagine that a small group of widows at the margins of society could positively impact the lives of so many? This is the remarkable story of Manusura, a women’s group sponsored by OAIC-Kenya Chapter located in Mombasa, Kenya. From education to health to gender-based violence activism, Manusura has engaged with all these issues for the benefit of its members as well as its surrounding community.

 Manusura formed in 2005 when five widows came together to support one another through fellowship. During the group’s early days, the women would pay home visits to one another, everyone contributing Ksh 50 and 1kg of cereal to a different member every week. Eventually the group gained financial stability and expanded to incorporate not only widows, but also other vulnerable women including victims of domestic violence, single mothers, and those suffering from illnesses. The home visits continued even while the group expanded as a way of supporting one another, especially for those living positively with HIV. Manusura members also noticed children in their community whose families could not afford to send them to school. The group then decided to focus their effort on sending young children from their neighborhoods to school through their limited financial resources. OAIC-K began supporting Manusura last year through a loan program. With the resources given to them, the group set up a revolving fund in which individual members receive small loans for their businesses, which they pay back to the group in small installments. Because of the financial support as well as the advice on small business operation that OAIC-K and other organizations have given to them, Manusura has come a long way over the four years of the group’s existence. The members are now able to support themselves independently while simultaneously supporting one another.

Recently members of Manusura traveled from Mombasa to Nairobi to speak out against gender-based violence. Various local newspapers featured the group’s advocacy as part of November and December’s 16 Days of Activism Against Violence campaign. This event, along with the group’s history of rising up from society’s margins to confront the social issues that have suppressed them, truly demonstrates the very meaning of the group’s name ‘Manusura’, which translates to ‘The Survivors.’