The Caring for Widows and Orphans Organisation (CWOO) is a nonprofit community-based initiative, established in 2018 in the Kakuma refugee camp, Turkana West. Its mission is to empower orphans, widows, and elderly people with special needs. Key projects include establishing a sustainable orphanage and a computer training centre for youths. CWOO stands as an advocate for the voiceless in society. The organisation envisions expanding its reach beyond Africa to assist vulnerable groups worldwide.
Kenya
Caring for Widow and Orphans (CBO)
Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Burundi, Somalia
We support communities from:
2018
Operating since
5
Volunteers
2
Staff Members
200
Refugees Supported
Language training, Vocational training, Livelihood support
Children’s rights, Disability rights, Environment, Women’s rights, LGBTQ+ Rights
Our activities:
Our focus:
HIGHLIGHTS
"Together with our local members, we've identified effective ways of helping all members. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we successfully launched a project where we managed to mobilise funds, teaching our widows how to sew masks and distributed them to local members. Since our inception, we have implemented numerous programmes for orphans, aiding them in joining schools and vocational training. We maintain contact with them after they finish their school programmes, providing references for work placements as we strive towards durable solutions."
Caring for Widow and Orphans (CBO) on Taking The Lead
Why is the Taking The Lead network important to you?
"Taking The Lead network is one of the best I have ever attended since we started. It's provided me with excellent ideas and ways to become a good leader – a leader who understands his role. For me, going through the training was important and it has even helped me plan my income so I can manage our activities, regardless of whether we have donors or not."
With more funding and resources, our organisation could...
"enhance our ability to help more refugees. Direct funding would allow us to gain sufficient knowledge on management and leadership. Consequently, we would be more capable of tackling community matters.”
A shift from negative to positive narratives about refugees would lead to...
"better ways of empowering refugees and getting more knowledge on advocacy."
If refugees could influence decisions that affect them, it would mean...
"he or she will definitely affect all refugees, and that is lack of knowledge."
OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE