GriefandRenewal.Com is thrilled to introduce WRATH_Africa, a nondenominational faith based organization of widows originating in Kenya seeking to support and help other widows throughout Africa. WRATH_Africa stands for Widows in Resistance & Against Threats and Harassment in Africa. In the letter that follows, WRATH_Africa’s founder and Chairperson, Coleta Khamete Aduod, shares her story of how she came to found this organization with other widows. GriefandRenewal.Com is also posting their Constitution.

Message from Coleta Khamete Aduodi:

Dear Dr. Laura,

To start with, I will briefly tell you about myself. I was widowed almost 3 decades ago with 8 kids i.e. in 1977. My properties were taken away by clan members in what was referred to as property inheritance not minding that I had 4 sons and 4 daughters to be taken care of. I had dropped my job from police force to take care of our children but after the death of my husband I was forced to look for another job. Though I did not manage to get back to the forces but lucky enough having been in medical field I got a job with a local missionary hospital as an a nurse.

At the local mission hospital beside severe poverty I learned that there are other major problems facing widows in our rural communities which include domestic violence, sexual abuse, indecent funeral procedures and rites, eviction and homeless, violence of human rights and freedom, ignorance to mention but just a few. Days, months and years have rolled down since I was widowed and what I have personally experienced is enough to make me mad. Unfortunately, as I am writing two of my sons are dead each leaving three kids and their wives widening the gap of widowhood. On the other end my daughter’s husband is dead and she is facing threats than what I did. She has 3 kids also to take care of but with no source of income.

Now, that is me alone! But if you compare the entire district the findings are absolutely amazing. Statistics shows that within the village, out of 10 women 4 or 5 are widows. Of this figure most of them have no source of income besides their clans manning their steps and whereabouts. Their children if not working in farms most of them become street children.

Let me, get you back to the point. While still at the hospital I met quite a number of widows some who were my workmates and we formed a widows self-support group to support ourselves in time of emergencies. To be a member, one had to contribute certain amount of money either monthly or on a fortnight basis. Well, it was a fantastic ideas and it actually supported us when time of need arose. But, in realistic we exempted another group of widows who actually needed more of support than some of us and who were unable to contribute sum of amount required. That is why I personally came –up with an idea of forming a registered faith based non-governmental organization which will cater for all sort of widows within African communities regardless of their social or economical status, unless if a widow is not in need of our support or not willing to be part of the group. As an organization we are focusing towards:

• Providing forums for exchange programs.
• Availing more training opportunities for widows to make them productive within the society.
• Creating opportunities for local grouping and innovations.
• Strengthening, scaling-up and replicating existing projects.
• Exploring links between and amongst existing bodies within the society.
• Addressing reproductive health issues.
• Improvement of education standards and equal access to legal systems.
• ...among others

Thank you for your concern and interest about WRATH_africa. And on behalf of the entire organization I welcome suggestion and contribution on how we can improve.

Regards,
Coleta Khamete Aduodi.
WRATH_africa Chairperson.

WRATH_Africa's contact information is as follows:

WRATH_Africa, Head Office
P.O. Box 327 – 50406
FUNYULA. Busia, Kenya

Secretariat Office in Nairobi Province
Vedic House, 4th Floor, Room 413
Mama Ngina Street, Nairobi

Telephone :
Office: 254020214909
Cell phone: 254735881190 (Ms. Aduod)
Secretariat Office( O’agundah Gerry) : 254721531214

WRATH_Africa Constitution

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