P4A 2025 Submission for Pamoja CBO

Jordana's Video:    • Pamoja CBO. Project For Awesome Submi...  
Pamoja's Website: https://pamojapamoja.org/

Video Transcription:
Hi Everyone, this video is to nominate a charity for the Project for Awesome, that definitely decreases work suck.

The charity I am nominating is called “Pamoja Community Based Organization (CBO).” It is a grassroots organization operating in rural communities near Kisumu in Western Kenya. Pamoja, which means “together” in Swahili, really represents the organization’s goal of uniting and uplifting the local community.

I have been working with Pamoja for the last 1.5 years as a medical student from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Pamoja has been partnering with UBC’s global health initiative since 2009 on research projects designed to improve health, income, and food security. This opportunity has been invaluable for students, including myself - it has broadened my understanding of the global health landscape and community-based health programming. Furthermore, it has taught me more about how to deliver trauma-informed and culturally sensitive care which is incredibly important given my future profession.

I truly believe that Pamoja is bettering and saving lives with what they do!

Here are just a few examples:
1. As a partner of the DREAMS initiative (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, Safe), Pamoja oversees the education and provision of contraception, HIV care, and post-violence care for over 6000 AGYW aged 9 to 24 from Seme and Kisumu West Sub-Counties.
2. They operate a ‘Safe Spaces’ program for young women and girls to engage in life skills education, including but not limited to contraception, STI prevention, and gender-based violence prevention and care
3. Help orphanded youth overcome barriers to accessing education. For example, they run a youth Center which serves as a hub for educational and creative activities

Future goals for Pamoja include improving access to the HPV vaccine; which is where my research is currently being focused.

Here’s why we really need your help! Pamoja relies on PEPFAR (US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), to continue its programs. With the recent suspension of USAID and PEPFAR, the fate of Pamoja is up in the air. Monetary support from the P4A would mean that Pamoja can continue serving its approximately 10,000 direct beneficiaries.

If you’re interested in learning more about what Pamoja does, I have asked Jordanna who is in charge of Pamoja’s communications team to also make a video and I will put it in the description box below!

Thanks for listening!