Building Dignity and Safety: WOCOTM’s Eco-Friendly Outhouse Project in Maralal

by sonia.askew | Fri/Aug/ 2025 | General | 1 comment

Building Dignity and Safety: WOCOTM’s Eco-Friendly Outhouse Project in Maralal

In the heart of rural Samburu County, Kenya, where access to basic sanitation remains a daily challenge, Women of Color On the Move (WOCOTM) is taking a bold step toward health equity and dignity. Led by Dr. Kevin and his dedicated team, WOCOTM is constructing an eco-friendly outhouse in the village of Maralal—designed specifically for women, youth, and girls. This initiative is more than a construction project; it’s a mission-driven effort to address critical health, safety, and social issues in underserved communities. This was a extension to our Bridging the Gap Empowering Women for a Sustainable Future at Lalaingok Primary School, Maralal, Samburg County March 8-9th,2025.

The lack of proper sanitation in rural areas like Maralal contributes to the spread of disease, contaminates water sources, and compromises the safety and privacy of women and girls. Without access to safe toilets, many are forced to relieve themselves in open areas, exposing them to the risk of assault or dangerous encounters with wild animals, especially at night. WOCOTM’s eco-friendly solution not only protects water quality and promotes hygiene but also restores a sense of dignity and security to those most vulnerable.

This project reflects WOCOTM’s broader mission: to empower women and girls of color globally by addressing systemic barriers to health, education, and safety. By investing in sustainable infrastructure, WOCOTM is planting seeds of change—ensuring that every woman and girl, no matter where she lives, has the right to live with dignity, safety, and hope for a healthier future.

Globally, over 2 billion people lack access to basic sanitation facilities, and in rural Kenya, only 29% of households have access to improved sanitation. This project is not just about building a toilet—it’s about restoring dignity, protecting health, and empowering communities.

Without proper sanitation, women and girls face heightened risks of disease, water contamination, and physical harm. Open defecation—still practiced by over 8 million Kenyans—exposes them to sexual assault and dangerous wildlife, especially at night. The eco-friendly design of this outhouse will help prevent waterborne illnesses, reduce environmental impact, and provide a safe, private space that supports menstrual hygiene and personal safety. It’s a small structure with a massive impact.

WOCOTM invites you to be part of this life-changing mission. Your support can help us expand this model to other underserved communities across Africa and beyond. Together, we can build a world where every woman and girl has the right to safety, health, and dignity. Donate, share, and advocate today.#WOCOTM#Womenofcoloronthemove.org

🔗 Support the Mission https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/donate-to-wocotm-on-zeffy
📢 #WOCOTMOnTheMove

WOCOTM Awarded 3VCF Grant to Combat Opioid Crisis in Alameda County

by sonia.askew | Mon/Jul/ 2025 | Grants | 4 comments

WOCOTM Awarded 3VCF Grant to Combat Opioid Crisis in Alameda County

June 26, 2025 | Alameda County, California

We are proud to announce that Women of Color On The Move (WOCOTM) has been awarded grant funding as part of the second round of the Opioid Settlement Innovative Mini-Grants initiative, administered by Three Valleys Community Foundation (3VCF) in partnership with the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department (ACBHD). This initiative is made possible through an additional $2.5 million investment focused on combating the devastating opioid crisis in our communities.

This grant award represents more than just funding—it symbolizes recognition of our unwavering commitment to saving lives, empowering families, and providing culturally grounded, community-led solutions to address addiction, overdose, and recovery challenges disproportionately impacting Black, Brown, and underserved communities.

“We are honored and grateful to be part of this powerful initiative. At WOCOTM, we believe in healing that centers women, youth, and families—especially those who have historically been left out of the conversation around addiction, trauma, and recovery,” said, Dr. Sonia Pellerin, Founder and CEO of WOCOTM.

A Life-Saving Mission Backed by Data and Driven by Purpose

The urgency of this initiative is supported by sobering data. In 2023, Alameda County recorded 309 opioid-related deaths, marking a 65% increase from the previous year. The crisis is disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups—especially African American residents, whose opioid mortality rate is nearly double the county average, as well as unhoused individuals and formerly incarcerated populations.

This crisis calls for bold, grassroots leadership. WOCOTM is rising to that call.

What This Grant Supports

With this funding, WOCOTM will expand its trauma-informed mental health workshops, launch opioid awareness sessions for youth and families, and provide navigation and recovery support for women impacted by opioid use. Our work will include:

Culturally responsive outreach in local neighborhoods
Peer-led support circles and recovery coaching
Youth-led prevention education to increase awareness and reduce stigma
Connection to vital services, such as housing and treatment referrals

Our goal is to reach those most affected—before it’s too late—with care, compassion, and real solutions.

Standing Shoulder to Shoulder With Change-Makers

We are humbled to stand alongside nine other organizations in this round of funding who are leading the charge in this critical moment. These organizations, ranging from mobile outreach teams to harm-reduction scientists, reflect a collective commitment to ensuring that every life has value and every individual has a path to healing.

As Kelly Bowers, President of 3VCF, shared:

“Despite significant challenges—ranging from political polarization to funding instability—these organizations remain unwavering in their efforts to reduce harm and build recovery pathways.”

Looking Forward

This grant fuels our mission and reaffirms what we already know: community-based organizations like WOCOTM are essential to solving the opioid crisis. We’re not just offering services—we’re creating safe spaces, changing narratives, and fighting for futures.

We thank 3VCF and the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department for investing in our vision and in the power of women, youth, and communities of color to lead healing and recovery efforts.

To our community: stay connected. We will be sharing opportunities to get involved, attend workshops, and access resources in the coming months.

Together, we are stronger. Together, we will move.

Beta Blog 4

by sonia.askew | Mon/Dec/ 2024 | Uncategorized

Test heading 1

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Phasellus hendrerit. Pellentesque aliquet nibh nec urna. In nisi neque, aliquet vel, dapibus id, mattis vel, nisi. Sed pretium, ligula sollicitudin laoreet viverra, tortor libero sodales leo, eget blandit nunc tortor eu nibh. Nullam mollis. Ut justo. Suspendisse potenti.

Sed egestas, ante et vulputate volutpat, eros pede semper est, vitae luctus metus libero eu augue. Morbi purus libero, faucibus adipiscing, commodo quis, gravida id, est. Sed lectus. Praesent elementum hendrerit tortor. Sed semper lorem at felis. Vestibulum volutpat, lacus a ultrices sagittis, mi neque euismod dui, eu pulvinar nunc sapien ornare nisl. Phasellus pede arcu, dapibus eu, fermentum et, dapibus sed, urna.

Heading Type 2

Morbi interdum mollis sapien. Sed ac risus. Phasellus lacinia, magna a ullamcorper laoreet, lectus arcu pulvinar risus, vitae facilisis libero dolor a purus. Sed vel lacus. Mauris nibh felis, adipiscing varius, adipiscing in, lacinia vel, tellus. Suspendisse ac urna. Etiam pellentesque mauris ut lectus. Nunc tellus ante, mattis eget, gravida vitae, ultricies ac, leo. Integer leo pede, ornare a, lacinia eu, vulputate vel, nisl.

Heading Type 3

Suspendisse mauris. Fusce accumsan mollis eros. Pellentesque a diam sit amet mi ullamcorper vehicula. Integer adipiscing risus a sem. Nullam quis massa sit amet nibh viverra malesuada. Nunc sem lacus, accumsan quis, faucibus non, congue vel, arcu. Ut scelerisque hendrerit tellus. Integer sagittis. Vivamus a mauris eget arcu gravida tristique. Nunc iaculis mi in ante. Vivamus imperdiet nibh feugiat est.

Heading Type 4

Ut convallis, sem sit amet interdum consectetuer, odio augue aliquam leo, nec dapibus tortor nibh sed augue. Integer eu magna sit amet metus fermentum posuere. Morbi sit amet nulla sed dolor elementum imperdiet. Quisque fermentum. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis xdis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Pellentesque adipiscing eros ut libero. Ut condimentum mi vel tellus. Suspendisse laoreet. Fusce ut est sed dolor gravida convallis. Morbi vitae ante. Vivamus ultrices luctus nunc. Suspendisse et dolor. Etiam dignissim. Proin malesuada adipiscing lacus. Donec metus. Curabitur gravida

Beta Blog 3

by sonia.askew | Mon/Dec/ 2024 | Uncategorized

Test heading 1

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Phasellus hendrerit. Pellentesque aliquet nibh nec urna. In nisi neque, aliquet vel, dapibus id, mattis vel, nisi. Sed pretium, ligula sollicitudin laoreet viverra, tortor libero sodales leo, eget blandit nunc tortor eu nibh. Nullam mollis. Ut justo. Suspendisse potenti.

Sed egestas, ante et vulputate volutpat, eros pede semper est, vitae luctus metus libero eu augue. Morbi purus libero, faucibus adipiscing, commodo quis, gravida id, est. Sed lectus. Praesent elementum hendrerit tortor. Sed semper lorem at felis. Vestibulum volutpat, lacus a ultrices sagittis, mi neque euismod dui, eu pulvinar nunc sapien ornare nisl. Phasellus pede arcu, dapibus eu, fermentum et, dapibus sed, urna.

Heading Type 2

Morbi interdum mollis sapien. Sed ac risus. Phasellus lacinia, magna a ullamcorper laoreet, lectus arcu pulvinar risus, vitae facilisis libero dolor a purus. Sed vel lacus. Mauris nibh felis, adipiscing varius, adipiscing in, lacinia vel, tellus. Suspendisse ac urna. Etiam pellentesque mauris ut lectus. Nunc tellus ante, mattis eget, gravida vitae, ultricies ac, leo. Integer leo pede, ornare a, lacinia eu, vulputate vel, nisl.

Heading Type 3

Suspendisse mauris. Fusce accumsan mollis eros. Pellentesque a diam sit amet mi ullamcorper vehicula. Integer adipiscing risus a sem. Nullam quis massa sit amet nibh viverra malesuada. Nunc sem lacus, accumsan quis, faucibus non, congue vel, arcu. Ut scelerisque hendrerit tellus. Integer sagittis. Vivamus a mauris eget arcu gravida tristique. Nunc iaculis mi in ante. Vivamus imperdiet nibh feugiat est.

Heading Type 4

Ut convallis, sem sit amet interdum consectetuer, odio augue aliquam leo, nec dapibus tortor nibh sed augue. Integer eu magna sit amet metus fermentum posuere. Morbi sit amet nulla sed dolor elementum imperdiet. Quisque fermentum. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis xdis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Pellentesque adipiscing eros ut libero. Ut condimentum mi vel tellus. Suspendisse laoreet. Fusce ut est sed dolor gravida convallis. Morbi vitae ante. Vivamus ultrices luctus nunc. Suspendisse et dolor. Etiam dignissim. Proin malesuada adipiscing lacus. Donec metus. Curabitur gravida

Beta Blog 2

by sonia.askew | Mon/Dec/ 2024 | Uncategorized

Test heading 1

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Phasellus hendrerit. Pellentesque aliquet nibh nec urna. In nisi neque, aliquet vel, dapibus id, mattis vel, nisi. Sed pretium, ligula sollicitudin laoreet viverra, tortor libero sodales leo, eget blandit nunc tortor eu nibh. Nullam mollis. Ut justo. Suspendisse potenti.

Sed egestas, ante et vulputate volutpat, eros pede semper est, vitae luctus metus libero eu augue. Morbi purus libero, faucibus adipiscing, commodo quis, gravida id, est. Sed lectus. Praesent elementum hendrerit tortor. Sed semper lorem at felis. Vestibulum volutpat, lacus a ultrices sagittis, mi neque euismod dui, eu pulvinar nunc sapien ornare nisl. Phasellus pede arcu, dapibus eu, fermentum et, dapibus sed, urna.

Heading Type 2

Morbi interdum mollis sapien. Sed ac risus. Phasellus lacinia, magna a ullamcorper laoreet, lectus arcu pulvinar risus, vitae facilisis libero dolor a purus. Sed vel lacus. Mauris nibh felis, adipiscing varius, adipiscing in, lacinia vel, tellus. Suspendisse ac urna. Etiam pellentesque mauris ut lectus. Nunc tellus ante, mattis eget, gravida vitae, ultricies ac, leo. Integer leo pede, ornare a, lacinia eu, vulputate vel, nisl.

Heading Type 3

Suspendisse mauris. Fusce accumsan mollis eros. Pellentesque a diam sit amet mi ullamcorper vehicula. Integer adipiscing risus a sem. Nullam quis massa sit amet nibh viverra malesuada. Nunc sem lacus, accumsan quis, faucibus non, congue vel, arcu. Ut scelerisque hendrerit tellus. Integer sagittis. Vivamus a mauris eget arcu gravida tristique. Nunc iaculis mi in ante. Vivamus imperdiet nibh feugiat est.

Heading Type 4

Ut convallis, sem sit amet interdum consectetuer, odio augue aliquam leo, nec dapibus tortor nibh sed augue. Integer eu magna sit amet metus fermentum posuere. Morbi sit amet nulla sed dolor elementum imperdiet. Quisque fermentum. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis xdis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Pellentesque adipiscing eros ut libero. Ut condimentum mi vel tellus. Suspendisse laoreet. Fusce ut est sed dolor gravida convallis. Morbi vitae ante. Vivamus ultrices luctus nunc. Suspendisse et dolor. Etiam dignissim. Proin malesuada adipiscing lacus. Donec metus. Curabitur gravida