INITIATIVES
As part of our purpose as Oak Tree Films, we intend on providing the community members of Siaya, Kenya with sustainable solutions to aid in their efforts of women's empowerment and awareness for the disabled community. We will lead social initiatives for our collaborators in Her Time is Now, NINA, and at Siaya Muungano Network that focuses on SDGs 4, 5, and 6.
Her Time is Now
Gender Justice & Empowerment
While visiting Siaya, Kenya, the Oak Tree Films team interacted with many girls and women of Siaya who shared their stories of empowerment while navigating a dominant patriarchal system. We learned that gender-based discrimination reveals itself in various forms, from acts of violence against women to period poverty, limiting the advancement of women and girls.
Through our partnership with Siaya Muungano Network (a local community-based organization), we met two dynamic community leaders who champion gender rights in Siaya—Duren Oyuga and Trezzer Omoro—who empower girls and women in transformative ways: Duren makes reusable pads, while Trezzer mentors survivors of gender-based violence. We wish to support our collaborators Duren, Trezzer, and Siaya Muungano Network with the following sustainable initiatives that promote gender justice and women’s empowerment:
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Support Trezzer and Duren's business initiatives in dressmaking and tailoring to extend the work they do in the community
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Audio-visual equipment for Siaya Muungano Network's communications, advocacy, and storytelling goals in championing women's rights and empowerment in Siaya County
We also want to raise funds to provide women and girls in the Siaya community with 2,000 Dignity Kits to mitigate period poverty, an enduring inequality that affects their education and dignity.
NINA
Clean Water & Infrastructural Issues
Oak Tree Films is honored to be telling the stories of Nina School for the Deaf, a boarding school for about 100 students with deaf, visual, and/or other disabilities. The Nina School is supervised by eight faculty and staff members who assist with caring for the children and maintaining the grounds. The support for the students is limited as it is difficult for eight people alone to oversee the health and other needs of nearly 100 students and simultaneously be completely present when educating the students.
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The administration of the Nina School looked toward the government for further assistance; however, the neglect of the disabled community of Siaya was evident in the living conditions of the Nina community. The students are losing access to clean water from road reserve disruptions and are exposed to jigger infestations from infrastructure issues. We aim to provide sustainable solutions for the Nina School by constructing a water well that can last for decades and repairing the flooring in the dormitories. This initiative seeks to improve security in Nina School's access to clean water and the students' and faculty's physical health needs.
