Asinah is transforming communities in Kenya while enhancing her career

In 2018, Asinah was first introduced to DFSA by Survivors of Torture, an organization that helps domestic violence survivors regain dignity. Since joining, she’s attended various DFSA programs over the years including financial education, professional styling, career coaching and is still involved with Professional Women’s Group.

She’s currently in the process of obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Grand Canyon University and over the course of her time with DFSA, she’s went from nurse to Director of Nursing for a home health facility in Austin. Asinah finds value in an organization that offers the opportunity to advance her career and education under one roof and credits DFSA’s ability to provide women a place to achieve their dreams the same way she was able to achieve hers.

Originally from Kenya, Asinah has lived in the States for the last 28 years, but regularly visits her home country each year. In fact, she was so inspired by the programs at DFSA that she started her own women’s group and youth group: Wakina Mama and Unique Youth for Kenya! She believes that it’s important to give back to her country and the women in it by providing a range of resources including education and clothing.

Wakina Mama which translates to ‘strong, hard-working mothers’ is especially catered to widows. She shared that in Africa, not only is it a predominantly poor community, but when women lose their husbands, families often disregard and leave them without resources. The women’s group encourages women to start fresh and gain the independence and education to provide for themselves and their children.

They achieve this by teaching them farming and ways of earning income like making soaps to sell to the community. When in the States, she leaves her passion project to other women leaders of Kenya who help her operate the day-to-day. She finds joy in helping widows and women feel fulfilled in the work they are doing and become less dependent on men, a cultural dilemma that often leaves women feeling lost and hopeless.

Asinah takes all that she learns through her visits to Dress for Success Austin and her own experience back to the women of Kenya in hopes that it will positively impact their lives, from one country to another.