Globally, indeed, women who use drugs, and especially young women, experience gender-based violence at a higher rate than the general population; and beyond fearing for their physical safety, women also shoulder most of the burden of financial and psychological hardships. It is against this backdrop that WRADA began its work to establish gender equality, equity, and justice in society.
Our Story
In 2016, WRADA began as a simple yet powerful dream, a vision by a woman, for women, aimed at reducing the prevalence of HIV and gender-based violence (GBV) among women and young people who use drugs. What started as an idea quickly grew into a transformative movement, inspired by women who use drugs who felt their voices and needs were often overlooked within the broader community agenda.
Driven by this reality, WRADA emerged as a vital resource dedicated to empowering women and young people to improve their livelihoods. By 2017, the organization had already begun building strong ground connections with local groups in Nairobi focused on delivering healthcare services to people who use drugs.
These early collaborations, projects, and interventions have not only demonstrated the impact of the vision but have also played a key role in shaping WRADA’s strategic direction, guiding its mission and priorities for the years ahead.
TESTIMONIALS
I have much more to say than words can express. WRADA has taught me about life in ways that no school ever could. WRADA has brought and continues to bring endless opportunities for learning, social justice, impacting the world in positive ways, and the advancement of humanity. I have had the pleasure of working with the most wonderful women from around East Africa and the world, made friends for life, and continue to do purposeful, meaningful work, whose impact I am privileged and humbled to see every day.
Rita – Nairobi
Engaging with WRADA has taught me the importance and given me knowledge on organizing women into groups in order to benefit from social and health services. Even in this far-off county, we are always able to reach each other as a network for support and advice. Even about our personal lives as women who use drugs and women going through the harm reduction process.
Yusra – Lamu
Engaging with WRADA has allowed me to voice out issues of women who use drugs from the informal areas of Dagoretti and ensure that they are being included in National and County-level conversations about HIV and drug use.
Juliet – Nairobi
Personally, after kujiungga na WRADA nimelearn mengi, I have been empowered in ways I can’t shy away from telling my story to anyone. I have learned that a lot of women have gone through a lot that before they couldn’t open up, but after being empowered, they freely share their life story during the time of using drugs and after.#Empowered And Not Ashamed or Afraid.
Alice – Kiambu
WRADA has ensured I am invited to meetings where I have learned things I did not know at all. Our county is often left behind when it comes to receiving adequate knowledge and services related to drug use. I have learned about the global and national standards on harm reduction, safe injecting practices, the importance of not sharing needles or smoking equipment, the link between problematic drug use and poor adherence to HIV treatment, and much more. I am now able to educate my fellow sex workers and key populations, although more education and services are needed.
Esther – Busia
WRADA’s initiative to tackle drug policy reform advocacy in Kenya has been very inspiring to other PWUD peer-led organisations in Kenya. The organisation’s ability to bring together, work, and collaborate with other PWUD-led organisations and networks locally and internationally is a testament to their leadership’s vision, skills, and dedication to bring about a positive change for PWUDs in Kenya.
Fadhil – Lamu
WRADA has supported me, and my fellow women who use drugs in Mombasa, both at a professional and personal level. For example, A child of a drug user in Mombasa has been supported to enroll in school, a woman has been supported financially to access pregnancy and maternal care, and I have also gained a sisterhood. I have increased my confidence in advocating for my fellow women because of being in this network of women who use drugs.
Winnie – Mombasa
Through WRADA, I have been able to attend several capacity-building sessions that have increased my knowledge on HIV and Harm Reduction. At WRADA, we rely on each other as a network for support, and because of this, I can respond better to issues faced by women who use drugs, such as gender based violence, child care, solving challenges in obtaining statutory documents such as IDs and Birth certificates, and referral to sexual and reproductive health services and safe shelters.
Habib – Nairobi
I chose to volunteer with WRADA because I believe in supporting women who use drugs with dignity and compassion. While working in a hospital that served people who use drugs, I saw firsthand the stigma and barriers they face, especially women. WRADA’s harm reduction approach provides a much-needed alternative that prioritizes support over judgment.
Nicole – Nairobi
What We Stand For
The overall goal of WRADA is to empower vulnerable women and their communities to access quality health and socioeconomic development services.
