GlobeMed at Brown University

Who We Are // GlobeMed at Brown University

Founded in 2011, GlobeMed at Brown University is one of 50 university based GlobeMed chapters working to improve the health of people living in poverty around the world. In striving for this goal, we partner with the grassroots organization Ungano-Tena (U-Tena) located in Nairobi, Kenya to support programs that develop creative and innovative solutions to raise awareness about sexual health practices and improve the health, education and quality of life within their communities. Through performance, U-Tena, dispels myths related to HIV transmission, to encourage testing, treatment, and discussions around family planning, sexual and reproductive health.

Our Partner // Ungano-Tena in Nairobi, Kenya

Ungano Tena (U-Tena) is Swahili for reuniting – coming back together. U-Tena is a grassroots community-based organization created in 2005 by youth from the Viwandani-Mukuru slum in East Nairobi. U-Tena’s mission is to educate local communities about sexual and reproductive health, and to raise awareness of related issues through popular education and partnerships with key stakeholders. Using music, dance, two-dimensional art and theatre, U-Tena teaches communities about HIV, STIs, sexual health and reproductive health, among others. 

Our Project // $10,000 to Support Financial Literacy and Academic Success

U-Tena established the Kuza Project in 2011 with the support of GlobeMed at Brown University. Currently they are mentoring 75 girls, 10-17 years of age, on issues of sexual health practices, mental health, and financial literacy. U-Tena is also partnering with Equity Bank in Nairobi, Kenya to open bank accounts for the 75 girls in the mentorship program. These bank accounts serve both as a lesson in earning and saving and provide them with a tangible way of utilizing their lessons. U-Tena has just built a second youth center in the Mukuru slum that provides supplies so the girls can learn how to make handicrafts. The girls are also learning how to run small businesses, sell their own work, and start putting money in their new savings accounts. This will help them delay or avoid entrance into exploitative lines of work.

GlobeMed at Brown aims to raise $10,000 this year for the U-Tena and the Kuza Project. The funds will provide girls with crafting supplies, sanitary pads, and exposure visits to universities with the ultimate goal of increasing financial literacy and academic success. Additional funds will provide sexual health education programming for the girls and for the local community.