Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO) started at the height of struggle for Kenya's independence in 1952, an idea conceived by a clique of white settler women in 1952. Today the Organization, older than independent Kenya, has grown to cover the entire country as the largest women NGO in the region.

 

Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO) is a non-profit voluntary women's organization with a mission to improve the quality of life of the rural communities especially women and youth in Kenya. MYWO is managed from a Headquarter by an elected governing body and employed staff, the Organization has branches in every district of the country, more than 25,000 group affiliates and, over 3 million individual members.

 

Over the years, this organization has accumulated a wealth of experience in the management of development projects and, diversified and expanded its vision and mission to encompass community concerns.

 

MYWO's current main programmes/activities are: Maternal Child Health and Family Planning; Advocacy Strategy for the Eradication of Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya; Girl Child Education; Civic Education; Engendering the Political Process; Gender Equity; Kenya Family Planning Programme; Prevention and Control of Cervical Cancer Women and Development; HIV/AIDS Project; Malaria Prevention and Control; Leadership and Governance; Economic Empowerment; and Research and Development

MYWO has developed a five years Strategic Plan. The Plan addresses the core problem concerning the poor socio-economic status of women in Kenya. The causes and the consequences or effects of poor socio-economic status of women are tackled through a number of specific strategic interventions. These include: HIV/AIDS, Maternal Child Health/Family Planning (MCHIFP), Cervical Cancer Prevention, Malaria Prevention and Control, Civic Education and Leadership, Economic Empowerment, Agriculture, Energy and Environmental Conservation.