The WILD Feminists Network is a network of grassroots feminists leading social justice movements in the informal settlements in Kenya. These are Women in Leadership and Development (WILD) and have taken initiative to create movements that foster positive change in their communities in order to uplift, empower and guarantee fulfillment of the human rights of marginalized groups such as women, girls, queer community and sex workers.
The network was established to foster feminist community solidarity and support as many feminists faced a lot of struggles on their own. The network provides a platform of support, movement strengthening, joint advocacy, capacity assessment and building and organizational development.
The WILD Feminists Network fulfills its mandate through the following:
- Trauma Healing and Mental Wellness:This is through several activities and practices namely: annual healing retreat where members travel and spend time resting and engaging in dialogues on mental wellness and both group and individual debriefs. In 2023, this was the intergenerational healing retreat that included WILD members’ mothers in addition to them. We also have monthly well-being and solidarity check ins, and women’s circles that target different thematic issues each month and provide a safe space. We also work with partners to support individual therapy for the members.
- Capacity Building and Organizational Development: this institutional development occurs after capacity assessments are conducted and members have identified key gaps within their organizations that need development support. The support is done through training such as security training, resource mobilization training and other gaps identified that limit the members capacity to grow their initiatives and organizations. In 2023, all members were able to establish physical offices for their initiatives/organizations.
- Leadership and Development: This is capacity building, mentorship and development for the members to increase their capacity as leaders and help them grow. Through this we also seek to identify trailblazer feminists, support them and amplify their work as well as recruit them to the network.
Joint Advocacy: this is where all members are in solidarity and bring their organizations together towards the same cause despite working on different issues. An example is the #EndFemicideKE movement where the WILD network is joined together in joint efforts towards advocacy on violence against women and the femicide crisis in Kenya.
Current WILD Membership includes:
- Teenseed CBO
- Feminists for Peace, Rights and Justice Center
- Ladies in Leadership Association
- Knight Nurse
- Making A Difference Sisters
