Omito Abraham Owuor, K5Village
Permaculturist, Trainer, Supporter of Vulnerable Women & Children
I chose Omito Abraham Owuor as the first of 61 RainMakers & ChangeMakers because he and I have a longstanding RainMaker/ChangeMaker relationship, dating back to 2018. After supporting a fundraiser that my cousin started for Omito in 2017, I was hooked and wanted to do more. I dreamt up a “Walk for Water” fundraiser where I walked 6 miles a day for 90 days straight. Every day I walked was sponsored by a friend, family member or coworker. By the end of it, I had raised $5,000 to build a house, purchase a 5,000L rainwater tank, fencing, a motorbike, roof mounted solar panels, pine tree seedlings and probably other things I don't remember!
Omito and I teamed up again 6 years later, just recently in Spring 2024, to grow his project to the next stage. This time, I helped him raise $4,000 to finish a second house and install a 10,000 rainwater tank. Some but not all of the funds came from sales of crochet water bottle holders that I made and sold to friends, family and coworkers from my Etsy store: RainMaker Design. Scroll down further to read more about that fundraiser.
About K5Village
K5Village is a ten-year old non-governmental community-based organization, founded by Omito together with four other community members, with a mission to build an environmentally-sustainable, self-sufficient, and empowered community.
K5Village uses sustainable agriculture techniques, including permaculture principles, to produce vegetables, grow bananas and other fruit, and maintain a healthy stand of pine trees. They also maintain cows, sheep and chicken. These activities not only provide a source of income for the project, but they offer a living and tangible classroom to teach vulnerable and disadvantaged community members how to uplift themselves through sustainable agricultural work.
"It's been now ten years since I started this project. It was started 2014 after completing my high school. I could not proceed to college due to lack of fees. My father died while I was doing my last final exam in 2013, leaving behind 8 children with my mum taking care of us. My mum could not afford to pay my fee, she had to take care of our basic needs, to feed her 8 children and pay for other siblings' education fees. In 2014 I come with the idea to apply some knowledge to our community using techniques I learn in high school to help our youth. I started a small vegetable farm using organic materials. More youth have interest to join me. I taught them. We created K5Village."
For more information on Omito and his project, visit these pages:
Shelter & Water Fundraiser where we have raised $4,000 already towards a $5,700 goal
Omito & K5Village 2024 Fundraising Success
K5Village Tree Planting for Arbor Day - April 2024
Omito with his Stand of Pine Trees
In 2018, as part of my Walk for Water fundraiser, Omito purchased white pine tree seedlings. Six years later, they stand tall. “And, now they support me”. Here we are FaceTiming with a white pine tree above. These trees keep supporting Omito - whether it’s through income generation (by selling logs) or by providing him with poles for fencing or the new house he recently built with community member help in February 2024 and finished in May 2024.
Sharon Akoth - K5Village
Meet Sharon Akoth, wife to Omito and mother of Rhyan and Ashley. She is the sometimes rather shy backbone of K5Village.
In March 2024, I wrote about Sharon to highlight the role that women play in supporting families and keeping farms running in this rural part of Western Kenya. You can read more about her in this piece I published at my Spaghetti Twisted Thoughts Substack:
K5Village Participates in Small Art
I invited Omito to join me in making Small Art with a Big Heart as part of the 2024 ICAD challenge. He jumped at the chance. After all, many of the children - including his own - love to draw, but lacked the materials. I sent him some funds to purchase paper and color pencils so the children and even Omito could join on the small art challenge.
Omito & K5Village Art by Me
Recently, as part of the Spring 2024 Fundraiser, I created two watercolor paintings, one of Omito and one of Talia Lea, a 4-year old girl that Omito and his wife Sharon care for because their parents left and her grandmother is unable to care for her.
Wonderful pictures as well, so great to hear an update of Omito's work. Another person we met with through our 2017 PDC in Kamuli, Uganda. He came together with Paul Ogoal, who is another pioneer I would love to see you interview.
Welcome Steve