Umra Omar
Umra Omar (June 15th, 1983) is a Kenyan humanitarian and community conservation strategist[1][2]. She is the founder of Safari Doctors, an organization that delivers primary medical care and health education by boat, air, and land to Bajuni and Aweer communities in Lamu, Kenya[3]. In 2016, Umra Omar was named a Top 10 CNN Hero[4], and in 2017, she was named the UN in Kenya Person of the Year along with the rest of the Safari Doctors team[5].
Early Life and Education[edit]
Umra Omar was born in Mombasa, Kenya, on June 15th 1983[4]. Umra and her sister spent their early childhood in Tchundwa, on Lamu Island, while her mother went to the United States to pursue higher education[6][2]. For the duration of her primary school years, Umra studied in Nairobi. When she was 17, she was admitted into the UWC Atlantic College in Wales[7].
After completing the International Baccalaureate program at Atlantic College[8], Umra was awarded a scholarship to attend Oberlin College in Ohio[9]. She completed her first degree in neuroscience and psychology, and pursued her Masters in Social Justice: Intercultural Relations at the World Learning Institute in Vermont[9].
Career and Philanthropy[edit]
After completing schooling, Umra worked in Washington DC and lived briefly in New York. Between 2012-2014, she worked back and forth between her home country and New York City[6].
In 2014, Umra went vacation to visit her family in Lamu, Kenya[10]. She was introduced to a French mobile medical project that had become defunct when Al-Shabaab increased their attacks in Lamu County, and along with the nurse, Harrison Kalu, revived what would later become Safari Doctors[11].
In 2016, Safari Doctors conducted its very first medical sail[4]. Currently, Safari Doctors reaches hundreds of patients a month, primarily women and children[12], and runs a Youth Health Ambassador program that aims to facilitate youth leadership. Because of the organization's work, Umra Omar was named a Top 10 CNN Hero 2016[5]. The following year, she was named the UN in Kenya Person of the Year[13].
Personal Life[edit]
Umra Omar is married and has two young children, aged 2 and 4[1].
Her father, Omar Bwana, is currently retired; he was one of the founders of the Lamu Museum[14] and the former MP of Lamu District.
Her mother, Tahreni Bwanaali, is a retired computer scientist and project manager[15]. She is the founder of Ikhlas Foundation, an organization that funds and spearheads charity initiatives in Tchundwa, Lamu[16].
Umra's sister, Samia, is a former Lamu County Trade, Tourism, Culture and Natural Resources Executive, and an environmentalist who resigned in protest of the Lamu Coal Project[17]. Her youngest sister is a new media professional.
In 2016 Umra founded a small private pre-school to serve families who live on the island[18].
Awards and Recognition[edit]
- Umra Omar, Top 10 CNN Hero 2016[1]
- Safari Doctors and Umra Omar, UN In Kenya Person of the Year 2017[13]
- Safari Doctors, African Leaders 4 Change Award 2017[19]
- Umra Omar, Top 40 Under 40 in Kenya 2017[20]
- OkayAfrica's 100 Women 2017[21]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 CNN, Allie Torgan,. "Bringing doctors to rural Kenya, despite danger". CNN. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harrison, Mike. "Umra Omar: the CNN hero on why she works in a danger zone". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ↑ "When the boat comes in: the Safari Doctors of Kenya – in pictures". The Guardian. 2017-10-05. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Torgan, Ali. "Group braves danger delivering health care to rural Kenya". Retrieved May 18th 2018. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Umra Omar of Safari Doctors is the '2017 UN Person of the Year'". UNIC Nairobi. United Nations. 2018-03-08. Retrieved May 17th 2018. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 "TWE Interview: CNN Hero Umra Omar and Safari Doctors". The Women's Eye. 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ↑ "Founder of Safari Doctors on "Creating Your Sweet Spot"". www.uwc.org. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ↑ "Umra Omar - A UWC Atlantic Alumna that is a 2016 CNN Hero". UWC Kenya. 2016-12-14. Retrieved May 17th 2018. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ 9.0 9.1 "UMRA OMAR". OkayAfrica. 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ↑ "TWE Interview: CNN Hero Umra Omar and Safari Doctors". The Women's Eye. 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ↑ Timmerman, Kelsey (2018). Where Am I Giving: A Global Adventure Exploring How to Use Your Gifts and Talents to Make a Difference. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 187–206. ISBN 978-1119454236. Search this book on
- ↑ "Doctors With Boats: How a Kenyan Woman Is Keeping Her People Healthy". Global Citizen. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Umra Omar of Safari Doctors is the '2017 UN Person of the Year'". United Nations Information Center Nairobi. 2018-03-08. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ↑ "Ikhlas Foundation: About Us".
- ↑ Cherono, Stella (January 11th 2011). "Public hospitals to immunise children against pneumonia". Retrieved May 17th 2018. Check date values in:
|accessdate=, |date=(help) - ↑ "Management – Ikhlas Foundation". ikhlasfoundation.org. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ↑ Beja, Patrick. "Lamu County official resigns in protest over Sh204b coal power project Read more at: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000213225/lamu-county-official-resigns-in-protest-over-sh204b-coal-power-project". Standard Digital. Retrieved May 17th 2018. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help); External link in|title=(help) - ↑ "WOMAN OF PASSION: Taking medical help to the people". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ↑ "AWARDEES - African Leaders 4 Change". African Leaders 4 Change. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ↑ "Top 10 Under 40 Women in Kenya 2017". NewsDay Kenya. 2017-10-23. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ↑ "UMRA OMAR". OkayAfrica. 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
Umra Omar[edit]
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