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Umra Omar
Born (1983-06-15) June 15, 1983 (age 41)
Mombasa, Kenya
NationalityKenyan
Occupations
  • Humanitarian
  • community conservation strategist

Umra Omar (June 15, 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

Umra Omar was born in Mombasa, Kenya, on June 15, 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 master's degree in social justice: intercultural relations at the World Learning Institute in Vermont.[9]

Career and philanthropy

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.[6] 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.[10]

In 2016, Safari Doctors conducted its very first medical sail.[4] Currently, Safari Doctors reaches hundreds of patients a month, primarily women and children,[11] 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.[12]

Personal life

Umra Omar is married and has two young children, aged 2 and 4.[1]

Her father is currently retired; he was one of the founders of the Lamu Museum[13] and the former MP of Lamu District.

Her mother is a retired computer scientist and project manager.[14] She is the founder of Ikhlas Foundation, an organization that funds and spearheads charity initiatives in Tchundwa, Lamu.[15]

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.[16] 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[17]

Awards and recognition

  • Umra Omar, Top 10 CNN Hero 2016[1]
  • Safari Doctors and Umra Omar, UN In Kenya Person of the Year 2017[12]
  • Safari Doctors, African Leaders 4 Change Award 2017[18]
  • Umra Omar, Top 40 Under 40 in Kenya 2017[19]
  • OkayAfrica's 100 Women 2017[9]
  • WEF Young Global Leader 2019

References

  1. ^ a b c Torgan, Allie. "Bringing doctors to rural Kenya, despite danger". CNN. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  2. ^ a b Harrison, Mike. "Umra Omar: the CNN hero on why she works in a danger zone". Forbes. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "When the boat comes in: the Safari Doctors of Kenya – in pictures". The Guardian. 2017-10-05. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Torgan, Ali. "Group braves danger delivering health care to rural Kenya". Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Umra Omar of Safari Doctors is the '2017 UN Person of the Year'". UNIC Nairobi. United Nations. 2018-03-08. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "TWE Interview: CNN Hero Umra Omar and Safari Doctors". The Women's Eye. 2016-10-11. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  7. ^ "Founder of Safari Doctors on "Creating Your Sweet Spot"". www.uwc.org. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  8. ^ "Umra Omar - A UWC Atlantic Alumna that is a 2016 CNN Hero". UWC Kenya. 2016-12-14. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c "UMRA OMAR". OkayAfrica. 2017-03-06. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Doctors With Boats: How a Kenyan Woman Is Keeping Her People Healthy". Global Citizen. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  12. ^ a b "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.
  13. ^ "Ikhlas Foundation: About Us".
  14. ^ Cherono, Stella (January 11, 2011). "Public hospitals to immunise children against pneumonia". Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  15. ^ "Management – Ikhlas Foundation". ikhlasfoundation.org. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  16. ^ Beja, Patrick. "Lamu County official resigns in protest over Sh204b coal power project". Standard Digital. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  17. ^ "WOMAN OF PASSION: Taking medical help to the people". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  18. ^ "AWARDEES - African Leaders 4 Change". African Leaders 4 Change. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  19. ^ "Top 10 Under 40 Women in Kenya 2017". NewsDay Kenya. 2017-10-23. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
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