Who we are

Meet the Founder

Semerian Sankori

Semerian Sankori is a Kenyan native, born and bred in the Maasai pastoral community heartland. She studied in local schools and thereafter had the chance to travel to Australia to further her studies. While there, she attained a Bachelor of commerce in tourism management, Post graduate Diploma in Community Development Practice and a Masters in Social Policy from Curtin University, Western Australia.

After the completion of her studies, she returned to her home country and to her roots, her indigenous community, to impart the knowledge and values she had acquired. This she did by founding a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) called Patinaai Osim.

Growing up, Semerian saw first hand the harm that retrogressive cultural practices had done to oppress the girls and women in her community. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), early forced marriages, early pregnancies, domestic violence, lack of access to education; to mention but a few were the norm.

Since inception, she has worked tirelessly to change the narrative of the girls and women in the indigenous communities, and they too are beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

About Patinaai Osim

Patinaai Osim is a non profit organization that advocates for the rights of Indigenous children, women and youth. This is done by supporting their education on different levels and aspects throughout their lives. Founded in 2010 Patinaai has succeeded in assisting vulnerable women create alternative sources of income, retaining children in school, sponsorship of children from vulnerable backgrounds and sensitization in environmental conservation. Semerian Sankori founded this organization with those aims and tremendous changes have been achieved in improving the lives of many children, women and the youth.