About UWEAST

UWEAST is a San Diego nonprofit providing health services, education and advocacy for the well-being of the East African community, women and families.

A community-based organization comprised of approximately 100 East African women, we operate the East African Cultural and Community Center in City Heights, and offer programs and services with the goal of responding to the overlooked health needs of East African women and their families.

Mission

UWEAST’s mission is to be the force for culturally competent health services, education and advocacy for the well-being of the East African community. We are meeting the overwhelming physical and mental health related needs of East African refugee women and families primarily in the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego.

Vision

UWEAST’s vision is to interactively build communities where East African Women are actively involved in their health, education, and betterment. UWEAST envisions an empowered East African Woman who is a positive influence to her family and community.

History

UWEAST first began in 2008, and received a 3-year project grant in 2010 from the California Wellness Foundation, with the objective of building bridges between the community and service providers to implement a successful, linguistically appropriate, culturally competent, and cost-effective physical and mental health intervention program. The project increased successful access to and benefit from existing services, including physical and mental interventions, for East African women and their families.

On January 23, 2012, a grassroots group known as City Heights Hope unanimously decided to merge with UWEAST in order to consolidate and strengthen their mutual goals.

Values

Accountability: We are obligated to be good stewards for our East African women. We understand that achieving our mission is a responsibility and committed that we owe to our East African women, our communities, and our supporters.

Collaboration: We work with individuals, organizations and coalitions in collaborative fashion to further the advancement of our East African women. We value and promote effective partnerships with all organizations in our community.

Education: To develop greater educational resources and tools for East African women, making them more effective and impactful in their families and communities.

Integrity: To operate with the utmost ethics and integrity to meet the standards our East African women expect and deserve. Our obligation to East African women is always implement truth and honesty in what we say, what we do, and how we do it.

Leadership: We champion the importance of leading by example. We understand that effective leadership and actions encourages our East African women to strive for excellence.

Outstanding Services: We work very hard to provide timely, reliable, and effective services to our East African women. We strive to create and provide an environment that everyone of our East African women feels safe, heard, valued, and supported.