Youth empowerment
We place young women at the centre of everything we do — equipping them with skills, confidence and platforms to lead.
Who we are
Rooted in Turkana. Growing beyond limits.
A community-based movement in Lodwar, Kenya — harnessing football, education and mentorship to transform the lives of girls and young women.
Our story
A movement born in the heart of Turkana.
“From the desert, she blooms.”
Founded in 2017, Turkana Desert Roses is a Community-Based Organization (CBO) in Lodwar, Turkana County, Kenya. We harness the power of football, education and mentorship to transform the lives of girls and young women.
In a region where girls face early marriages, poverty and limited access to schooling, we provide safe spaces for them to play, learn and lead.
Our wider programmes in entrepreneurship, health and environmental conservation equip women and girls with essential life skills.
We are more than a team — we are a movement for change.
Meet the Desert Roses
Every face is part of the story.
A portrait wall from the team pages in Roses Will Rise honours the girls who train, compete, learn and lead together.
Our reach
Numbers that tell a story of change.
5,000+Girls mentored
3,500+Hygiene kits distributed
46Girls supported in education
5Sub-counties reached
What drives us
Our core values.
Resilience & boldness
Like a rose in the desert, we believe in blooming against all odds. We act boldly and celebrate strength.
Inclusion & equity
Every girl deserves a seat at the table. We champion equal access regardless of background or circumstance.
Integrity & accountability
We hold ourselves to the highest standards — transparent in our operations and accountable to the communities we serve.
Creativity & excellence
From biodegradable pads to art programmes, we pursue innovative solutions and strive for excellence.
Community first
Our work is rooted in the community, shaped by its needs and sustained through collaboration with local leaders and parents.
Our journey
Growing year by year.
2017
Founded in Lodwar
Rael Lomoti establishes Turkana Desert Roses as a community-based organisation, with a mission to empower girls through football and education in Turkana County.
2019
First mentorship programmes launch
Structured mentorship and leadership development programmes begin, reaching girls across multiple schools in Lodwar town.
2021
Hygiene kit distribution begins
Partnership with international donors enables the first large-scale distribution of hygiene packages and scholastic materials to over 1,000 girls.
2023
Turkana's first women's football tournament
Supported by the Australian High Commission, Desert Roses organises the first-ever women's football tournament in Turkana. Over 50 young women participate.
2024
Borehole drilled & Centre of Excellence begins
A borehole is drilled at the Desert Roses Centre, providing clean water for the Centre and surrounding community. Construction on the Centre of Excellence begins.
2025
5,000+ girls mentored · “Roses Will Rise” in progress
Desert Roses reaches 5,000+ girls mentored, the book chronicling our journey is being finalised, and the biodegradable sanitary pad initiative launches.
Meet the founder
Rael Lomoti.
Rael Lomoti is a social worker, football enthusiast and the visionary behind Turkana Desert Roses. Growing up in Turkana, she witnessed firsthand how early marriage, poverty and limited schooling narrowed the lives of girls around her.
Trained as both a referee and a coach, Rael established Desert Roses FC, which now fields senior and junior teams despite harsh conditions and limited resources.
Beyond her organisation, she serves as the FKF Women's Representative for Turkana County — advocating for better facilities, talent development and the recognition of women's football.
Her impact
Building a legacy of empowerment.
Since founding Desert Roses in 2017, Rael has built an organisation from nothing — navigating resource constraints, cultural resistance and the harsh realities of life in Turkana.
She has secured international partnerships, organised Turkana's first women's football tournament, drilled a borehole for the community and is now building a Centre of Excellence.
Available now
Roses will rise.
Rael's book chronicles the journey, impact and resilience of Turkana Desert Roses — and the girls whose lives have been changed.
It tells the stories of girls like Stella Ekuwom, who went from the football pitch to university, and of communities that shifted their view of girls' education and leadership.
“Roses Will Rise”
eBookKES 1,500
HardcoverKES 2,000
Sales are currently available in Kenya via M-Pesa.
Every action counts