We love the communities we serve.

Immigrant and refugee women and their families face unique challenges in their adopted home. We work directly with our African community to  improve access to health, education, safety & independence while celebrating diversity and engaging leaders.

Our mission is to provide the skills necessary for refugee & immigrant women and their children in Washington state to reach their highest potential.

Our organizational pillars

Cultivate Leaders

We build leadership by supporting women as they engage in outreach, language interpretation, and career development with their peers.

Engage in Advocacy

We advocate for our communities system-wide by representing them with government, funders, and decision-makers. We also advocate for culturally responsive services with our partner agencies on behalf of our clients.

It all started when…

During years spent working in diverse communities internationally and locally, Risho Sapano (Founder & President) saw a consistent need for African women to have a voice and a seat at the table. Risho knew that African refugees & immigrants could be more than just the recipients of services: They can contribute to their community's success while changing the narrative and their status quo. She founded Mother Africa over a decade ago to begin supporting that shift.

Mother Africa focuses on innovative, community-led approaches to helping women and their families on the path to their highest potential. Since 2013, we have listened to the needs of our community through direct outreach and grassroots programming. We partnered with local community-based organizations, governments, and funders to extend a strong web of resources and deliver them in an equitable, culturally-sensitive way. Mother Africa is deeply embedded within our communities, finding ways to answer the call for a safety net and a ladder to economic independence.

Board of Directors