Umoja: Stronger Together After Job Loss
Umoja is a Swahili word for unity. But it’s not the rigid, slogan unity on banners. Umoja is lived: I am not alone, and we get through things together. When someone stumbles, the rest don’t look away; we close ranks.
Job loss shakes more than income. It disrupts identity. One day, you have a routine, a title, and a place. The next days stretch awkwardly, questions creep in: “What now? Who am I without this job?” The silence feels loud. The shame is heavier than it should be.
This is when Umoja matters. The world tells us to hustle alone, suffer quietly, and succeed loudly. Losing a job feels like failure. Umoja defies that. It reminds us: work is what you do, not who you are. Your worth stays, even if a contract ends or a company downsizes.
Embracing Umoja after job loss isn’t pretending things are fine. It’s letting your community hold you. Answer honestly when asked, How are you? Borrow strength when yours is low.
Sometimes Umoja is a friend with a job lead. Sometimes it’s a shared meal when money is tight. Sometimes it’s someone sitting with you, letting you grieve without pushing toxic optimism. That, too, is unity.
There’s power in remembering that many walk similar paths, even if our stories differ. Job loss is not an end; it’s a rupture. Ruptures, met with care, become openings. Openings to rethink what we want, how we work, and who we answer to.
Unbroken is a mobile app that helps people facing unexpected job loss restore their well-being, rebuild their careers, and reclaim their futures. We believe healing and rebuilding happen together—in conversation, shared resources, and courage. Umoja teaches: when one is down, it’s not private shame; it’s time to show up.
If you’ve lost a job, you’re not broken or behind. You’re not alone. You’re part of us, whether you feel it or not. Sometimes, just knowing that helps you take the next step. Reach out to someone, or join Unbroken to share and listen. Taking this step reminds us we’re stronger together. That is Umoja.
