Unwavering Feminism

african sm

femini

feminist

love unity

UNWAVERI NG FEMI NISM Portraits of Resilience, Sisterhood and Transformation

Akili Dada is an award-winning leadership incubator for girls and young women. Our mission is to nurture a pipeline of young transformative female leaders who hold equality and justice at heart. Akili Dada is headquartered in Nairobi - Kenya, with a growing national and regional presence. Nationally, Akili Dada works across 27 counties in Kenya with programmatic reach in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan.

We apply a holistic approach to educating and cultivating leadership in adolescent girls and young women, ages 13 - 35, employing four key strategies to nurture growth and meaningful impact: financial investment, leadership development, mentorship, and feminist movement building.

By selecting from and building the capacity of some of Africa’s most innovative young women, we are meeting the urgent need for both more African women in leadership, as well as the overarching need for creative and empathetic leadership that holds justice at its core.

FOREWORD

T

his publication is anchored on celebrating resilience, diversity, patient endurance and the brilliance of young African feminists. In the spirit of the Charter of Feminist Principles for African Feminists, Akili Dada is committed to transformative feminist leadership of young women and girls, requiring all of us to remain un-wavered.

We remain committed to ensuring the amplification of young women voices in strengthening the African feminist movement that brings about transformative and sustainable change. As we applaud young feminists, who are creating and fostering cultures of inclusivity, amongst so much diversity on the continent and beyond, we as an organization are rising to a higher level of accountability. Being in a position to nurture young women at a significant time for Africa, has been an honor we are continuing to honor.

We celebrate Global Fund For Women and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, for their indelible support that has allowed for the stories of these young women to get told and the wickedly brilliant team at Akili Dada who continue to demonstrate that African Women Lead!

Sankara Gitau | Executive Director

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This Coffee Table Book is a collection of profiles of amazing young African Feminists who have journeyed together for three years in the East Africa Young Women Leadership and Mentorship Initiative (EAYWLMI). We have celebrated sisterhood and solidarity as we explored and built our capacity both professionally and personally.

These young women leaders are leading change in Kenya and Tanzania. These profiles document and celebrate their courage, strength, and determination. We celebrate their commitment and contribution to social change in their organizations. Akili Dada acknowledges the phenomenal young women you are and the legacies you are creating!

We say thank you to Global Fund for Women and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their invaluable support that has made this possible. We acknowledge your commitment to supporting transformative feminist leadership and movement building.

We salute the feminist mentors who have demonstrated and embodied the African Feminist Principles as they journeyed with these young women leaders! Rebeca Gyumi, Demere Kitunga, Catherinerose Barretto, Jesca Ndana, Scheaffer Okore, Nyambura Ngugi, Nerida Nthamburi, Kavinya Makau, Mukami Kowino, Mwanahamisi Singano, and Joyce Zawadi. We celebrate you!

Thank you to the Akili Dada sisters who contributed to the EAYWLMI initiative’s success and the publication of this coffee table book: Joy Zawadi, Emma Mogaka, Wanjiru Ndung’u, and Peggy Nyahera. Thank you, Sankara Gitau, our Executive Director, whose leadership has been instrumental through this project.

African Women Lead!

African Women Lead!

SALLY A. WUODI Gender, Women & Development Kenya

I went through some tough times when I was in university. With inadequate financial resources to sustain me while in school, I ventured into several failed businesses, which eventually led me to doing my classmates’ assignments at a fee.

In addition, I had to work my way around lecturers who wanted to be in a relationship, with the fear that it would make or break my grades.

But this was not even comparable to how much other young women in institutions of higher learning have gone through. At some point, you have to sit down and decide that enough of us have suffered and that you have to do your bit to ensure that those who come after you will not have the same struggles.

I advocate for women's rights through a feminist lens, gender equality, and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. I want to see girls and women succeed beyond the limitations that society has imposed on them.

My feminist journey has taught me to be kind to myself; I can never pour out of an empty cup.

I have learnt what my path is and where it leads and I am slowly looking for lamps that will light its way. I am the total sum of what I let in and who I let in affects my life. I have to choose carefully in order to love myself.

My feminist dream is dismantling patriarchal systems that put young women at a disadvantage.

MERCY MWENDE Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, Leadership & Mentorship Kenya

I draw my motivation from my mother. I have watched her grow into a leader, a lady with such brilliance and zeal in life. Through observing her life, I drew lessons about being tenacious in my pursuit of what life has to offer, even if it means fighting against harmful traditional practices and oppressive patriarchal systems as she did.

I advocate for women-centered design which is a concept that prioritizes the needs and experiences of women in designing and managing products, services, and programs. I also fight for leadership and organizing opportunities for young people. Young people are the experts of their own lives. We need to nurture leaders who bring skill and determination to progressive movements.

Feminism is a movement whose mission is rooted in achieving equal rights for men and women through transformative feminist leadership. Through this model, I have picked up one main thing; the ultimate test of leadership is the spaces we create for others to lead.

I have unlearnt giving advice unless asked, as well as giving too much of myself to jobs and relationships that don't see my value.

My feminist dream is to provide women and girls with insights to become visionary leaders who transform their lives into organizations that thrive in this era of change. I want to make a tangible contribution to society that not only raises the place of women but also levels the playing field for both genders.

PHOEBE NYAWIRA WACHIRA Project Management & Empowerment of Domestic Workers Kenya

I grew up in a deeply patriarchal rural setting that limited girls' and women’s voices especially at a religious and household level. Children’s and women’s rights are often violated and this mostly happens due to a general lack of awareness of their rights and agency. I started volunteering extensively in orphanages and other community-based organizations nearby. I supported young people in creating awareness campaigns on issues affecting them.

My current focus is the empowerment of domestic workers through improved work conditions and better pay. This will translate to positive impacts on the economy of our country plus improve the welfare of the workers in general. We are gradually building skills and leadership towards movement building in advocating for domestic work to be formally recognized in Kenya’s labor market as rights-based and not status-based.

Over time, especially working with disadvantaged girls and women, I have witnessed lives change completely - from total hopelessness to meaningful and productive living. I envision the future of young girls and women, in general, evolving from a state of powerlessness to national-wide unapologetic advocacy for fellow woman across all levels of the society.

My feminist journey has taught me that I am indeed a feminist, because I now understand what the movement is, rather than the misrepresentation peddled to us for years. I have learnt key feminism principles such as solidarity, the personal is political, agency and sisterhood. I have unlearnt the ‘fitting in mentality’ since the arbitrary structures of society do a sort of violence to individuals, taking away their agency in favour of fitting in with what is ‘proper’. My feminist dream is for more women and men embracing feminism to create a more complete picture by not turning away from what gives them happiness, dignity, and fulfilment.

BILHA CHEMUTAI Finance & Menstrual Hygiene Management Kenya

I will never forget the day it happened. We were back in primary school when one of my classmates got laughed out of class for staining her dress- her period had come without her knowing. After that ugly incident, she chose to drop out and get married.

This has become typical of so many girls in Baringo. They trade sex for money to buy sanitary towels because otherwise, they would not have access to these products. It saddens me that I do not have the resources to help as many of these girls as possible but I am optimistic that one day I will reach even the ones in the remotest of areas.

I work in a menstrual hygiene program at Dandelion Africa where we distribute sanitary towels to marginalized girls. We mainly target schools in Baringo’s in areas, at tournaments, and even in markets.

My feminist journey has taught me sisterhood as a core feminist principle. I have also learnt the importance of self-care, and the need to celebrate my achievements, no matter how small!

I dream of a society where young girls have access to correct and timely information on their rights ranging from basic child rights, menstrual hygiene, and sexual reproductive health rights. Women need to be their sister’s keeper and through sisterhood, we can overcome patriarchy in our society.

ASHURA CHARLES AYOUB Trauma counseling -FGM, GBV & Child Marriage Tanzania

I experienced Gender-Based Violence perpetuated by my own family when I was a child. I am only here to tell this story today because that experience drove me into wanting better for other girls and women like me. I cannot sit by and let others fall victim on my watch.

My focus is on eradicating Female Genital Mutilation and agitating for the full rights of girls and women. I am a social worker who serves girls vulnerable to FGM, GBV, and child marriages. I look forward to shifting the mindset of more women about GBV and enhancing their economic capacity through income-generating activities. I believe that the root cause of GBV is poverty.

My feminist journey has allowed me to meet different experts in different fields. I have learned many things about myself, including making myself a priority in my own life. I have also learned how to communicate with people. I have learned how to practice two feminist principles of sisterhood and solidarity which have transformed me from Ashura to a real feminist.

My feminist dream is to initiate a platform that will provide girls with the opportunity to discuss and encourage each other, discuss their challenges, and come up with their own solutions.

EUNICE MWENDE MUTISO Communications & Leadership Development Kenya

I am a young woman living with stage 4 breast cancer. I have been fiercely raising awareness about the disease, as well as helping to demystify the myths and misconceptions about cancer in a bid to end the stigma around this diagnosis. I am also a feminist who advocates for women and girls’ empowerment due to the recurrent exclusion of girls and women in development processes, particularly in matters concerning them and their bodies.

I have found a way to merge my cancer and feminism advocacy. I am fighting for a world where everybody is treated equally regardless of their gender, religion, age, race, disability, or even identity, where women and girls have autonomy of their bodies, and where they are safe and free from economic and social injustices. I also envision a world where cancer treatment is affordable and cancer patients live dignified lives regardless of their financial or social status, a world where stage 4 cancer has a cure.

My feminism journey has been a series of learning, unlearning, and relearning from my role models, peers, mentors, and mentees. I have learned that sisterhood is a vital principle in the feminist journey. I have unlearned allowing myself to be pressured by what society deems is the role of a woman. Everyone has their own path regardless of their gender; I have a right to be whoever I want to be.

My feminist dream is a cancer-free feminist world.

CLARA MICHAEL KALANGA Project Design, Monitoring & Evaluation Tanzania

My community disregards women. Where I come from, women are not allowed to own land. Violence against women and girls is also rampant. Many women end up staying in abusive marriages because they have got no resources to their name and therefore cannot build independent lives outside of their husbands’ control. I started questioning these injustices from an early age and promised myself that I would study hard to be a part of creating change one day.

That sense of purpose has pushed me to where I am today. I currently work for an organization that empowers women and improves their life outcomes through focussing on five thematic areas: water, health, education, agriculture, and extractive industry. We work to expand women’s and girls’ access to services and benefits under those sectors to create a more equal and just society.

My feminist journey has raised my consciousness of injustices facing women and girls, and I notice and question things I may not have noticed before. I have also learned to practice sisterhood by providing access to platforms for other young women.

My dream is to ensure equal representation of women and men in decision-making bodies, equal access to productive resources such as land, and end violence against women and children.

HELLEN AKINYI OTIENO Advocacy & Mentorship Kenya

I did not consider myself a feminist until recently, despite working in the human rights and advocacy space for four years. This is because like a lot of people, my conditioning and understanding of feminism were inaccurate. I believed that feminists could not get married, nor could they stay in their marriages. so, I felt excluded by the movement.

But now I know better. I know that feminism is a fight for equality. I envision a world free from violence where women’s and girls’ rights are recognized as human rights. The key issues that I address are Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), children’s rights, and leadership and governance.

My feminist journey has taught me that change is gradual. I dream that one-day women shall vie for leadership positions without discrimination based on their identity

DEMITILA FAUTINE SAMBAIGA Gender Equality, Girl’s Education & Domestic Workers Rights Tanzania

I got pregnant while in secondary school, and `my baby's father ran away to escape all responsibility. My fate could have so easily been like that of the other girls in my village who got pregnant early-- many of them dropped out of school and became domestic workers-- but my parents ensured that I stayed in school and finished my education. I am grateful for that. Although I had to take small jobs to earn school fees, I was able to advance my education to university.

For the past three years, I have been working with children, women, youth, and adolescents in empowerment programs focused on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, equality, education, and development. We upskill them and advocate to end all forms of violence against them and human trafficking.

My vision is to see the world becoming a better place for every girl and woman, to exercise their freedoms while fully enjoying their rights cemented by equity and equality.

My feminism journey has been exciting and has required bravery. I have learned that every girl has potential; all she needs is time and support to unlock it. I have unlearned not believing in myself and listening to negativity while working on my goals. My feminist dream is to create a society where girls and women are free and have access to social justice.

IRENE NELIMA NJOROGE Domestic Workers Rights & Transformation Kenya

Domestic workers in my country are underpaid, overworked, enjoy little time off, and are often victims of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. I know because this was my experience as a domestic worker. For three years, I suffered the brunt of these injustices because I was uneducated and did not know how to claim my rights as a worker.

I do not want other domestic workers to suffer the way I did. I work with the Centre for Domestic Training and Development which is dedicated to dignifying domestic workers and domestic labor in Kenya. This is achieved through offering homecare, labor rights, life skills training, and a job placement service that allows the domestic workers and their employers to sign a contract before engaging in work. Other than that, CDTD is working with other stakeholders in the sector to lobby the government to ratify International Labour Organisation Convention C189 that speaks of decent work for domestic workers.

I have found fulfillment in capacity building and have influenced more than 2,000 domestic workers while working with CDTD and elsewhere. Being part of EAYWLMI has broadened my thinking on Feminism. Feminism is not about fighting men, but fighting the patriarchal systems that work towards oppressing women. We need men and their support in this fight.

I dream of a future where every woman will choose to be a feminist and not shy away from being associated with it - the change we want has to start with us.

DORICA SYDNEY MKUCHU Law & Women’s Rights Tanzania

I was raised by a feminist father who instilled the value of equality in me- he simply believed that everyone should be treated the same despite their gender.

This became the foundation for my feminism and directly inspired the work that I do today.

I am currently coordinating a program that works to prevent HIV, my focus being on women and children. We work to protect and ensure access to justice for children who have been abused sexually, and educate the society about HIV prevention and children’s rights.

This journey has taught me the importance of involving women in leadership positions, including electoral ones, as well as the importance of employers and institutions creating an environment that accommodates women's needs. On a personal level, I have learned to maintain self-care and prioritize my mental, physical and spiritual needs. That way, I can do a better job of looking after others and practicing sisterhood.

It is my feminist dream that one day we will achieve equality and everyone in society will be treated equally, not based on their gender, race, background or any other factor.

MILANYA JACKLINE Community Work & Human Rights (Children, Adolescent Girls and LGBTIQ) Kenya

I had a privileged childhood which allowed me an education at a school that valued nurturing leadership and self-esteem among girls. That kicked me off towards my activism work: I found myself helping to advocate for my friends who had not been exposed to the same skill sets. I would talk them through their body changes, a topic most schools only glossed over, and helped them articulate their needs to their parents. In time, I started using the arts as a way to teach and connect with the larger community.

I am a community worker and human rights defender who believes in children’s and women’s rights. I advocate in ending all forms of violence against children, adolescent girls, and LGBTIQ people. I believe in women's economic empowerment as a first step towards ending abuse.

My feminist journey started way before I joined the young women leadership journey but at first, I was afraid of identifying as a feminist because I was worried about how society will judge me. I have learned that I am enough. I am because I believe. I have unlearned that women who identify as feminist are angry or bra-burning ladies.

My feminist dream is borrowed from Adrienne Rich’s words:“Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you; it means learning to respect and use your own brains and instincts; hence, grappling with hard work.”

FARIDA ABDALLAH Programme Officer: Executive Relations & Youth Engagement Tanzania

Young women face economic hardships because they often lack the necessary qualifications and have no capital or entrepreneurship skills to establish their own business. The problem is access, not ability. I know that with the correct training and support, women are unstoppable.

I work with Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP), which advocates for women’s rights, empowerment, gender equity, equality, and social justice. I am involved in one of its programs that builds the capacity of seventeen out of school young women by enrolling them in vocational training courses and facilitating them with entrepreneurship skills. The goal of the program is to increase the number of young women accessing decent employment while at the same time increasing their knowledge on women and feminist leadership in their business so that they can mentor other young leaders.

I envision a better world for everyone, with transformed societies where there is gender equality, gender equity, economic and social justice in all communities.

I have learned many things about feminist leadership and feminism theories, including the technicalities of mentoring, movement-building, sisterhood, and solidarity. I have unlearnt that feminist leadership is the same as women leadership. Feminist leadership is about increasing the quality of leaders who challenge discriminatory patriarchal and power structures.

My feminist dream is to see a rising number of young female leaders who question authority without any fear. I believe this will create a better world where everyone’s voice is heard.

JANE MALOI Community Work & Mentorship Kenya

I come from the Maasai community where women are looked down upon, not involved in decision-making, and where harmful cultural practices are the norm.

Too many girls and women in my community do not have access to education and the economic opportunities that come with that, and neither have they developed a sense of self-hood because they are forced to be entirely dependent on men.

I run a mentorship program for girls and speak out for women's rights in the Maasai community of Kajiado County in Kenya. I advocate for the rights of women and girls, a change of attitude towards women in leadership and education, and the inclusion of women and girls in decision-making. I believe that when we come together, we will change society.

My feminism journey has been great, I have learned a lot from my sisters. Some of the things I learned are practicing sisterhood, self-care, and learning to say no. My feminist dream is for women and girls to live in a society free from discrimination, violation and become leaders of tomorrow.

FLAVIANA EPHRAIM MOLLEL Advocacy & Community Mobilization

Tanzania

I am coordinating a very cool project called “Space 4 Free SRHR”. I create a safe space for adolescent girls and trained mentors to have candid conversations about Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights. We tackle issues such as teenage pregnancies and unsafe abortion, Sexually Transmitted Infections, gender-based violence, and sexual abuse, HIV/AIDS-related stigma and also help the girls gain life skills through established young women leaders clubs.

My work comes from a deep place. I grew up an orphan- my father was killed when my mother was pregnant with me and my mother died when I was just two years old. I was raised by relatives. My mother’s death resulted from the abuse she experienced at the hands of her relatives. So, for me, gender-based violence hits particularly close to home, and I am working tirelessly to promote the rights and welfare of children and young girls in Tanzania.

My feminist journey has been eye-opening. I have strengthened my leadership skills and I keep learning every day. My feminist dream is a society where the rights and dignity of children and girls are equally respected and protected.

MARYAM FAUZY JUMA Finance, Administration & Community Development Kenya

Gender-Based Violence is the order of the day in the society that I live in. Most young women and girls are forced into early marriages and pregnancy, which means that most do not finish school. In addition, women and girls are uninvolved in decision-making within the society and have a low household income which leaves them vulnerable to sexual exploitation and gender inequality.

As a social worker with over 7-years of experience in community development, I know that the strongest tool we have towards equality is educating women and empowering them to take up leadership positions, as well as building strong movements to advocate for gender equality and human rights.

I have learned that feminism is accompanied by various components of self-care, sisterhood, goal setting, and movement building. I have unlearned my fear of the unknown. I dream of a world with respect and understanding between women and men, where we are all free from either patriarchal or matriarchal systems.

IRENE THOMAS ASSEY Legal Officer: Advocating for Children, Women & Victims of GBV Tanzania

Feminism has taught me to love myself, which in itself is a quiet revolution. Loving myself means wanting better for myself and for all women and girls. It means actively working towards securing our freedom from Gender-Based Violence, Female Genital Mutation and early pregnancies. It means enjoying full bodily autonomy.

I raise girls’ awareness on their rights and responsibilities as well as sensitize the community to respect girls and women. As a lawyer, I am able to stand by the women whose rights have been violated and help them to get justice.

My feminism journey has taught me that women’s rights are human rights. I have also learned not to discriminate anyone based on their gender, age, race, sexuality, etc. I have learned a lot about self-care and wellness.

My feminism dream is a world that respects women and girls, and that awards them equal opportunities as men.

MERCY JEROP Leadership, Gender & Peace Advocacy Kenya

Whenever conflict arises, women and girls suffer disproportionately. They bear the brunt of violence, dispossession, and disruption. The North Rift region of Kenya where I come from is no stranger to conflict, unfortunately, which is why I value peace so much. I know that for us to make any kind of progress towards women empowerment, we must first find resolutions to armed conflict.

I am a firm believer in the need for peace and equity in the society to accommodate both women and men and provide a fair platform for both parties to excel. I have been a gender and peace expert for five years now. My work involves mentoring young girls and leading efforts championing for access to education and the inclusion of women and girls in decision making, peacebuilding and leadership.

My feminist journey started two years ago and I have learnt to be courageous and to find my voice. I dream of a peaceful world where we all have fair platforms to excel.

JAQUELINE NGALO Law: Domestic Workers Rights & Human trafficking Tanzania

It’s shocking the kind of violence and depravity that society is capable of. I manage a safe house for women and children, and I have witnessed first-hand the extent of abuse that many who come to us for help have experienced. It turns my stomach, but it has also lit an unquenchable fire inside me to end these injustices.

I am a lawyer with a passion for working with marginalized groups, particularly women, girls, and children, advancing their rights and creating community awareness. Apart from my duties at the safe house, I have also been advocating for the rights of domestic workers. This includes ensuring that domestic workers, their employers and the community as a whole are aware of their rights and responsibilities, and that violations of the same are reported to relevant authorities.

Feminism has changed my perspective in life and made me more open-minded about ending the inequalities in our communities, and particularly striving for gender equality by ensuring that women have the freedom to be whoever they want to be i.e., the freedom of choice.

I have unlearned the patriarchal behaviors passed down through generations that have negatively impacted women’s lives hence causing women to suffer through injustices in the name of culture and traditions.

My feminist dream is to contribute to the creation of a favorable environment for women, girls, and children by ensuring that their rights are advanced, recognized, and respected in all spheres of life.

BEATRICE SISINA SHANKA Business & Community Work Kenya

Women are not free. They have not historically enjoyed basic human rights, not in other places in the world, and definitely not in the community where I come from.

Gender-Based Violence is common in many African societies, and so is the marginalization and exclusion of women from full participation in society.

I am working towards the freedom of women through business and community work. I envision a world where women and girls are given equal opportunity to enjoy freedom in all aspects of life. I would like to see a society where women are able to support themselves and fight for their rights.

My feminist journey has taught me sisterhood. I have learned how to help other young women like me work on their lives in order to sustain their families. I have also learned self-care.

My dream is to see strong women-led movements in our community that support other women who are being oppressed by men.

LULU MSHANA Law: Legal Advice & Coaching Tanzania

I work in a challenging environment catering to especially vulnerable children and women refugees, who often have had everything taken from them. I help them to navigate their host community setups and to access legal justice services. It is the kind of work that either makes you or breaks you.

I am glad that it has made me into a fighter. I want to see a world where people have equal rights and opportunities in all aspects of life, where women and girls are involved in decision making, and where harmful traditional practices are no longer part of our current realities. As a lawyer and a leader, I have started working on my vision by raising awareness in the community on the plight of women, men, children, youth, people with disabilities, and marginalized groups, and empowering women to realize, access, and utilize legal services.

One of the best things that my feminist mentor has done for me is teaching me how to balance between work and being a mother. It can be overwhelming. I will continue to share with everyone around me the importance of me-time, sisterhood, and solidarity. Alone I cannot change the mindset of society, but together, as a team, we can make an impact.

NOOR ALI Community Work: Mentoring & Coaching Kenya

I want to be a change agent. The way I see it, if we could eradicate Female Genital Mutilation, early marriages, and early pregnancies we would be a step closer to creating a peaceful and just society for everyone. This responsibility belongs to all of us, not just women and girls.

My area of expertise is mentoring and coaching young girls, women, and boys in primary and secondary schools, as well as at the community level. I use different tools, including football, to advocate for social change in my community. I teach life skills such as menstruation and hygiene, abolition of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and gender rights.

I advocate for the rights of girls to have a voice and the freedom of choice that makes the impossible possible. Our role is to create awareness and sensitize them of their rights and responsibilities as citizens in society.

My feminist journey has taught me how to set goals for myself and to focus on achieving them. My feminist dream is to see young girls and women become leaders and achieve all their dreams. I dream of equality for everyone. Every small achievement count, I know we’ll get there someday.

MBURALINA DAVID MAIRA Legal Justice Services & Women’s Rights Tanzania

The ills that women suffer can feel overwhelming: domestic violence, economic violence, lack of property rights, harmful traditional practices, the list goes on. How can we build full lives and find joy when the adversities we face are so many? I am convinced that the key to taking back control over our lives is by actively resisting the systems that oppress us.

I build the capacity of women to fight against all forms of violence in society by showing them how strong they are and how much can be achieved if they unite. I encourage reporting all forms of violence; therefore, raising awareness in the community that this state of affairs is not normal and should not be tolerated. I am also working with the local government leaders to establish mechanisms to leverage resources and respond to violence in a coordinated manner.

I envision a world where gender equality has been achieved by protecting human rights and treating women, young women, and children equally. We can achieve this if we all stand together, fighting against all forms of violence perpetrated against us.

My feminist journey has taught me the spirit of sisterhood, solidarity, and self-confidence. I have learned that we need to reshape our perception of how we view ourselves, and step up as women and take the lead. My dream is for women to realize that each time she stands up for herself, without possibly knowing it, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.

ASHA MANENO MALEKELA Youth Leader, Activist & Menstrual Hygiene Management Tanzania

I dropped out of school when I was in Form 2 due to family challenges, but I was lucky enough to get another chance at schooling with an institution called Femina Hip. I received training in leadership and Menstrual Health Management.

I am channelling this training into advocating for girls’ and women’s rights. My focus is on gender equality as it relates to human rights, especially women’s rights, and economic development.

Women’s leadership capacity is often underestimated in various spaces and levels.

My motivation is busting this myth and showcasing and celebrating women leaders at all levels.

I envision a world where equality is upheld, with women holding high leadership positions. There will also be no poverty because there will be equality between women and men as well as equal distribution of responsibilities.

I have learned that feminism is often misunderstood by society: most believe that feminism is a female movement, rather than a fight for equal rights.

My dream is to ensure there is gender equality in my society and the world at large.

JOY ZAWADI Strategy & Resource Mobilization Kenya

There are places in the world today where identifying as a feminist could get you killed. Even in places where we have made progress, women’s rights remain so shaky that they could be taken away on a whim. I have a deep appreciation that the freedom and privilege that I enjoy as a young African woman is a sum total of the sacrifice and commitment of many who came before me. I feel indebted to the generations that will come after me to ensure that I do my part in making the world a better place.

I mobilize resources to create investment opportunities for African girls and women and tell stories of female change-makers and their initiatives. Stories are not only powerful because they inspire; they also contribute to shaping history.

My feminist journey continues to be an uncomfortable one. I am opposed to labeling as I feel that it boxes us and limits us to be one thing - and the fact is that our stories and our identities are complex. For example, I am a young Christian feminist woman from a community that has faced historical injustices and extreme poverty. Yet, I also belong to a middle-class family that has afforded me some privileges. I can be all these identities at once.

I have unlearned the myth that women can only exist to be of service to others and not themselves. The two can co-exist, and women have the right to choose who they want to be. I have learned that to be a feminist is to be African. Our ancestors lived and practiced feminism in such natural ways - even though they did not have a label for it.

My feminist dream looks and feels like freedom. Freedom to be, freedom to thrive, and freedom to fulfill our purposes in life.

ROSE AKINYI Oral Herstory and Outreach Kenya

I’ve always wanted to be part of the women's movement because I know what it means to not have a voice or power as a woman. I was raised in a community where women have no say, and all that was expected of them was to take care of the household and respect their husbands. I wanted to have the power given to men: the power to hold meetings and people would listen, the power to make a point and be heard, the power to be respected, the power to sit on the seats held by elders.

I was motivated to turn these ‘fantasies’ into reality by becoming part of women-led programs and forums which defy the norm by questioning the systems themselves. I work for Resource Centre for Women and Girls, an organization that has enabled me to recognize, understand, acknowledge and formulate solutions for issues young women and girls face and employ the lessons learnt to my own life. My vision is to make young women and girls realize their potential, teach them how to articulate their voices and help them understand their worth. I want girls to be taught that it’s okay to be different, it’s okay to not follow the masses, it’s okay to be you.

I have learned that women are strong but their strength has been underestimated by society for ages. My feminist dream is to see more women in leadership spaces – implement the women/equality laws. Give women a seat in round tables of policymaking and the power to make decisions.

NAWESH ISAYA RIJIWA Education & Young women’s Rights Activist Tanzania

I was privileged to get an education, because my community, the Maasai, do not consider education as relevant or of value to girls. I studied up to university level, and I am now a teacher in a girls' school, which feels like I have come full circle. I am committed to providing quality education to as many girls as I can, despite the challenges the society might put in their paths.

My teaching profession extends beyond the classroom. I mentor and train young girls to be mentors to other young women in order to build a movement of activists fighting for the rights of girls and women in our community. It is time to change things and create a society that values women and girls, guarantees their rights to an education, property, and bodily autonomy.

My feminist journey has taught me to be more confident because I have received additional skills and knowledge that help me in my job. I envision a peaceful and prosperous world where young women can hope for a better future and explore their diverse potentials.

ABIGAIL KIWELU

Training & Social Work Tanzania

A lot of effort has gone into eradicating violence against women and children, but this issue continues to persist. It is a problem so deeply ingrained in our cultures that to solve it, we need to reimagine how societies work. We have to reimagine better futures for women and girls in Tanzania.

I work with Family Welfare Foundation, which works to eliminate physical and sexual abuse against women and girls by providing them with information and tools to navigate these issues. In 2019 we formed girl clubs, and our feminist mentees were in charge of training club members to become ambassadors against violence within areas where they reside. Success with a single locality in Dar es Salaam will be enough reason for us to consider spreading our feminist wings by recruiting other mentees and forming other clubs to meet the same objective.

One of the things I have learned in this journey is that vivid results are yet to come, but we need to keep pushing. It is a marathon, not a sprint. I have learned that patriarchy manifests itself in our everyday lives in different shapes, forms, and sizes.

It took me time to realize that women, being nurturers and teachers of culture, sometimes end up promoting patriarchy. I am unlearning that this is a journey about impressing people, it is a doing journey, and the rest will learn along the way.

My feminist dream is to see a world where individuals from all settings and minorities are fully aware of and enjoy all their rights and have reasonable access to resources that will help them maintain quality lives.

SARA BEDAH Communications Specialist & Girl’s Education Advocate Tanzania

When I was in secondary school, I was shy and I could not speak in front of people because of low self-confidence. One day I watched my mentor, Rebeca Gyumi, on a TV show, and I was inspired by her confidence. I told my mum that I wanted to be like her and my mum told me that I could, if I just trusted myself.

I am so glad that I took my mother’s advice. I now work as a Communications Officer, which goes back to the decision I made that day to trust myself. The organization I work for, Msichana Initiative Organisation, advocates for the rights of girls to education and addresses the challenges that prevent girls from going to school. We run programs that teach girls about their rights and how to fight for them through different platforms. Most of our outreach work is through social media. I envision young girls growing up in a world that is filled with love, peace, kindness, and a safe environment for them.

My feminist journey has taught me action and sisterhood. I have learned that being a feminist means being part of a movement of African women who work together to achieve the same goals. It's okay to fight back — to speak up, to say no, and to demand respect. My dream is to make a difference.

STELLA PAMBA ICT, Women & Children's Rights Kenya

We are all born with a unique opportunity to determine our fate and destiny in life.

Some say it’s a passion, others it’s a calling, to me it all boils down to the desire to be an inspiration to others.

My life’s purpose is described in Theodore Roosevelt's statement, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are” to ultimately make a positive impact and improve the lives of others.

I envision a world where women and children's rights are respected and upheld.

This means that local government authorities, members of civil society organizations, academia, media, business professionals, parents, caregivers, girls, women, and children must be aware of these rights, understand the concepts, and be able to put them into practice. I am devoted to raising awareness about these rights in different communities, contexts, and platforms.

My feminism journey has taught me to trust the process. I have unlearnt the shame of failure or making mistakes. My feminist dream is a world where women’s voices are heard and respected.

WANJIRU NDUNG’U Gender Transformative Programming Kenya

My late grandmother always stressed the importance of education. Because she believed that education was an essential asset to have, she ensured that her children and grandchildren accessed education to the highest level possible. I was able to school and access tons of opportunities afterward because of matriarchs in my family. Aware of the privileges I have enjoyed, I hope to drive and achieve change that increases girls’ and young women’s access to education and opportunities.

My vision for young women leaders in Africa is to have space, opportunities, and platforms to realize their full potential. I envision an Africa with no limitations for the girls and young women, an Africa that protects and supports young women and includes them in key decision-making processes.

The most important key to achieving this vision is investing in transformative feminist mentorship. There is power in having older or more experienced people to give sound advice, someone to walk the journey with, a guide. Mentorship is important for girls and young women because most have no access to individuals/mentors to guide them and are therefore forced to figure things out for themselves a day at a time, a journey that is quite arduous.

In hindsight, my feminist journey was inevitable because phenomenal strong feminists raised me. However, I did not always identify as a feminist. My journey has been and still is quite uncomfortable. But this is a journey that led to self-discovery, a journey that enabled me to identify assault and discrimination that I was facing in my own life and free myself from those situations, a journey I am grateful I began.

The biggest lessons I have learned are that there is no limit to what young women can achieve and that women have a right to choose who they want to be and be all they want to be. I have unlearned the infamous notion that women are their own enemies. I have experienced and witnessed sisterhood, seeing women support and uplift each other and receive the support.

My feminist dream is of a future where all men are aware of their sexist blind-spots, where harassers and abusers face the consequences for their actions, and where all women feel safe both in the private and public realms because they’re finally treated as equals.

SUSAN LANKISA Community Mobilization & Mentorship

Kenya

In 2006 I was a volunteer at the Kenya Red Cross in Isiolo, Kenya. I found that many girls did not have the opportunity to finish their education, which later led to poor life outcomes. This is what sparked my advocacy- I decided there and then that I will make it my mission to fight for the advancement of girls and women in society.

My job is to empower young women, girls, and youth on their rights and roles in leadership, education, and development to enable them to make informed decisions in the community.

I work for an organization called Collaboration of Women in Development where I am tasked with resource mobilization, mentoring, linking the organization with others to create networks for synergy, and event planning. I envision a world where women are free from Gender-Based Violence.

My feminist journey has taught me the importance of self-care and sisterhood; you can’t give what you don’t have. I have unlearned that I can save everybody or change every situation. I have to celebrate each achievement no matter how small.

My feminist dream is a community where gender equality is the norm!

SOMOINE JEREMIAH Education & Young Women Leaders Development Tanzania

I would like to see fairness, equality, and justice in this world, but I know it will not happen unless we fight for it. So, I want to inspire girls to fight because they deserve to live in a world that treats them better.

I advocate for the education of girls and help young women leaders to build their confidence as they agitate for equality, transparency and the freedom to make their own decisions. I will keep on motivating girls to fight for their rights and teach them that women are just as capable as men of taking up space and leading.

I am proud of the fact that I am a feminist. My journey has taught me the value of leadership, unity, equality, and creative ways of building confidence in the position of women in the community.

My feminist dream is to see women treated equally and their rights respected within society.

TESSO DIDO Community Work & Project Management Kenya

I come from a community that discriminates against and marginalizes women and girls. We are expected to be seen, not heard, completely dependent on, and submissive to men, with no rights to property, an education, or an opinion. I have directly suffered the consequences of this misogyny and were it not for the Horn of Africa Development Initiative, I would have never gotten very far in life.

I work in community development and project management, and I am particularly passionate about women’s rights, equal opportunities, and eradicating violence against girls and women. My role is to educate the community and create awareness about these issues. I envision a world that recognizes the power and leadership of young girls and women.

My feminist journey has taught me that anyone can be a feminist. I have learned how to accommodate different personalities, manage changes, resolve conflict and build relationships. I have also learned about self-care and how to put it to practice.

My feminist dream is a transformed world and justice for all.

UPENDO RAPHAEL MTATAIKO Women & Girls’ Rights Pastoralist Communities Tanzania

When I was 10 years old, a woman came to my grandmother carrying a child on her back, with another little girl my age holding her hand. This woman had a swollen face, and she was crying. Her husband had abused her. I will never forget how it made me feel. I promised myself to stand by any woman or child being abused by men. I told my mother that I wanted to be a policewoman to arrest the man in question.

For the past five years, I have been working with Maasai Women Development Organization to advocate for women and girls’ rights, especially in the Pastoralist society. Being a woman in the Maasai community means that you are just like a commodity to be exchanged for cows. I am fighting for equal rights and equal opportunities for women.

I am proud to call myself a feminist. My journey has not been easy, but I have realized that feminism is the course that I have aligned myself to my whole life, even without knowing it. I have learned that there is a fire in me to make a change.

My biggest dream is to see a world where women and girls have equal rights as men, a better place where society appreciates women. I want women to have equal rights to leadership and education, to challenge and be challenged—a better world for every woman to shine without fear.

VIVIAN C. SUTTER Analyst & Civic Education Facilitator Kenya

I have worked with young women and girls from marginalized areas and I have seen the inequality birthed by historical injustices, retrogressive cultures and conflict which has prevented these women from realizing their potential. We need a radical shift in how society treats women and girls.

Through the work I do, I envision a society where women and girls have been enlightened and empowered to take the opportunities around them and gain individual growth. I have worked in mentorship programs for young women and girls, as well as in peacebuilding and security programs in marginalized communities. I advocate for women's participation in leadership and governance processes, women's participation in peace and security in conflict prone areas, and young women mentorship opportunities.

My feminism journey has taught me the value of the women's movement - the coming together for the common goal of advocating for women inclusion. I have learnt of feminist approaches that allow women to leverage on and gain an advantage in their advocacy efforts. I have unlearned individualism and learnt sisterhood. I have learnt self-care and how to appreciate myself better. I have learnt to appreciate my weaknesses and strengths. My dream is for African women to have a unified effort towards realizing women leadership and women empowerment on the continent.

EMMA MOGAKA Programmes Design & Leadership Development Kenya

I was working in research and science when I found myself drawn to the women and girls I met in the field. I would spend hours listening to their stories, many of which were outside the scope of my job, and helping them brainstorm ideas to improve their circumstances. I realized that I derived a lot of satisfaction in seeing young women and girls succeed- I had found my calling.

My work is to conceptualize and run programs that develop young women's and girls' leadership capabilities. I support their self-discovery and equip them with the requisite skills to thrive in their chosen fields. I link them to existing spaces and platforms to amplify their voices on issues they are passionate about and where they can find a community of like-minded women for support and growth. With platforms to document their stories and write their histories, African women and girls are unstoppable!

My feminist journey has been one of learning and unlearning. I have learned that I can only be me and that sisterhood is imperative. As a feminist, I self-identify as an African feminist, to be precise, because I believe in amplifying women's and girls' voices and agency. Africanfeminism has given African women and girls space to speak for themselves and celebrate their African identity. It has allowed us to document our lived experiences, knowledge, and practices and thrive in our personhood! Through African feminism, we celebrate our sisterhood and solidarity as African women and girls.

My feminist dream is to see all women and girls in all their diversities have access to information, resources, and spaces they need to thrive and use their voice to speak for themselves.

SANKARA GITAU Organizational Development, Public Policy & Management Kenya

I hate poverty. I hate that we are constantly running away from it from the day we are born to the day we die. It’s extremely unfortunate that women today are most affected by poverty and yet we spend a disproportionate amount of time in poverty alleviation and that our potential remains untapped. Imagine how much we could change if we freed women from the yoke of economic survival. For example, I would love to Google the Top 50 richest people in Africa and see 40 women on that list. Or even 25. That would make me happy.

My contribution to making this a reality is advancing models that enhance women's and girls' access to each other. We can then leverage these networks to grow and nurture each other, co-develop, and co-create. Women have a lot of inherent power, even more than men, I dare say. I wish I could put us all in one room.

On a day-by-day basis, I am working with my team at Akili Dada to plug into the larger feminist movement. I feel compelled to create opportunities that will change the lives and destinies of African girls. I strongly believe that they are the generation that will kick poverty out of Africa and provide sustainable solutions to the systemic challenges facing us today. If we can only guarantee a good education for all girls and women today, we shall be well on our way to freedom.

For a long time, I did not identify as a feminist because I thought I did not need to. But it is important to name things. I now identify as a feminist because I am always going to push for an inclusive society that will guarantee women's rights and safety and other marginalized people, such as those who identify as LGBTQI. This is a heavy responsibility that I do not take lightly.

We have many different feminisms, but I would like to see African feminism as a benchmark of feminists’ movements worldwide. But to get here, we need to document our journeys, our leaders, and our icons. African feminist movement can be strengthened by storytelling, educating, and amplifying. This book is a step in that direction.

My feminist journey has been fantastic, but I still have a long way to go. The biggest life lessons I have learned are: There is always a woman somewhere trying to change the world.

Learning is a lifelong process.

There are many of us on this feminist journey.

My feminist dream is of no wars, no hunger, no poverty. I dream of astounding political and social movements, great access to education for young women and girls and wonderful access to leadership, and policy decisions being made at all levels.

NALEMUTA MOISAN Human & Women Rights Activist Tanzania

The struggle to free women and girls from social injustices is far from over! A lot of work awaits us. We can all agree on what needs to be done, but how do we go about it? The status quo remains a serious stumbling block in the realization of these rights. How exactly we should break this phenomenon to guarantee the recognition of economic and human rights for women is still a mystery to me at my age.

But even though the details are not clear, I firmly believe in starting where you are and working with what you have. After university, I joined a network of women activists to advocate and defend human rights. Being from the Maasai community in Tanzania, our work is mostly inclined towards women’s rights in pastoralist settings. We are shifting the community’s mindset on the social and cultural norms that hold women back and deprive them of their rights.

I look forward to a world that recognizes and respects women’s rights and roles in the same proportion as men. I am motivated when I witness women’s movements from the grassroots using their voices and seeking change.

My feminist journey has taught me that women are a powerful force and have brought changes to the status quo. For instance, women’s participation in governance, decision-making, and upholding of human rights (land and productive resources), has resulted in gains in laws and policies.

My feminist dream is to see women holding key positions of power in society and having a greater say in the management of family and community resources.

SEKELA YONA MWAIPAJA Gender Equity: Sexual Reproductive Health And Rights, Economic Growth

Tanzania

As a young girl, I refused to see any difference between my male siblings and me, apart from our biological differences. I believed we were all capable of doing whatever we wanted.

I struggled with the roles assigned to me as a girl and demanded answers to the expectations laid before me. Nobody provided the answers I needed, and I ended up being labeled as troublesome. I had no idea what feminism was, but it seemed that I was destined for a life in feminist advocacy.

I envision a world where everyone, especially girls and women, understands that gender roles are socially constructed, and women’s rights are human rights.

My feminism journey has taught me to be patient with my fellow young women, sharing spaces, and creating safe spaces for women. I have learned how to strategically take care of women and girls around me while taking care of myself too.

My feminist dream is of a world where no one is denied opportunities, rights, and responsibilities because of their gender. A world where women’s rights are human rights!

© Akili Dada, 2020-1 Editorial & Design Team Creative Production - Angela Lagat (Tatsuo Group Ltd.) Design and Illustrations - Stephen Kennedy Kyalo Editor - Jacqueline Kubania Cover Design and Graphics - Chelagat Cherwon Akili Dada Collaborators: Emma Mogaka, Wanjiru Ndung’u, Joy Zawadi, Peggy Nyahera and Sankara Gitau Production by Octopus Designs Publisher: Akili Dada with support of Global Fund for Women & Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Nairobi, Kenya.