April 26 Meeting Recap
Speaker Neema Namadamu
Host Kelly Sater
This past week's guest speaker is a Congolese activist who promotes the rights of those with disabilities and champions women's voices in Africa. A childhood polio survivor who cannot walk without assistance, Neema was not satisfied with the life her disability destined for her. She had no right to education or a job, and no right to healthcare therapies that would help her improve her situation. Neema credits her mother for supplying the strength and support she needed to recreate the paradigm, first for herself and then for others. Neema began by creating a weekly radio show advocating for the disabled, going on to become the first woman to graduate from college in Congo. She now promotes women's voices of peace through her GO telecommunications network, and by teaching women digital literacy. This is a critical game-changer in the Congo, where traditionally only men are allowed to lead or even to gather in groups. She thinks of herself as "a simple instrument who has created a movement" by using her voice to teach women to stand up and speak for themselves. She trains girls to become leaders for peace through her her Maman Shujaa media center and her Hero Women Rising project (click here for more info). For her work, Neema has been recognized and sponsored by the Nobel Women's Initiative (read more).
Thank you Neema and Kelly for an inspiring and informational program!