Women are confronting injustice and amplifying survivor voices through advocacy and action across Africa. This spotlight features Leymah Gbowee, the Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, and rising activist Memory Banda.
Woman of Impact
Leymah Gbowee — Liberia
“You can never leave footprints that last if you are always walking on tiptoe.” — Leymah Gbowee, in Mighty Be Our Powers
Leymah Gbowee is a globally respected peace activist and women’s rights leader who played a pivotal role in ending Liberia’s civil war. By mobilising women across religious and social divides, she led a nonviolent movement that demanded peace and accountability, ultimately influencing the transition to democratic governance.
Her work has since expanded into advocacy for women’s leadership, trauma healing, and youth empowerment across Africa. As founder of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, she supports education and leadership development for young women.
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Gbowee continues to inspire movements for justice, proving that collective action and courage can transform societies and secure lasting peace.
Organisation of Impact
Dorothy Njemanze Foundation
“We exist to give a voice to the voiceless and ensure justice for survivors.” — Dorothy Njemanze Foundation
The Dorothy Njemanze Foundation is a leading organisation advancing justice for women and girls affected by trafficking, sexual exploitation, and gender-based violence.
Through survivor-centred programmes, the Foundation provides legal support, rehabilitation, and safe spaces for women and girls, helping them rebuild their lives with dignity. It also conducts advocacy campaigns and community outreach to challenge harmful norms and prevent exploitation.
The Foundation has been instrumental in raising awareness about human trafficking and strengthening accountability systems, working closely with stakeholders to promote justice and protection.
By combining storytelling, legal advocacy, and survivor support, it continues to influence policy and public discourse, ensuring that the rights and dignity of women and girls remain central to development efforts.
Young Woman of Impact
Memory Banda — Malawi
“Girls must be given the chance to decide their own future.” — Memory Banda, in global advocacy forums
Memory Banda is a powerful young advocate working to end child marriage and gender-based violence in Malawi. Having experienced early marriage herself, she turned her story into a platform for activism, campaigning for girls’ education and legal reforms.
Banda has led grassroots initiatives that have helped annul child marriages and return girls to school. Her advocacy has contributed to national and global conversations on child protection and girls’ rights, earning her international recognition, including the International Children’s Peace Prize.
Through community mobilization and policy advocacy, she continues to empower girls to speak up, claim their rights, and pursue education. Banda represents a new generation of African activists transforming personal experiences into impactful movements for justice and equality.
