The awakening A few weeks ago, Women’s Hour, a BBC Radio four programme dedicated a week to discussing the menopause. I remember waking up each morning, anxious for when the programme will come on air as women from all works…
Five years ago, I lost a female friend who died in the process of child birth .She successfully put to birth through surgery and later died ten minutes later .When I heard of this ,I was really touched and disturbed, I had…
Women today face a lot of challenges simply by virtue of being born a woman. These challenges are even more pronounced on women in third world countries who are burdened by a lot of dos and don’ts set up by a patriarchal…
I have never felt reduced as a woman, until I became part of this community am going to be narrating some experiences I encountered for the time I spent there. As a teacher and an educated woman, I was previledged to serve…
WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR NIGERIAN POOR WOMEN AS WE CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY -I SELL LOCUST BEANS TO EMPOWER POOR WOMEN By FLORENCE KEKONG On how I celebrated the International Women's Day with poor widows in the…
"I was very hesitant to add my voice. I was worried about how the world would see me, worried about the prejudice or stigma I had always felt", she confided in me. "I felt the victim and felt guilty that I might have done…
I have always longed to organize a workshop for women in my community but the challenges varied from lack of self-confident, where I could start, fear and women will not listen or take me serious. A workshop where we could…
A village woman in the hills of Noney in Manipur carries a cane basket ‘Kah’ on her head, collects vegetables and fruits from her farm or forest to sell in the main market on National Highway 37 and earns a petty income to…
If my heart was divided into three parts, am certain you will find a part that is joyful, sober and expectant . I know very well that the sober part will be larger because it is present. The joyful has been as a result of…
My name is Yaje. Growing up in my remote neighborhood in Bamenda was once of those experiences in my life that I would never forget. My parents were both civil servants and I have 3 sibling. Being civil servants, both mum…
Anyone who is involved in an aspect of advocacy and community development understands the importance of self-care. Yet, it is one of the most neglected tools in a Change maker’s toolkit. We understand that we have to be…
I am famous- and notorious- in a few small circles for publicly sharing parts of my life that others would not even dare whisper to their families. I have gone on television shows to speak about being diagnosed and living…
I am a girl affected by conflict. I hail from the North West region of Cameroon which has been going through a crisis since 2016 that has led to violence, resistance, deaths, displacement, sexual harassment, poverty,…
Do not Look for Me in the Crowds of Those Celebrating Today is the 8th of March 2019. I ask you not to look for me in the crowds gathering and celebrating in the streets of “Free Cities”. For I am locked up in some dark…
There is an astonishing man behind World Pulse. You should know him. For over a decade, Ankur Naik – World Pulse’s technical architect - built World Pulse alongside me. His hands have invented, tested, curved, created, and…
I am a survivor of child sexual abuse. Like most children subjected to this horror, I imagined that it was my fault and that this happened because I was a bad child. It was not until I was an adult that I realized that what…
Forty-something years on, the pain is still strong! Actually, the pain grows stronger as the years roll on. If I have to tell you a story of a family with a brother living with disabilities, I would tell you a tale of an…
On 3 December 2018 I was invited at a certain local school’s graduation and prize giving day to speak to parents and guardians about instilling confidence in their children. As I watched the children perform, I could clearly…
When a woman decides to enter into the world of a male-dominated, heavily-armed force, she needs to double or even triple her effort to belong. For Bery Bacolcol, she dared to lead. This is the story of the first woman…
My name is Gumato. I was named Gumato since I was born on a Friday. I just tured 21, two days ago. I was born and brought up in a nuclear family with a very humble background. My mum and dad did not go to school. I have…
In recent times, there has been an upsurge in reports of Sexual Abuse by persons who are very much supposed to be guardians ranging from Pastors, Imams, Fathers, Uncles, Teachers and Brothers to mention but a few. Defined as…
It was a bright Saturday in Washington DC and I was invited to have an intimate conversation with girls of the Global Girls Global Women Hummingbird Project, led by Dr. Jeri Dyson - a dynamic woman, medical doctor, face of…
Hi my lovely brother. I am here always praying for you. Do not worry about us, here everything is going. I am not saying “going well,” just going. Because we all really miss you. And without you the sky is dark, life is…
Earlier this year, I reconnected with an old friend. Our conversation was regular, run-off-the-mill, touching upon our every day lives, when things took a different turn. Something brought up an old memory of abuse at the…
Padmaja* announces excitedly that her daughter is set to be married soon. “She will be moving to New Zealand after the wedding with her husband!” she exclaims and shows off the engagement pictures. A 45 year old auxiliary…
