TuWezeshe Akina Dada, Swahili for ‘empowering our sisters’, is a feminist leadership programme seeking to inspire a generation of young African women to engage in the civil and political spheres and galvanise collective action against all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG). It aims to increase their visibility and capacity to shape decisions about their rights and freedoms.
Through the one-year fellowship programme, the young women build core leadership skills, are mentored by established female leaders, and receive funding to initiate their own social action projects. Fellows learn how they can shape the agenda on VAWG, build their networks, and voice themselves on a range of national and international platforms. Uniquely, this programme is also designed to build bridges between East Africa and the UK African Diaspora.
The programme was established in 2016 and funded by Comic Relief’s Common Ground Initiative. SSAP partnered with The Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development (FORWARD) in London, UK; Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA) in Uganda and The Children’s Dignity Forum (CDF) in Tanzania