We Met Some Incredible Changemakers at the 2023 Women Deliver Conference

We met up with Tesfaye Mamo, CEO of Hamlin Fistula Hospital. We are thrilled to be partnering with Hamlin to treat women with uterine vaginal prolapse and fistula in the communities we serve. [Image description: woman on the left and two men on the right are standing together, smiling. They each have a yellow lanyard around their necks]

This past summer, WEEMA Country Director Assefa Tadesse and I attended the 2023 Women Deliver Conference in Kigali, Rwanda. Women Deliver is a leading global advocate, championing gender equality and the health and rights of girls and women.

At the conference, Assefa and I connected with organizations based in Ethiopia and worldwide, working to improve the lives of girls and women in their communities. It was awe-inspiring to see so many people join together in solidarity, sharing their knowledge and experiences and supporting one another with the goal of improving the lives of girls and women worldwide.

Over 6,000 thought leaders from around the globe gathered to discuss “Spaces, Solidarity, and Solutions,” addressing holistic, sustainable solutions for gender equality. The woman third from the left is Sahle-Work Zewde, President of Ethiopia. [Image description: 6 people are seated on a stage with a colorful, green backdrop with a “Women Deliver 2023 Conference” logo. They appear to be in conversation.]

I feel re-energized after meeting so many dedicated individuals devoted to addressing gender equality, and we are grateful to be part of a growing worldwide movement addressing gender equality and the rights of girls and women.

Assefa, our Country Director, was one of the few men who attended the conference. He noted, "...real change will only happen when men actually get involved." and "...expanding women's leadership in an integrated and holistic way is critical to tackling gender inequality.”

Assefa and my commitment to gender equality set a clear tone for WEEMA's mission. We are committed to addressing gender equality across all our program areas by focusing on improving the lives of girls, women, and the most vulnerable in our communities.

Assefa (far left) and Liz (second from the right) are pictured here with Helen Tilahun (between Assefa and Liz). Helen is a disability advocate in Ethiopia and CEO of New Life Teen Challenge Development and Relief Program. The woman on the far right is Grace Ongong'a, founder and executive director of Asembo Skills for Hope in Kenya. It was great learning from other women and sharing knowledge about addressing gender equality in their communities. [Image description: Four people are standing in front of an empty auditorium with blue, yellow, and green seats. Each is wearing a yellow lanyard around their neck.]