Who Inspires Us? International Women's Day 2022

5/3/2022

On this year’s International Women’s Day, we are reflecting on some of the amazing women that make our programmes happen around the world, by asking our team in the UK who inspires them and why.

This year’s theme is #BreakTheBias, and it asks us to imagine a gender equal world, a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.

Children on the Edge envisions a world in which every child thrives regardless of their geography, ethnicity, gender, or caste. So we’d like to introduce some of the women that most inspire us, and how they’re contributing to ‘breaking the bias’.

LUCIA GAVRILITA - MOLDOVA

Lucia, a white woman with dark hair is wearing a smart shirt and smiling at the camera

Lucia is the founder of the ‘Speranta’ centre in Chișinău, Moldova which provides specialist support for disabled children in the country.

As well as running the centre, Lucia has fought to change the country’s attitude to disabilities, becoming deputy minister for disability and spearheading the passing of the first national law for disability rights in Moldova.

This law outlines basic rights, entitlements and standards for those with disabilities.

Lucia is currently leading our response to the crisis in Ukraine in Moldova, with the Speranta centre hosting Ukrainian refugees, providing transit accommodation and food, and assisting them on their onward journeys through Moldova into neighbouring EU countries. Lucia is also working with other local organisations to support a local 200+ bed facility for refugees, providing them with vital supplies.

"She is one of those rare individuals you meet in life, a mum who gave birth to two children with special needs who decided not just to help her own but all such children in her nation. A truly selfless, dedicated and inspiring woman, like social reformers of old, she has brought change to a nation and thousands of children's lives."

RACHEL BENTLEY - CEO AND CO-FOUNDER

NUNA MATAR - LEBANON

Nuna is wearing sunglasses and a red tshirt and is surrounded by Syrian refugee children as she takes a photo on her phone

Nuna is the Director of Triumphant Mercy Lebanon, and leads the work we support in Lebanon for Syrian refugee children.

As part of the school in Zahle, girls are encouraged through a bespoke programme called ‘Shine’ where they are given the opportunity to grow in confidence and self worth, and talk about issues affecting them.

The Grade nine programme at the school also gives students the chance to study for their Syrian exams.

By passing these exams, students will have the chance to go on to higher education, something often denied to girls who are usually expected to marry or provide help at home. Female Syrian refugee teachers are also trained, given their own income and enabled to gain respect in their communities.

“Nuna’s incredible tenacity and determination inspires me. She always sees where the need is, and responds with so much courage, and gets things done. Her action and compassion is where so many others find such hope”

ELOISE ARMSTRONG - FUNDRAISING MANAGER

BABRA NANDAWULA - UGANDA

Babra, a black woman is writing on a large piece of paper, wearing a white tshirt

Babra is the lead social worker at Children on the Edge Africa, and responsible for all the community and child protection work in and around Jinja.

She is a pillar of the community and a role model for other women who are now leading their friends and neighbours in creating protective environments for their children.

Her creation of Child Rights Clubs has inspired and resourced many young women to find their voices and advocate for the issues that matter to them.

“She’s kind, fierce and loyal. She’s loved and trusted by everyone she meets and brings people together, always seeing and bringing out the best in people.

She will do everything she possibly can to help others less fortunate than herself but always as their equal and their friend.

She’s strong minded and passionate and an absolute joy to watch in her element, in a Ugandan community, surrounded by women and children, chatting. Slowly, quietly and unobtrusively making change happen”.

SARAH NDLOVU - INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION OFFICER

SISTER VEENA JACOB - INDIA

Veena, an Indian woman with dark hair and glasses is smiling at the camera

Sister Veena is the Director of NESWSD in Patna, India and responsible for the education of nearly 1,000 Dalit children and the support of 87 local women’s groups.

Her work here actively seeks to break down what they describe as a ‘son preferring’ culture in Bihar State, by insisting on a higher ratio of female learners, a gender sensitive curriculum and a huge variety of campaigns and events that seek to break the bias by encouraging girls to raise their aspirations, use their voices and access the opportunities that boys have.

The programme fights child marriage and aims to keep girls in school by supporting them to progress to the highest education level they can. Women’s groups support each other with microloans to provide independence and promote respect for members within their families and communities.

“The gangster nun! Her strength is displayed in quiet, continual action as she gently but firmly breaks down the barriers that exist in people's lives”.

BEN WILKES - CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

“Veena- a real change maker, a kind and courageous woman who has inspirational passion and energy to help those who are most marginalised and rejected. She never gives up the fight for the rights of the oppressed in her society"

RACHEL BENTLEY - CEO AND CO-FOUNDER

WINNIE BIIRA - UGANDA

Winnie, a black woman, sat on a colourful mat under a tree with a group of Ugandan women. they are in deep conversation.

Winnie Biira is the CEO of Children on the Edge Africa and leads the programmes in Uganda both in and around Jinja and in the Kyaka II refugee settlement.

She is an inspiration to her staff and the communities she oversees and is utterly focused on making sure the most marginalised children are noticed and given the support they need.

Whether she is campaigning in the Ugandan Parliament to change the law on child sacrifice, making children at the Early Childhood Development centres laugh, or sitting on the grass teaching local women about saving, Winnie is always authentic, powerful and gives everything she can to bring change.

Winnie has innate wisdom and strength of character, leading Children on the Edge Africa with courage and tenacity, despite all the storms that come her way she remains calm and stable, a real force for good”.

RACHEL BENTLEY - CEO AND FOUNDER

OUR FEMALE STAFF IN KUTUPALONG

Project officers in Bangladesh holding up international women's day signs saying 'girl, you can change the world'.

Kutupalong in Bangladesh is the world's largest refugee camp and home to over
880, 000 Rohingya refugees who have fled violence in Myanmar.

The team here are dedicated to challenging stereotypes around girls in education and spend a lot of time with parents and local camp leaders to try and tackle the practice of child marriage. This is directly raising the aspirations of girls who previously had little chance of an education.

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Rebeka Khatun says:“When some people see women working in the camp they make all kinds of insults, so we almost always have to deal with this behaviour, but as time has gone by these insults have lessened, as people start to see what we do and respect us for what we are achieving”.

Rebeka goes on to say: “My work as female Monitoring and Evaluation Officer on the project is constantly inspiring the young girls I come into contact with. This is because they see me as a humanitarian worker and they can see that my life is changed only through education. Now I live a better life, I have a job, I earn money and I can help people. So like me, they know their lives can change. What I tell them is this:

1. Education can change the nation.
2. Education is necessary for every woman.
3. Education can change women's lives.
4. Education is one of the blessings of life
5. As women we must work, not wait”.

“I can’t pick just one person, but in Bangladesh; Rebeka, Bristy, Jesmin and Shalia are part of a formidable team running the schools in the Kutupalong refugee camp. They train and inspire our female teachers, encourage the girls on our programme to use their voices and they are role models on breaking the bias through all the work that they do in the largest refugee camp in the world”.

ESTHER SMITHERAM - COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Who inspires you? Over on social media, we're asking you to share images or stories about the women who inspire you; for example those who are breaking the bias for women in your community, workplace, school or club.

Join us on Facebook or Instagram to tell us all about your inspirational women!