Our Voices Rising: 12 Women to Watch
These women leaders are transforming the world — one click, one comment, one connection at a time.
by Lisa K. Anderson, for World Pulse
In the midst of global disruption and pain, women leaders in nearly every country of the world are stepping forward to write a kinder, more equitable future. This International Women’s Day, meet 12 award-winning leaders from 10 countries who are using digital tools to speak out, connect, and create ripples of change on the ground.
In South Africa, Basudha Modak, engineer and tireless community leader, instills a love of learning and hope for the future in women and girls.
Basudha Modak’s Storm in a Teacup initiative quickly grew beyond a supportive WhatsApp group to a grassroots organization that helped hundreds of women and girls with skill-building and resources during the pandemic.
“With my initiatives, I’m trying to change the social and political system to support women and not suppress them,” Basudha says. “Community-driven approaches improve the quality of life for families and help women become more independent.”
Today Storm in a Teacup operates as a foundation and includes a chapter of Technovation, a global tech education nonprofit that inspires girls to be leaders and problem solvers. Basudha says the skill-building and community farming initiatives and pilot projects that Storm in a Teacup started in Johannesburg townships are being replicated in self-help groups in Uganda.
She is also involved in the Every Woman Treaty, a coalition of 1,700 women’s rights advocates in 128 countries working to end violence against women and girls.
Through her work, Basudha has reached more than 800 women and girls.
“However slow you go, do not stop,” Basudha says to women changemakers. “Every time we go out and do something, as long as we go forward, change is happening.”
Support her work: Basudha seeks collaborators who can volunteer and share skill expertise and donations for the Storm in a Teacup Foundation. Connect with Basudha on World Pulse.
In Cameroon, Nain Mirabel Yuh ensures that the rights of people with disabilities are respected, that their needs are met, and that they are not left behind the evidence-based practice train.
Nain Mirabel Yuh grew up in a community where there is a high percentage of marginalization of the underserved population, especially for people with disabilities. She noticed through research that interventions for people with disabilities often failed to include their voices.
When she joined the research organization eBASE, Nain and her team included people with disabilities in their research design and methodology. The result is an innovative toolkit that offers families evidence-based recommendations to help their children with disabilities thrive.
Nain and her team audited household practices and based their toolkit around five pillars: health, education, livelihood, well-being, and empowerment. One of the intentions behind the toolkit is to give children with disabilities more quality time with their families and communities. As a result of the toolkit, Nain hopes they may also gain opportunities to generate income and be considered for bank accounts, insurance and inheritances among others.
Through her research, Nain and her team have directly impacted 30 families and indirectly impacted 1,000 people through policy and advocacy. “This work can grow and expand if we have more data to show policymakers,” Nain says. “For 2022, we are spreading our wings, and we want to touch more lives.”
Support her work: Nain appreciates supporters sharing her work to reach more families and become replicated in other countries. Connect with Nain on World Pulse.
After rescuing more than 5,000 trafficked children and adults, Pallabi Ghosh trains rural communities to prevent trafficking.
A researcher turned human rights activist, Pallabi works to curb human trafficking, gender-based violence, migration-related conflicts, and social injustice. After rescuing more than 5,000 trafficked children and adults, she saw a need to pivot her focus.
Pallabi’s organization, Impact and Dialogue Foundation, implemented grassroots outreach and trainings in the rural state of Assam to prevent trafficking. The foundation has reached more than 35,000 people so far.
“While it is difficult to reach everyone, it is easy to reach out to one person,” Pallabi says. “That one uplifted person can reach out to at least 10 more, then 10 reaches 100, and so on. Thus, we can change the world by compounding the impact.”
Pallabi often spends 25 days of the month traveling to remote areas of Assam by bus, convening community leaders to engage in intergenerational dialogues. Her trainings address themes such as patriarchy, family life, and poverty to help women overcome barriers and access economic opportunities.
“We all can create a change,” Pallabi says. “We don’t have to be social workers or activists. Each one of us has the power to change or do something, regardless of profession.”
Support her work: Help Pallabi expand her reach with research and outreach support. Connect with Pallabi on World Pulse.
In Sweden, Catherine Djiemo affirms natural Afro hairstyles through storytelling, training, and advocacy.
After moving to Sweden and experiencing discrimination at a hair salon, Catherine took matters into her own hands, affirming natural Afro hairstyles and advocating for Black women and girls. She spoke out by sharing her story and launched two change-making initiatives.
“If you know you have a right and have been marginalized, you have the freedom of speech to raise your voice even if you’re standing by yourself,” Catherine says. “You are worth it.”
Today Catherine runs a registered NGO called Working Across Borders Empowerment Center (WABEC), teaching families how to care for natural, curly hair. Since 2021, she has taught more than 400 people how to braid, blend oils, care for their skin, and feel safe as Black people.
She’s also trained 150 parents about the issue of colorism, or prejudice based on darker skin tones, offering a toolbox about how to avoid favoritism and compliment kids without highlighting their physical attributes. Through the Catherine Djiemo Foundation, Catherine draws on her master’s degree in Sexual and Reproductive Health to support Cameroonian girls with menstrual hygiene, sexual wellness, and education.
One of Catherine’s driving forces behind her work is her two teenage daughters. “I see a lot of attitude changes in young girls like my daughters,” she says. “They’re able to style and rock their hair, and their confidence has taken a positive turn.”
Support her work: Catherine welcomes moral and financial support for her organizations, from mentorship to braiding materials. Connect with Catherine on World Pulse.
Kamila Geethi escaped Afghanistan in August. As a refugee, she’s using the power of story to advocate for her people.
In August 2021, Kamila recounted leaving Afghanistan behind to escape Taliban rule. Her poignant stories mourned the loss of her homeland and pleaded for the new leaders of her country to care for it.
“My sisters, I urge you to remember Afghanistan,” Kamila wrote. “I urge you to talk about the crisis in my homeland, to play a role in making a difference in the lives of Afghan people.”
Today, Kamila has been relocated to Toronto with her sister as they await a reunion with their parents and two other siblings who are currently in Pakistan. Kamila says she has emerged from a state of helplessness and hopelessness to feel stronger than ever.
As an Afghan refugee, she knows firsthand what must be done to support refugees. She’s using her voice to advocate for their ability to pursue an education and work, access to health care services, and psychosocial support.
Kamila is courageous amid her new reality and an uncertain future for her homeland. “People on the ground feel powerless, but we can make changes,” Kamila says. “We should not tire of speaking out.”
Support her work: Kamila would love to learn about writing and work opportunities in Canada. Connect with Kamila on World Pulse.
In South Africa, Laa’iqah SeedSower’s poetic words sow seeds of empathy and empowerment.
As devastation engulfed her homeland last year in what was called the worst violence South Africa had seen since 1994, Laa’iqah SeedSower spoke out. Her beautiful, poetic voice continues to give shape to the struggles and triumphs of women in her country.
Laa’iqah discovered writing as a teenager as she grappled with the loneliness of being on the autism spectrum. Up until age 12, she had struggled to make out phonetic sounds. Writing helped her sharpen her ability to communicate and feel the emotions of those around her.
“This seed of being able to understand what everybody took for granted touched me so deeply,” Laa’iqah says. “I almost never wanted to stop because that seed took root in me.” Writing became Laa’iqah’s elixir, and her pen name of SeedSower was born.
After discovering the power of writing and digital literacy herself, Laa’iqah brings a deep sense of empathy and passion to teaching adult learners. Her teaching and words help women unlock opportunities and potential within themselves.
“I’d love for people who read my work to feel a seed within themselves,” Laa’iqah says. “I want people to be able to dance through what I’m expressing.”
Support her work: Reach out to Laa’iqah to share your story. Connect with Laa’iqah on World Pulse.
In Pakistan, Anum Shakeel has trained and mentored more than 10,000 students, helping them bridge the transition between college and career.
Anum was the first to complete college and a master’s degree in her family with a gold medal. She learned firsthand the difference mentorship and career guidance could make in a student’s life.
As a social entrepreneur and founder of the Marketects Club, Anum has trained and mentored more than 10,000 students to get into the corporate world through internships, volunteer opportunities, and career counseling.
“In most parts of the world, a person’s goals and aspirations are defined by gender,” Anum says. “Unfortunately, a woman is often discouraged from pursuing her dreams just because she is a woman.”
Anum says she aspires to help every woman spread her wings as wide as possible. As a student, she sponsored the studies of two of her friends, paying their fees via pocket money so they could complete their 10th standard studies.
She’s now on a mission to build alliances between industries, academia, startups, nonprofits, and the media to create as many career opportunities as possible for women.
Also a champion of the startup ecosystem in Pakistan, Anum has worked on PR campaigns for more than 300 tech startups. She was named a Top 5 Inspirational Woman in Pakistan by WOWPK and the Globant Women Award recipient in the digital leader category.
Support her work: Anum seeks digital mentors for young girls. Connect with Anum on World Pulse.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, entrepreneurial coach and peace advocate Esther Ndihano Atosha seeks a seat at the political decision-making table.
The more Esther Ndihano Atosha kept silent, the more she burned inside. She found a deep sense of belonging when she arrived at Maman Shujaa / Hero Women Rising in 2018. Claiming her voice felt like she had found her wings and released the sparkle within her.
Esther became a Street Business School coach, helping more than 124 women living in poverty to learn basic entrepreneurial skills to start their own businesses. She also became a representative of Young Women Leaders for Peace, a program based in conflict-affected countries that empowers women to promote peace through campaigns and training.
“Training women is an opportunity to go out and overcome every challenge — to prevent bad experiences for the next generation,” Esther says. “We want to reach women and girls who have experienced violence and a lack of opportunity.”
Most recently, Esther co-founded the Peace and Security Coalition to unite young people’s voices around peace and security in the DRC. Her ultimate dream is to become a politician who writes a new story for her country and fights for equality.
“I want to be in politics, but I want to access the decision-making table,” Esther says. “I don’t want the cooked food — I want to participate in the effort to make that food.”
Support her work: Become a part of Esther’s supportive community by introducing her to people with similar dreams. Connect with Esther on World Pulse.
In Kenya, Kristine Yakhama Atsianji gives women the tools to start their own businesses while advocating for community health.
A community health worker and co-founder of Good Health Community Programmes, Kristine noticed how women and girls in her Kenyan community were often left out of educational opportunities. While primary education is free, secondary education is often too expensive, forcing girls to opt-out.
Instead of seeing girls be idle, Kristine wanted to give them an opportunity to learn digital skills and create a livelihood by selling products through online businesses. Last year, her 20 trainings reached more than 5,250 women and girls.
“The world must invest in the education and security of girls as resources for the future of this world,” Kristine says.
Health is also a huge theme in Kristine’s work, as she wants to help women thrive in all aspects of their lives. After auditing a health facility in 2019, she garnered global coverage from a German journalist. This exposure led her to partner with the We Water Foundation to raise awareness about clean drinking water as a human right, especially for women working in mines.
Kristine is also in the process of creating an app that connects patients to medical facilities to arrange appointments, pick up medicine, and track their care more efficiently. Amid the ongoing HIV epidemic and COVID-19, Kristine says this app is a way to help reduce patients’ stigma and shame while getting them the care they need.
Support her work: Kristine would like to raise awareness about the toxic toll gold mining takes on women in Kenya and help connect them with other work opportunities. Connect with Kristine on World Pulse.
In Cameroon, Veronica Ngum helps women with disabilities and HIV/AIDS overcome the limitations placed upon them.
Veronica Ngum knows firsthand the unfair assumptions people can make about women with disabilities. She sees disability not as a limitation, but a thin glass ceiling to break through.
“I would like to tell other women around the world to leave room for organizations led by women with disabilities,” Veronica says.
As CEO and Founder of the Community Association for Vulnerable Persons, Veronica has opened pathways for hundreds of women with disabilities to become leaders and advocate for change. She brings this same gracious, generous spirit to the World Pulse community, where she has amplified women’s voices, shared opportunities, and offered her support since 2016.
Veronica has impacted more than 500 women through her digital empowerment trainings, even amid an ongoing sociopolitical crisis in her country. Her organization strives to eradicate gender-based violence and the stigma that women with disabilities, teen mothers, and girls with HIV and AIDs face in Cameroon.
“I want to ensure that women and girls with disabilities and HIV/AIDs have equal access to decision-making circles, have the voice to speak, and can pursue a sustainable livelihood,” Veronica says.
Support her work: Veronica seeks supporters who can help children with disabilities to access an education and medical care. Connect with Veronica on World Pulse.
In Somalia, humanitarian Susu Mohamed offers compassionate support to women and girls navigating crises and works to eradicate gender-based violence.
Susu Mohamed’s passion for peace and humanitarianism began at an early age. She persevered through a childhood marked by trauma and grief that included her father’s death as a UN humanitarian worker.
“My advice is never to give up,” Susu says. “Commit to what you do. Support and help one another.”
For the past 17 years, Susu has dedicated her work to the intersection of peace and humanitarianism. She co-founded the Somali Women Empowerment Child Association, an organization addressing the needs and issues of the most vulnerable, marginalized groups in Somalia, in 2012.
A year later, she joined World Pulse, bringing the same compassionate, steadfast support that she shares with her Mogadishu community. Believing that we should look beyond our own communities to help, she sends validating encouragement and loving messages to women worldwide.
From preventing rape, sexual assault, and harassment through a radio broadcast that has reached 1.5 million women and girls to providing trauma counseling for refugees, Susu is a force for good amid humanitarian crises.
Support her work: Susu seeks donations and support for SWECA. Connect with Susu on World Pulse.
In the face of a worsening climate crisis in the Philippines, Paulina Lawsin Nayra weaves worldwide connections and imparts crucial knowledge.
In 2011, Paulina founded WEAVERS. Like colorful fibers woven together, she dreamed of bringing together women and girls of all ages and backgrounds for women’s political and economic empowerment, environmental protection, and sustainable development.
Paulina joined World Pulse as a Voices of Our Future fellow that same year. She learned digital advocacy, found a venue to write, and imbibed the exhilarating presence of sisters worldwide. But when Super Typhoon Yolanda struck in 2013, Paulina’s community was devastated.
“Every day, I wanted to return [to World Pulse], but the infrastructure wasn’t reliable,” Paulina says. “Even now, it’s difficult.”
Paulina not only returned in 2017 but joined forces in 2019 with World Pulse leaders Stella Paul and Karen Quiñones-Axalan to commemorate International Women’s Day in the Philippines. Through webinars, she’s raised awareness about laws regarding women’s rights, actively promoted women’s participation and leadership in peatland restoration, and brought attention to how the Philippines is at the epicenter of the climate crisis.
Despite internet challenges, Paulina is an active Encourager and Thriving Thursday participant who says the past 11 years have allowed her to travel the world with World Pulse.
“The stories I’ve read [on World Pulse] are life-changing,” Paulina says. “My world has expanded. It’s important to me that every woman can recognize her wealth and strength within, even with the limitations brought to us. There is something we can all do and contribute.”
Support her work: Paulina asks the world to confront the dire climate crisis affecting the Philippines and help build strategies for economic resilience. Connect with Paulina on World Pulse.
These 12 women have been awarded grand prizes in the categories of Storytelling, Digital Changemaking, Digital Empowerment, and the World Pulse Spirit, as part of new, annual The World Pulse Voices Rising Awards. They appear as leaders of the World Pulse 50, a curated list of fifty extraordinary women leaders creating incredible impact in 2022. Meet them all — and be sure to join World Pulse to connect with women changemakers from 220+ countries!
