FAWE participated in the Women Deliver Conference 2023 that was hosted in Kigali, Rwanda from 17th-20th July 2023. Our Executive Director Martha R L Muhwezi, Deputy Executive Director Teresa Omondi-Adeitan, and three program officers, Naomi Mumbi Kamitha, Beverly Mumbo, and Martin Jackson Okhako from FAWE RS were also in attendance.

The conference enabled inclusive and co-created spaces that foster solidarity for sustainable solutions on gender equality. The conference was a combination of exhibition spaces and panel discussions of which FAWE was able to participate in both.

FAWE’s sessions were held at the Education zone hosted by ECHIDNA Giving and the Global Partnership for Education. Ms. Martha R L Muhwezi presented on gender inclusivity in TVET Institutions. She called for innovation and creativity in including girls in TVET Institutions.

 “It is critical to address gender stereotypes from a tender age. Gender Responsible Education is the answer.” FAWE Africa’s Executive Director said at the conference.

Ms. Teresa Omondi -Adeitan led and moderated a session alongside Ms. Beverly Mumbo on equitable Education Access through girl led and girl centered advocacy at the Education zone World Deliver 2023.

FAIn a concurrent session dubbed “Our Education, Our Rights: Girls in Crisis”, FAWE had a chance to share the platform with gender equality activists, education specialists and feminists. The session used a Nhanga-inspired approach to dismantle power structures and discuss how crises impact girls’ rights & the role education plays to safeguard rights. Madam Esther Achire, the Chairperson of FAWE South Sudan and also the Director of Education in South Sudan was able to share about the work that South Sudan is doing to promote girls’ education in a state of crisis as they implement the nation’s first education strategy to increase girls’ access to education.

In the same session the FAWE Executive Director was also able to respond to a question relating to child marriage and steps that should be taken where parents of the child are in support of the marriage.  The room was reminded that at 15 years a girl is still a minor and by law the any person marriage a child  should be in prison.

(Right) FAWE’s Executive Director addresses participants of the Nhanga at the Women Deliver Conference 2023. 

At a side event on Early childhood Development at the education zone during the conference, Ms. Beverly Mumbo was able to share on Early Childhood Education (ECE). She highlighted that ensuring gender responsive education from a tender age ensures that gender biases and stereotypes are dismantled from an early age to ensure gender equality is achieved.