What word perfectly captures and describes who you are?
Perseverance.
I love that word. Is there a reason you chose it?
I chose this word because I don’t give up. I might be sad or afraid and need a break, but in the end, I will pick myself up and get to work.
What are the main issues you are most passionate about as an activist?
The main issues I am most passionate about as an activist are:
- Implementing projects that benefit my community.
- Finding jobs or opportunities to help people in my community who can’t make ends meet.
As a part of the MawuLisa Fellowship Program, you get to work on an advocacy project. When did you realise you had to change or showcase the issue you are working on?
I decided to work on my project, Listening Center for Young Girls and LBTQ Women Drug Users, the day I saw a drug user friend lose her mind and end up in several smoking rooms carrying different hard drugs. Seeing her in that state pushed me to look for ways to help her and others like her.
Working in our community can sometimes be challenging. What inspires you to continue the work you do?
The impact my work will have on the community inspires me. Knowing that if the work stops or I get tired, one more person can fall further into the hole that drug use can cause.
Can you talk about one major lesson you’ve learned from your experience with the MawuLisa Fellowship Program that has impacted your work within the LBTQ space?
This fellowship made me very responsible. I had to push myself a lot, writing proposals, submitting reports, managing a budget, and even people. It helped me focus on a goal.
It has also renewed my belief in myself and other activists as I could see our ideas come to life and greatly benefit the community.
Before I let you go, is there anything you’d like to say to a young African LBTQ womxn who might be reading this now?
I would tell them to be persistent and never give up on their goals. Believe in yourself, and don’t let anyone tell you your dreams are too big.
Applications for the MawuLisa Fellowship Program for LBTQ+ Womxn are still open! If you or any young LBTQ womxn from Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Mali, Togo, Benin Republic, and Senegal fit the criteria, we encourage you to apply before the deadline on May 11th, 2023, and take advantage of this unique opportunity.
Support our mission to promote LBTQ rights and empower young womxn across the African continent. Together, we can make a difference.
Learn more about the MawuLisa Fellowship Program
