Douce Namwezi N'Ibamba

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Douce Namwezi N'Ibamba
Born (1989-02-11) 11 February 1989 (age 32)
Bukavu
Alma materUniversité officielle de Bukavu
OccupationSocial entrepreneur; activist; journalist
EmployerUwezo Afrika
In this Congolese name, the surname is Namwezi and the post-surname is N'Ibamba.

Douce Namwezi N'Ibamba (born 11 February 1989) is a journalist, radio producer and social entrepreneur from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who empowers women through education and training, with a particular emphasis on gender equality and menstrual hygiene.

Biography[]

Namwezi was born on 11 February 1989, in Bukavu in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1] Her parents are both nurses.[1] She is one of eight children.[2] When she was eight years old the family had to flee from their home and were refugees for a time.[2] She studied at the Alfajiri Jesuit School and later graduated with a degree in International Relations from the (fr).[1] From a young age, Namwezi knew that she wanted to be a journalist, but she was told by many people that it was not a job for women – gender discrimination is rife in the DRC.[2] However she was determined and she began producing radio programs at the age of 16 when she joined the (AFEM) of the Democratic Republic of Congo.[3] At the time, the DRC was at war and Namwezi reported stories of former child soldiers and mass rape.[3] After 10 years with the AFEM, she was promoted to coordinator.[4]

In 2016, Namwezi co-founded MAMA Radio, a women's radio station focused solely on promoting gender equality.[5] In 2018 she left MAMA Radio to found the Uwezo Afrika Initiative, a non-profit company focused on fighting taboos around menstruation through education and awareness raising around sexual hygiene.[6] This is achieved through journalism, job training and social entrepreneurship to achieve women's empowerment.[6] They also disseminate sexual health and menstrual hygiene kits to women in the DRC.[7] These include reusable and washable menstrual pads.[8]

Awards[]

  • BBC's 100 Women list, 2020.[9][10]
  • Courageous Action Award from the Centre for Nonviolence and Peace Studies of the University of Rhode Island, 2016.[3]
  • "New Strategies for Empowering Women" citation from UN WOMEN and the World Congress of Global Partnership for Young Women, 2012.[3]

Personal life[]

As of 2020 Namwezi lived in Bukavu, with her husband and two children.[3] Her husband is Placide Nyenyezi Ntole, a lawyer at the Court of Appeal in Bukavu.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "RDC : Douce Namwezi, la seule congolaise parmi les 100 femmes influentes du monde plébiscitées par BBC pour 2020. – Uwezo Afrika Initiative" (in French). Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Prendergast, John; Gosling, Ryan (17 January 2019). Congo Stories: Vechten met vijf eeuwen uitbuiting en hebzucht (in Dutch). Overamstel Uitgevers. ISBN 978-94-92958-25-9.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Douce Namwezi N'Ibamba". Festival Internazionale del Giornalismo. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Douce Namwezi N'Ibamba – IWMF". www.iwmf.org. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Press Start, Crowdfunding Stories That Matter". www.pressstart.org. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  6. ^ a b "RDC : Douce Namwezi, la seule congolaise parmi les 100 femmes influentes du monde plébiscitées par BBC pour 2020. – Uwezo Afrika Initiative" (in French). Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  7. ^ "How Nigerians Aisha Yesufu, Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim enta BBC 100 Women list". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  8. ^ a b libre, Le souverain (2 August 2020). "Douce Namwezi brise le tabou de l'hygiène menstruelle". Le Souverain Libre (in French). Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  9. ^ "BBC 100 Women 2020: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  10. ^ Carvalho, Rafael (30 November 2020). "21 African women on BBC's list '100 women of 2020'". FurtherAfrica. Retrieved 11 January 2021.

External links[]

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