MONICA BRENDA LONGWE

I am a Malawian public health specialist with a strong background in public health research, health communication, and capacity strengthening. Currently based in South Africa, where I have lived with my three children for the past decade. I was raised by one very strong and zealous woman (Rank Charity Nkosi) who raised five girls after the loss of my father in 1997. If I could describe myself in one sentence, I would say I am a mother, a fighter, a survivor, and my mother’s daughter: she taught me how to fight and survive.

I hold a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, with a specialization in Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC)—a degree made possible through the grant I received from Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG) in 2013. This grant was more than financial support; it was an affirmation of my life’s purpose: to serve women and children through public health.

Receiving the MMEG grant in 2013 was not just a financial lifeline, but a turning point. It validated my mission to advocate for women and children through public health and empowered me to pursue my MPH.

Currently, I serve as the Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Lead, seconded to South Africa’s National Department of Health TB Control Programme, where I play a key role of providing technical guidance for the implementation of the National End TB Campaign, ensuring that TB messaging is impactful, evidence-based, and reaches the communities that need it most. The End TB Campaign was officially launched by South Africa’s Deputy President and Minister of Health on World TB Day, March 24, 2025. Through strategic communication efforts, we aim to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and mobilize action to find and treat the missing people with TB, bringing South Africa closer to ending TB as a public health threat.

Since graduating in 2015, I have worked across sub-Saharan Africa, designing and implementing social and behavior change communication (SBCC) programs that impact the lives of women, children, youth and other marginalized groups across sub-Saharan Africa. I’ve worked with major global health organizations such as Save the Children, UNAIDS, USAID, and FHI360 on maternal, newborn, and child health, HIV prevention, TB programming, sexual and reproductive health, and adolescent health.

In Malawi, I successfully led the design and implementation of the newborn health behavior change strategy, Khanda ndi Mphatso (A Baby Is a Gift), implemented by Save the Children International. I also spearheaded the development of the HIV Prevention SBCC Strategy that forms part of the National Strategy for HIV Prevention in Malawi (2021–2025).

Beyond my professional achievements, my most transformative journey has been a personal one. From 2017, faced a series of traumatic life events, including emotional abuse, which deeply impacted mental health. Navigating the darkness of depression and trauma became a defining chapter of adult life—one that taught resilience, healing, and how to turn pain into purpose.

This journey through trauma and recovery has reshaped my understanding of public health, placing mental well-being at the center of advocacy. Out of personal struggle, I co-founded The Fight Club Initiative (FCI)—a women-led empowerment collective working across South Africa and Malawi. FCI supports women who have experienced cycles of gender-based violence, emotional abuse (especially narcissistic abuse), and systemic injustices. Our mission is to break cycles of silence and pain, using traditional, social, and participatory media to foster dialogue, healing, and transformation. We are a sisterhood that believe in helping one another to rise. Our core belief is that women thrive when they are mentally well, economically independent, socially supported, and legally protected. We have support groups in South Africa and Malawi, where we work to support victims and survivors of abuse.

FCI is grounded in a culturally informed “Ladder of Change” framework that guides women from the point of breaking to awakening, empowerment, and renewal. Through support groups, mental health workshops, leadership coaching, and legal advocacy, we help women rebuild their lives and reclaim their voices.

My story of pain and recovery has been featured in two volumes of the Outlive Labels book series—Volume IV: International Sisterhood of Survivors (Africa) and Volume V: Gracefully Broken, Wonderfully Made—both collections of powerful stories from women across the continent who have turned their heartbreaks, their pain, and their suffering into powerful lessons of how to overcome, recover, and regain hope for a better life.

As part of my healing and recovery journey, in an effort to regain my confidence and independence, I established Tumoji Afrika, an online boutique (www.tumojiafrika.com) that sells African-inspired fashion clothing and accessories.

I am deeply grateful to MMEG for believing and investing in my dream at a time when all had was potential and purpose. That belief continues to fuel every life I touch, every program I’ve designed, every initiative I’ve led, every woman I’ve mentored and supported, and every community I’ve served. It continues to inspire me to invest in a new generation of empowered, liberated African women—leaders, survivors, and changemakers. MMEG is the gift that keeps giving!”

Anamika Priyadarshini

Be Inspired by Dr. Anamika Priyadarshini: A Purpose-Driven Commitment to Women’s Economic Empowerment

 “My story spans both the development sector and academia, showing how personal inspiration—from my mother's influence to my volunteering experiences—can shape a professional path that makes a meaningful difference in the world.”

In the heart of India, among some of the most economically marginalized communities, Anamika Priyadarshini’s journey is not just a personal narrative, but a testament to the transformative power of education, passion, and unwavering commitment. Through her work with women home-based workers, silk spinners, rural farmers, and entrepreneurs, Anamika has reshaped the economic landscape for countless women, providing them not only with income opportunities but also with dignity and recognition for their labor. Central to her journey was a 2008 grant from Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG), which enabled her to pursue her doctoral research and remain committed in her passion for women’s economic empowerment.

A Legacy of Social Work: Inspired by Her Mother

Anamika’s commitment to social justice was nurtured from an early age by her mother, a dedicated social worker affiliated with Sulabh International and various grassroots organizations. “As a college student, I accompanied her to the office as well as the communities she worked with, witnessing firsthand impact of her work,” Anamika recalls. Her mother was leading a center that provided decent livelihood opportunities to extremely marginalized communities traditionally engaged in sanitation work, including the manual cleaning of public spaces and toilets. While most of the community members made cane furniture in small collectives and cooperatives, some were also running small home-based production units. Observing her mother’s dedication to facilitate access to decent work and dignified life to people from extremely marginalized households ignited her passion for socioeconomic justice. This experience became the foundation for her undergraduate project at Patna University, where she focused on home-based women workers. She realized that these laborers, despite their economic contributions, were invisible in the workforce. They lacked recognition, fair wages, and access to markets.

Bridging Academia and Development

Anamika’s academic journey began with an undergraduate degree in economics, followed by hands-on training sessions on gender and work and gender and reproductive health—critical concerns in India, where high birth rates and limited healthcare access disproportionately affect women. Determined to bridge research with real-world change, she pursued a Master’s in International Development at Cornell University with a Ford Foundation Fellowship. Here, she deepened her understanding of academia’s role in shaping policy and advocacy for marginalized women. “I realized that I wanted to teach gender and development, to influence future generations and shape policies that truly address women’s economic realities,” she explains.

Her resolve was tested when she embarked on a PhD in Gender Global and Sexuality Studies at the University at Buffalo. With limited departmental funding, her ability to conduct archival research on 19th-century home-based women workers in Bihar was at risk. It was the MMEG grant that changed everything, allowing her to return to India, collect essential data, and complete her doctoral dissertation. “MMEG enabled me to stay true to my passion, to gather the insights I needed, and to turn my research into actionable change,” she says.

From Research to Impact: Advancing Women’s Economic Stability

Anamika’s research has had profound real-world implications. Through policy analysis, impact assessments, and on-the-ground interventions, she has helped rural women secure fair wages, improved working conditions, and sustainable economic opportunities. Her involvement with the World Bank’s JEEViKA project in Bihar allowed her to refine strategies that directly increased women’s earnings and economic resilience. By seamlessly integrating academic research with development practice, she ensures that women’s voices and contributions are both recognized and rewarded. In the past ten years, Anamika specifically focused on underscoring women’s contribution to the society and economy through her research while working with think tanks like Council for Social Development and organizations like the Centre for Catalyzing Change (C3). She had primarily been interested in unravelling complex nuances of socio-economic norms that shape women’s preparedness to work and other leadership roles.

From Weaving to Farming: Strengthening Women’s Livelihoods

Currently working with Heifer International and its subsidiary, Passing Gifts, [MP1] Anamika supports women farmers in diversifying their agricultural practices, from goatry and poultry farming to regenerative agriculture. “Women constitute 63% of India’s agricultural workforce, yet most remain marginal or landless farmers. Economic stability requires diversification. Even five to ten goats alongside a small agricultural plot can provide a sustainable living income,” she emphasizes. Her goal is to facilitate Passing Gifts in creating direct, tangible impact by equipping women with the tools they need to achieve financial independence.

Building Knowledge for Lasting Change

As Director of Knowledge Management, Research and Design at Passing Gifts- Heifer International, Anamika plays a pivotal role in translating grassroots insights into impact briefs and programmatic strategies. “Along with envisioning need-based research concepts and projects, we create knowledge briefs that amplify rural women’s voices, ensuring that interventions are rooted in real challenges and solutions from the field,” she explains.

Anamika’s influence extends beyond development practice to academia. She has taught at premier institutions, including the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and the State University of New York at Buffalo, and contributed to government-commissioned research on migration studies in Indian states like Karnataka and Bihar; post-disaster development planning in the ecologically fragile Himalayan state of Uttarakhand; and women’s workforce participation in India. Balancing academia and practice allows her to inform students—the leaders of tomorrow—about pressing social issues while designing data-driven, effective development programs.

A Vision for the Future: Mentorship and Advocacy

Despite her extensive contributions, Anamika remains most passionate about mentoring the next generation. “I have a deep connection with young minds and students,” she shares, underscoring her commitment to bridging academic knowledge with real-world change.

The Transformative Power of One

Anamika’s story is a powerful reminder that one person’s dedication, when supported by the right opportunities, can create exponential impact. The MMEG grant was not just an investment in her education—it was an investment in the thousands of women she has facilitated through her work.

By documenting the struggles of home-based workers, advocating for better economic policies, and shaping the perspectives of future leaders, Anamika has redefined the economic trajectory for some of India’s most vulnerable women.

Her journey proves that empowering one woman can enable several communities, making “The Power of One” a reality for many.

Yet, as Anamika acknowledges, systemic barriers, economic inequality, and gender-based discrimination persist. “The world is still plagued by war, displacement, and hunger,” she reflects. “But grants like MMEG’s enable people like me to dream—to stay committed to meaningful work rather than just surviving.”

Despite these challenges, she remains unwavering in her mission. “I have a cause, a reason, a dream to live for—and that matters.”

Anamika’s journey is a compelling reminder that investing in women is not just about economic inclusion—it is about recognizing them as leaders, changemakers, and visionaries. When women are empowered to pursue their passions, they enable communities, driving the world toward a more just and equitable future.

Patience Akih

Patience Akih, a 2012 MMEG grantee from Cameroon, holds a BA and a master’s in education and an PhD in computer-integrated education and is completing a post-doctoral fellowship in education and learning at North-West University in South Africa.

Patience promotes self-directed learning so that students find education engaging and self-enlightening. She combines traditional classroom teaching with technology and online resources and cooperative or group learning. She promotes an atmosphere where students create or construct meaning actively through exploration, reflection, and problem-solving, known constructionist learning

 Patience has taught information and communication technology (ICT) for over a decade and is currently working on developing self-directed learning skills through problem-solving for first-year education students and their lecturers in the University of Pretoria.

In addition, from 2016 to 2018, she helped expand cultural and academic understanding between South Africa and Japan at the Centre for Japanese Studies at the University of Pretoria.

Patience believes passionately in her methods and the value of technology in learning and gives lectures, talks, and keynote speeches on this topic whenever possible.

Priscilla Maliwich

Priscilla Maliwichi, a 2019 MMEG grantee from Malawi, is a lecturer in information and communication technologies (ICT) and coordinator for postgraduate studies in the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology at the Malawi University of Science and Technology. She also serves as coordinator of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and STEAM. Priscilla is passionate about promoting STEAM and the use of emerging technologies such as AI, IoT and Blockchain among girls in secondary school.

Priscilla holds a BSc in information technology and an MSc in Informatics from the University of Malawi, along with a PhD in information systems from the University of Cape Town. Her research interests include ICT for Development, health informatics, artificial intelligence, internet of things (iOt) and cybersecurity. She is a peer reviewer for several journals, including the Health Informatics Journal, PLOS Digital Health, Frontiers in Digital Health, Frontiers in Health Services, and Frontiers in Health Services.

Maletsabisa Molapo

Maletsabisa Molapo, a 2014 MMEG grantee from Lesotho, holds a PhD from the University of Cape Town, where she also received a master’s degree. Since then, she has become dedicated to the advancement of technology to improve quality of lives.

Maletsabisa is the Executive for Research and Innovation at Telkom. She leads research and development (R&D) strategy, industry and academic partnerships, and research focused on customer experience, sensor and AI solutions, and data-driven connectivity.

Previously at IBM Research, Maletsabisa was a research manager for AI and quantum computing, where she led research projects and publications in natural language processing (NLP) and user experience (UX). Maletsabisa holds several IBM patents for inventions that improve the quality of life for people in different circumstances, including NLP for language learning, AI for infant safety monitoring, sensor-based navigation for visually impaired individuals, and adaptive UX and generative AI for chronic health treatment adherence.

Earlier in her career, Maletsabisa worked as an engineer in telecommunications, a developer for telephony systems (the technology that enables people to talk through devices), a computer science lecturer, and a research scientist specializing in NLP, digital health, and human-centered AI.

As a testament to her immense capability, she has received multiple fellowships, research grants, and awards for innovation and social impact from organizations like Google, Nokia Research, the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, Hasson Plattner Institute, the Schlumberger Foundation, and the SA Department of Science and Technology.

Mekhribon (Mika) ABDULLAEVA

Mekhribon (Mika) ABDULLAEVA

Uzbekistan

The Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund (MMMF), now MMEG, supported me at a pivotal moment in my life, enabling me to pursue an education that laid the foundation for my career and passion for social impact. With the generous support of a MMEG grant, I obtained a master’s in intercultural service, leadership and management at the School for International Training (SIT) in Vermont, an inspiring campus where I formed lifelong friendships with peers from across the United States and around the globe. This rich intercultural experience expanded my horizons and deepened my commitment to creating meaningful change.

My academic journey at SIT culminated in a practicum in Washington, DC, where I served as a policy fellow with the National Organization for Women (NOW). This transformative opportunity allowed me to engage directly with policymakers, meet with members of Congress, and advocate for policies aimed at improving the lives of the most vulnerable populations. Through NOW, I also participated in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN Women), amplifying my advocacy efforts on a global scale to champion women's rights and gender equity.

 Building on these experiences, I pursued a PhD in international education from the University of Massachusetts, further deepening my expertise on advocacy and policy. My dissertation focused on the vital role of parental engagement in immigrant communities, reflecting my deep-seated commitment to supporting marginalized groups. Since then, I have dedicated my career to improving the lives of vulnerable populations across Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Balkans. My work has included designing and managing programs that:

• Empower youth through social entrepreneurship initiatives;

• Improve the lives of women and girls by providing shelters, basic services, and pathways to independence;

• Advocate for and support people with disabilities, fostering inclusion and equal opportunities;

• Support prevention, protection, and prosecution of trafficking in persons globally.

My journey led me to the U.S. Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, where I contribute to shaping policies to prevent trafficking, prosecute offenders, and protect victims. My role spans Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere, where I lead anti-trafficking projects, conduct research, and collaborate with local stakeholders to drive impactful change.The support I received from MMEG was not just financial—it was a profound affirmation of my capacity and my desire to create a better world. I am forever grateful for the MMEG’s belief in me and for their continued inspiration and support. Their investment in education exponentially increases our power to affect the course of the international community by empowering others committed to improving the lives of people everywhere.

Thank you, MMEG, for being a catalyst for my journey. Your support transformed my life and, through my work, continues to touch the lives of many others.

Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista

Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista, abogada peruana y becaria de MMEG en 2020, es activista del movimiento «Ni una menos» y fundadora de «Agenda Mujer», que fue reconocida por la Embajada de Francia en Perú con el Premio Javier Pérez De Cuéllar, destacando el compromiso de la organización con los derechos humanos. Actualmente, Cindy es candidata a un máster en ciencias políticas y relaciones internacionales con un fuerte enfoque en derechos humanos.

En 2017, Cindy fue una de las 12 galardonadas con el «Premio Internacional Mujeres de Coraje» del Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos y fue incluida en la lista de las 100 personas más influyentes de 2017 de la revista Time. En 2018, fue reconocida como defensora de los derechos humanos por la embajada británica en Perú e incluida en la lista de las 100 mujeres más inspiradoras de 2018 de la BBC. En 2020, Cindy fue elegida congresista de la República del Perú para el periodo parlamentario 2020-2021. Su trabajo ha tenido un fuerte impacto en acciones legislativas que promueven la igualdad en la participación política de las mujeres en igualdad de condiciones, logrando Leyes como la de Paridad y Alternancia de Género y contra el Acoso Político. Cindy es autora de más de 8 leyes en defensa de los grupos más vulnerables, así como 1 resolución legislativa y 1 reforma constitucional, entre otras.

Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista, a Peruvian lawyer and 2020 MMEG grantee, is an activist with the "Ni una menos” ("Not One Woman Less") movement and founder of "Agenda Mujer" ("Woman's Agenda"), which was recognized by the French Embassy in Peru with the Javier Pérez De Cuéllar Award, highlighting the organization’s commitment to human rights. Cindy is currently a candidate for a master’s degree in political science and international relations with a focus on human rights. 

In 2017, Cindy was one of 12 recipients of the US State Department’s "International Women of Courage Award” and was included in Time magazine’s list of 100 most influential people in 2017. In 2018, she was recognized as a human rights defender by the British Embassy in Peru and listed in the BBC's 100 Most Inspiring Women of 2018. In 2020, Cindy was elected congresswoman of the Republic of Peru for the 2020–2021 parliamentary period. Her work has had a strong impact on legislative actions that promote equality in the political participation of women. Cindy has also participated in various national and international events in the defense and promotion of women's rights.

Beatriz Ramírez Huaroto

Beatriz Ramírez Huaroto es candidata a doctora en derecho, Tiene una maestría en derecho constitucional, y se graduó como abogada en la PUCP por la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú; con estudios de especialización en argumentación jurídica, derechos humanos, derecho de familia y sucesorio, así como estudios de género.

Beatriz cuenta con más de 15 años de experiencia profesional en el sector público y privado en temas relacionados con derechos, institucionalidad, igualdad de género, justicia y desarrollo. Es profesora de posgrado y licenciatura en derecho constitucional, derechos humanos, derecho de familia, derecho sucesorio y aplicación de la perspectiva de género en el ámbito jurídico. Tiene amplios intereses de investigación y ha publicado en diversos medios académicos.

Beatriz es docente a nivel de pregrado y posgrado en temas de derecho constitucional, derechos humanos, derecho familiar, derecho sucesorio, así como a la aplicación de perspectiva de género en el campo jurídico, en la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, la Universidad Antonio Ruiz de Montoya, la Universidad Femenina del Sagrado Corazón y la Academia de la Magistratura.  

Beatriz Ramírez Huaroto, from Peru, is a PhD candidate in law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP). She holds a master's in constitutional law and graduated as a lawyer from PUCP, with specialization in legal argumentation, human rights, family law and succession, and gender studies. 

Beatriz has over 15 years of public and private sector professional experience in matters related to rights, institutions, gender equality, justice, and development. She has a broad research profile and has published in a variety of academic outlets.

Beatriz teaches  constitutional law, human rights, family law, succession law, and the application of gender perspectives in the legal field—at the undergraduate and graduate levels—at the National University of San Marcos, PUCP, the Antonio Ruiz de Montoya University, the Women's University of the Sacred Heart, and the Academy of the Judiciary.

María de Lourdes Velasco Domínguez

María de Lourdes Velasco Domínguez es una investigadora feminista interesada en comprender cómo las instituciones públicas responden a la violencia de género y la distribución desigual del trabajo de cuidado en México y América Latina. Tiene un doctorado en ciencias sociales, especialidad en ciencia política por FLACSO-México, y una maestría en estudios de género por el Colegio de México (COLMEX). Es especialista en políticas de cuidado con perspectiva de género por FLACSO-Brasil y CLACSO. Desde 2023 es investigadora postdoctoral en el Centro Regional de Investigaciones Multidisciplinarias de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).

Su tesis doctoral fue publicada en 2023 por FLACSO-México con el título: “Judicialización estratégica de homicidios y feminicidios en México”. Sus últimos artículos son: “La influencia de la movilización feminista en la conciencia jurídica y las prácticas de los fiscales en el México subnacional”, en Mexican Law Review (2024); “Cambios en las políticas sobre cuidados y familiarización del trabajo de cuidados en México de 2018 a 2023”, en Revista de estudios de género del COLMEX (2024); y “Agendas políticas de cuidados y desigualdades sociales en América Latina”, en Revista Mexicana de Sociología (2024).

María de Lourdes Velasco Domínguez, a 2020 MMEG grantee from Mexico, is a feminist researcher interested in how public institutions respond to gender-based violence and unequal distribution of care work in Mexico and Latin America. She has a PhD in social science, specializing in political science, from FLACSO-Mexico, and a master’s in gender studies from the College of Mexico (COLMEX). She is a specialist in care policy with gender perspective via FLACSO-Brasil and CLACSO. Since 2023, she has been a postdoctoral fellow at the Regional Center of Multidisciplinary Research at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). 

 Lourdes’s doctoral dissertation, “Judicialización estratégica de homicidios y feminicidios en México,” was published in 2023 by FLACSO-Mexico. Her most recent publications are “The Influence of Feminist Mobilization on the Legal Consciousness and Practices of Prosecutors in Subnational Mexico,” in the Mexican Law Review (2024); “Cambios en las políticas sobre cuidados y familiarización del trabajo de cuidados en México de 2018 a 2023,” in Revista de estudios de género del COLMEX (2024); and “Agendas políticas de cuidados y desigualdades sociales en América Latina,” in Revista Mexicana de Sociología (2024).

Annah Molosiwa

Annah Anikie Molosiwa 

2006 US-Canada grantee, PhD in teaching, curriculum, and education policy

Annah Molosiwa retired in September 2024 as an associate professor of language and literacy education from the University of Botswana, having served for 42 years as an educator, researcher, and consultant. She participated in several nation-wide studies on Botswana’s education system funded by UNICEF and the Ministry of Basic Education & Skills Development. She has presented and published nationally and internationally on issues related to language and literacy education in Botswana, empowerment of local languages, and low educational participation of marginalized children in Botswana’s rural and remote schools. Annah is a member of the new nonprofit, Botswana Dyslexia and Social Support Services (BDSSS), dedicated to empowering individuals with dyslexia in Botswana. She is also a board member of the Botswana Human Resource Development Council (BHRDC), the Botswana Educational Research Association (BERA), and  the International Literacy Association (ILA).

Rakhat Zholdoshalieva

Rakhat Zholdoshalieva

2012 US-Canada MMEG grantee, PhD in education, University of Toronto

Rakhat Zholdoshalieva is the team leader of the Quality Learning Ecosystems Programme at the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) in Hamburg, Germany. Rakhat holds a doctorate in education from the University of Toronto, Canada. She specializes in education policy and planning, teacher training, curriculum design, rural education, and adult learning. Before joining UIL, she had over 10 years of experience working in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Canada, and Kyrgyzstan.

Denise Zinn

Denise Zinn

1996 US-Canada MMEG grantee, PhD in education, Harvard University.

Denise Zinn is a former Deputy Vice Chancellor for Learning and Teaching at Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth (now renamed Gqeberha). She started her career as a high school teacher of English and mathematics, later earning scholarships to Harvard for her master’s degree (language and literacy studies) and doctoral degree in education (teaching, curriculum and learning environments). On her return to South Africa in 1997, she worked in teacher education at several South African universities. After serving as dean of education at two universities, she took up the position of Deputy Vice Chancellor at Mandela University. She retired from this position at end-2019 and currently leads the Women in Leadership Programme for the national consortium of South African universities, Universities South Africa (USAf).

Easther Chigumira

Easther Chigumira Zimbabwe 2013 grantee US-Canada Program

Easther holds a PhD in geography from the University of Oregon (USA) and an MSc and BA (Honors) in Geography from Rhodes University (South Africa). She was a Fulbright scholar and recipient of a MMEG grant.

Prior to joining the World Bank, first as a short-term consultant, Easther worked as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Zimbabwe. She also worked as a consultant for several multilateral agencies and non- governmental organizations such as the UNDP, WFP, DANIDA, SIDA and CIAT, and has extensive experience in both research and development work as a researcher and consultant on land reform,  climate change, resilience building, and  agriculture and food system issues.

Easther enjoys working in areas where she can meaningfully advance development policy and planning. She is also committed to influencing programmatic interventions that can change lives and empower communities. Together with a team of three experts, Easther contributed two chapters to the UNDP 2017 Zimbabwe Human Development Report: Climate Change and Food Security and Climate Change and Livelihoods. This report has helped shape policy dialogue and programmatic approaches along the climate agenda.  In collaboration with the University of Cape Town’s Africa Centre for Cities. Easther successfully coordinated the ESRC/DFID-funded project “Governing Food Systems in Africa’s Secondary Cities” for Zimbabwe. The project provided contextual information and evidence that informed the United Nations’ World Food Program urban food assistance pilot in Epworth, Zimbabwe, which has now been scaled-up to other urban areas across the country.

Easther’s current interests are centered on women’s empowerment and young people in agricultural commercialization.

Lilian O. Elekwachi

Aquaculture Innovator Lilian O. Elekwachi

“I aim to preserve cultural traditions while promoting innovation.”

Lilian O. Elekwachi is a pioneering researcher and catfish farmer and processor from Nigeria who is deeply committed to transforming the aquaculture sector. Inspired by the memory of her grandmother, a fish farmer and fish smoker who died of lung cancer, Lilian is driven to create safe and environmentally sustainable solutions that improve livelihoods—especially for women.  Lilian’s story exemplifies MMEG’s mission: identify and support exceptional women to acquire the tools provided by higher education to pursue their goals and catalyze change. 

MMEG awarded Lilian a $15,000 grant in 2020 to support her pursuit of a PhD at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Lilian says the grant “provided crucial support for my doctoral work.” Her groundbreaking PhD research focused on developing a novel hybrid fish smoking technology that integrates solar energy and biomass, improving both the efficiency and safety of fish processing while addressing pressing environmental issues. 

Lilian says “my project aims to implement a hybrid fish smoking technology that not only improves the quality and safety of smoked fish but also supports economic development and food security in Nigeria. I aim to preserve cultural traditions while promoting innovation in fish processing.” This innovation is particularly significant in Nigeria, where about 90% of fish smokers are women.

Since completing her PhD, Lilian has developed her technology to smoke fish faster than traditional methods while maintaining the quality and taste of the fish, eliminating harmful residues, and boosting fish processors’ export prospects. Among other considerations, her technology focuses on economic viability, environmental impact, and compliance with international food safety standards. 

Lilian has garnered numerous accolades, including the 2024 AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship and the 2023 John A Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship from MIT Sea Grant. At a MMEG Talk at the World Bank in 2024, she impressed World Bank and other attendees with an explanation of her work. 

With a clear vision for scaling up her hybrid smoking technology, Lilian is dedicated to enhancing food security and economic development in Nigeria. She says, “Empowering women through sustainable aquaculture is not just an investment in their future but in the future of our communities and our planet.”

Isabel Madzorera

Isabel Madzorera is an assistant professor of public health nutrition at the University of California, Berkeley, in the division of Community Health Sciences. Isabel is a nutrition epidemiologist interested in the intersection of food systems, nutrition, and sustainable diets in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Her research program uses advanced nutrition epidemiologic methods to assess diet quality as a key modifiable risk factor for poor maternal and child health outcomes in LMICs, and to identify the role of food systems and other contributing factors to the triple burden of malnutrition in these contexts.

Isabel has led global health research evaluating food systems and diet quality and their influence on maternal and child health. Her previous research has evaluated the role of maternal diet quality during pregnancy and its impact on the risks of low birth weight, small for gestational age, and preterm births. She has also investigated the role of women’s empowerment in agricultural households, and the impact of distance to food markets and COVID-19 on food prices and diets.

She is also researching the role of diet in the increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa. Isabel has extensive field-based experience in sub-Saharan Africa. She has spent considerable time working in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique and has also conducted research in Tanzania and Ethiopia. Isabel received her doctoral training in nutritional epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Zainab Olaitan

Zainab Monisola Olaitan, from Nigeria, is a 2022 MMEG grantee who used the award to complete her doctoral degree at the University of Pretoria in record time (2.5 years) by the age of 27. She is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria.

Zainab’s research spans several areas, with an overall focus on women’s representation across different spheres. For her master’s, she investigated how women transformed  themselves from victims of war in Sierra Leone into participants in peace building, as well as the limitations to that involvement often created by male-dominated institutions.

In her doctoral thesis, she examined the impact that gender quotas and female numeric participation in politics has on women’s lives in South Africa and Botswana. Her research questioned the assumption that the involvement of politically engaged women has an obvious positive effect on women generally. She appreciates the value of applied research, creating connections between research at the local level and the development of regional and national policies.

Finally, Zainab’s current research as a post-doctoral fellow focuses on the role of women’s political participation in the implementation of sexual and reproductive health and rights across Africa.

During her career as a scholar, Zainab has received scholarships from the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, the Mastercard Foundation, and the University of Pretoria Postgraduate Doctoral Scholarship to support her academic and research journey. She is a prolific writer, with many academic articles to her credit.

Zainab is deeply concerned by the current growth of anti-human rights legislation on the continent, for example the new laws against LGBTQ people in Uganda and Ghana and the attempt in The Gambia to reverse the prohibition against FGM. In 2023 she presented a paper on the role of parliamentarians in repealing anti-rights legislation at a conference on the protection of sexual and gender minorities organized by the Centre for Human Rights. She intends to do further research on the negative consequences of anti-rights legislation in Africa.

Zainab says that the MMEG grant was instrumental in enabling her to complete her PhD in record time. This has consolidated her academic career especially in the human rights space, where she engages in research, teaching, and publishing to advance the protection and promotion of human rights in an environment that can seem increasingly hostile. MMEG is proud to have supported the early stages of what we believe will be a long and illustrious career.

Zainab keeps in touch with her high school, Ogijo Community High School, via the school’s alumni association, which raises money for new facilities and organizes extra-curricular talks for the students. Importantly, she serves as a role model for girls of what is possible in their futures and visits in person when she visits her home town of Oglijo in Nigeria’s Ogun state.  She was a star debater at school and was the best female debater at the 2015 and 2016 All-Nigeria Universities Debating Championships (ANUDC). This skill has served her well in all her public-speaking engagements, notably at academic conferences and lectures.

During the pandemic lockdown in 2020, Zainab and her friend Simotwo Zainabu launched AfroTada (Africa Awakening), an online platform that aims to curate and preserve African stories and content. The whole project is currently volunteer-managed and -run, with the ambition of keeping the digital library access free and available to everyone.  The easy-to-navigate platform AfroTada is not only a knowledge library but also a learning space for volunteers to develop and consolidate their technical skills, which has translated into them getting jobs in the tech world. The latest iteration of the website was launched in early 2024, and it is open to contributions from all over Africa. Writers can sign up on the system and write/upload their articles, which are then reviewed for suitability by a team of editors. Zainab observes that Afro Tada’s vision is “audacious” in scale, so different categories are being introduced incrementally to achieve the original broad vision. Additionally, to sustain AfroTada, Zainab and Simotwo are working on getting grants and funding.

Zainab is a dynamo, already excelling in many areas at a young age. MMEG looks forward to seeing what she will do next.

Oluchi Ezekannagha

Oluchi, a 2017 MMEG grantee, holds a Ph.D. in nutritional sciences and has more than a decade of experience in the intersection of nutrition, agriculture, and health. She has contributed to shaping the Research and Innovation Strategy 2030 at CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) and led their COVID-19 country work. Currently, she is focused on measuring and aggregating CGIAR’s longer-term impacts. Previously, Oluchi worked with Dalberg Advisors, IITA, and on a range of consultancy portfolios. Her main focus is strategic analysis and policy recommendations. She has worked with diverse stakeholders from the private sector, public sector, and NGOs, and is passionate about evidence-based solutions to improve nutrition outcomes and food security in low- and middle-income countries.

Batool Fatima

Batool, a 2011 MMEG grantee, is a public health and global mental health professional serving as an assistant professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at Aga Khan University, Pakistan. She earned a DrPH in public health from Boston University while on a Fulbright scholarship. She also received an MMEG grant to support her doctoral thesis work. Batool’s research has been published in various local and international journals.

She has been serving as a consultant for public health assignment including project evaluation and has conducted training classes on a variety of topics, including voluntary counseling and testing for HIV/AIDS (VCT), reducing stigma and discrimination for HIV/AIDS, life skills development, and social and behavior change communication.

Thandeka Tshabalala

Thandeka, a 2017 MMEG grantee,  is an urban planner and development practitioner. She holds an MPhil in development studies from the University of Cape Town and a BSc (Hons) degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Witwatersrand. She was employed at the South African SDI Alliance, where she collaborated with local communities to develop upgrading projects for informal settlements. Working with ICLEI Africa, she contributed to climate action integration in urban planning processes across African cities. Currently employed by the city of Cape Town, she focuses on the alleviation of energy poverty, while pursuing a PhD at the Centre for Sustainability Transitions at Stellenbosch University.

Eileen Contreras Cerdeña

Using Art to Empower Amazonian Women

Eileen Contreras Cerdeña is a psychology professor, artist mediator, and social activist from Peru. In an interview, she shared how funding from Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG) enabled her to complete her graduate studies and created opportunities for her to give back to her community, break taboos about sexual violence, and accompany Amazonian women to build a safer and more inclusive future.

Eileen grew up in Iquitos, the largest city in the Peruvian Amazon. She completed her bachelor's degree in psychology in Iquitos and then moved to Lima to pursue her master's degree in community psychology at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. Eileen chose to specialize in community psychology because she saw that social conditions of poverty and violence were instrumental in creating and affecting an individual's psychological state. It was during this second degree that she was awarded a MMEG grant in 2018. She is now a professor at the university, teaching a variety of courses, including instructing students on psychosocial interventions that they put into practice in concrete situations.

While she was working on this master's degree, she became involved in several NGOs, collaborating with women and young people. Eileen's career, combining academics and activism,  integrates social/community psychology and art creation to effect social transformation.

She is a founding member of the Alharaca Cultural Organization, which through the Imilla and Wayna projects works with young people in juvenile detention centers. These youngsters are both victims and perpetrators of crimes. Alharaca is dedicated to cultural and social projects, using audiovisual media, teaching children to be creators and not just consumers of culture. The young people of the Imilla and Wayna projects have made short films on various topics: for example, many are scarred by abuse and also have tattoos. Their film talked about the scars as part of their pain and their past. Their tattoos, their choices, were a way to reclaim pain and re-signify their stories, a way to draw on the body to tell a story.

As a result of her academic success and social activism, Eileen was awarded a scholarship from the University of Barcelona to study for a master’s in artistic mediation with a specialization in art for social transformation, inclusion and community development," which she completed in 2023.

She returned to Peru after completing this degree to continue her teaching position and to develop a new project in her hometown, Iquitos, with and for Amazonian women. A significant dimension of her own identity is as an Amazonian woman and she has always been aware of the vulnerability and marginalization of women in her community. Much of their sexual exploitation is hidden or socially acceptable. For example, it is not unusual for an adolescent girl to have a "godfather" who will pay her family to take her out. Or there is human trafficking where young Indigenous women are taken to the city to be sexually exploited.

As part of her master’s degree, Eileen developed a project based on the Amazonian legend of the Runamula: when a man and a woman sin, they become a beast that is a woman from the waist up and a mule from the waist down. In Eileen's words: "I take this myth and give it a new meaning. ... One of the problems in the Amazon is that violence has been naturalized and everyone wants to silence it. Nobody wants to talk about the godfather, nobody wants to talk about the uncle who starts touching them, nobody wants to talk about why they felt insecure since they were 12 years old, when they started walking down the street. ... The idea of the project is for women to start talking about this violence and realize that it is violence.” “Stories of the Runamula” will incorporate diverse media: film, painting, performance, and photography, and is a vivid way of displaying the different experiences of Amazonian women compared to women in Lima, for example.

Eileen feels deeply privileged to be engaged in the work she does, as a teacher and activist using art as an instrument of transformation. Every project she has worked on has brought her more tools to understand and affect the world. She has come to better appreciate the role of community development in accompanying women and has seen the results of her work in the ways that isolated women have come together to challenge violent partners; the young people involved in the Alharaca project have improved their skills in preparation for social reintegration. She would like other women to appreciate the range of skills that different types of psychology can develop, and the way that the discipline interacts with other topics, as well as the importance of intersectionality in creating a fuller grasp of Indigenous women’s position in the world.

Eileen is a powerful example of MMEG's ability to offer early career support to an exceptional and visionary woman who will continue to expand opportunities for other women to be seen and heard.

Utilizando el Arte para Empoderar a las Mujeres Amazónicas

Eileen Contreras Cerdeña es una profesora de Psicología, mediadora artista y activista social de Perú. Durante  una entrevista, compartió cómo la financiación de las Becas de Educación Margaret McNamara (MMEG) le permitió completar sus estudios de posgrado y creó oportunidades para que retribuyera a su comunidad, rompiera los tabúes sobre la violencia sexual y acompañara a las mujeres amazónicas para construir un futuro más seguro e inclusivo.

Eileen  creció en Iquitos, la ciudad más grande de la Amazonía Peruana. Completó su licenciatura en Psicología en Iquitos y se mudó a Lima para obtener su Maestría en Psicología Comunitaria en la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. Eileen eligió especializarse en psicología comunitaria porque vio cómo las condiciones sociales de pobreza y violencia eran fundamentales para crear y afectar el estado psicológico de un individuo. Fue durante este segundo grado que se le otorgó una beca MMEG en 2018. Ahora es profesora en la universidad, dictando una variedad de cursos, incluyendo la instrucción de los estudiantes sobre intervenciones psicosociales que pueden poner en práctica en situaciones concretas.

Mientras trabajaba en esta maestría, se involucró en varias ONGs, trabajando con mujeres y jóvenes. Lo que muestra la carrera de Eileen en términos académicos y activistas es el desarrollo de la integración de la psicología social/comunitaria con la creación de arte para la transformación social.

Es miembro fundador de la Organización Cultural Alharaca, que mediante el proyecto Imilla y Wayna trabajan con jóvenes que se encuentran en centros de detención juvenil, los cuales muchas veces son víctimas y autores de delitos. Alharaca se dedica a proyectos culturales y sociales, utilizando medios audiovisuales y enseñando a los niños a ser creadores y no solo consumidores de cultura. Los jóvenes del proyecto Imilla y Wayna han hecho cortometrajes sobre diversos temas: por ejemplo, muchos están marcados por el abuso y también tienen tatuajes. Su película hablaba de las cicatrices como parte de su pasado. Sus tatuajes, sus elecciones, eran una forma de reclamar el dolor y volver a significar sus historias, una forma de dibujar en el cuerpo para contar una historia.

Como resultado de su éxito académico y activismo social, Eileen recibió una beca de la Universidad de Barcelona para estudiar un "Máster en Mediación Artística: Arte para la Transformación Social, la Inclusión y el Desarrollo Comunitario", que completó en 2023.

Ella regresó a Perú después de completar este posgrado para continuar su puesto de profesora y desarrollar un nuevo proyecto en su ciudad natal, Iquitos, con y para mujeres amazónicas. Una dimensión significativa de su identidad propia es como mujer Amazónica y siempre ha sido consciente de la vulnerabilidad y marginación de las mujeres de su comunidad. Gran parte de su explotación sexual es oculta o socialmente aceptable. Por ejemplo, no es inusual que una adolescente tenga un "padrino" que le pague a su familia para llevarla de paseo. También hay casos de trata de personas donde las jóvenes mujeres indígenas son llevadas a la ciudad para ser explotadas sexualmente.

Como parte del Máster que está cursando, Eileen ha desarrollado un proyecto basado en la leyenda Amazónica de la Runamula; cuando un hombre y una mujer pecan, se convierten en esta bestia que es una mujer de la cintura para arriba y una mula de la cintura para abajo. En palabras de Eileen: "Tomo este mito y le doy un nuevo significado... uno de los problemas en la Amazonía es que se ha naturalizado la violencia y todo el mundo quiere silenciarla. Nadie quiere hablar del padrino, nadie quiere hablar del tío que comienza a tocarlos, nadie quiere hablar de por qué se sintieron inseguros desde que tenían doce años, cuando comenzaron a caminar por la calle... la idea del proyecto es que las mujeres comiencen a hablar de esta violencia y se den cuenta de que es violencia". "Historias de la Runamula" incorporará diversos medios: cine, pintura, performance y fotografía, y es una forma vívida de mostrar las diferentes experiencias de las mujeres amazónicas comparadas con mujeres en Lima, por ejemplo.

Eileen se siente profundamente privilegiada de participar en el trabajo que hace, como profesora y activista que utiliza el arte como instrumento de transformación. Cada proyecto en el que ha trabajado le ha traído más herramientas para comprender y afectar al mundo. Ella ha llegado a apreciar mejor el papel del desarrollo comunitario en el acompañamiento de las mujeres y ha visto los resultados de su trabajo en las formas en que las mujeres aisladas se han unido para desafiar a las parejas violentas; los jóvenes involucrados en el proyecto de Alharaca han mejorado sus habilidades en preparación para la reintegración social. Le gustaría que otras mujeres apreciaran la gama de habilidades que diferentes tipos de psicología pueden desarrollar, y la forma en que la disciplina interactúa con otros temas, así como la importancia de la interseccionalidad para crear una comprensión más completa de la posición de las mujeres indígenas en el mundo.

Eileen es un poderoso ejemplo de la capacidad de MMEG para ofrecer apoyo profesional temprano a una mujer excepcional y visionaria que continuará ampliando las oportunidades para que otras mujeres sean vistas y escuchadas.