The MATCH International Women’s Fund and Nobel Women’s Initiative partner to explore how women are redefining innovation
Toronto, ON (September 23, 2014). Six women activists from around the world will gather on Monday to share how they work to empower women and drive positive social change in their communities in Sudan, South Sudan and Guatemala—as well as in Canada.
When we invest in women and girls, we harness the power to change the world. But what does this change look like on the ground? Women activists take huge risks and employ creative strategies to advance women’s rights. Learn how they are making big changes for women’s equality at the third annual Voices for Change Conversation Series: Women Redefining Innovation, presented by The MATCH International Women’s Fund and the Nobel Women’s Initiative.
The three global participants are part of the Sister-To-Sister Mentorship Program, a six-week residency at the Nobel Women’s Initiative in Ottawa in which young women’s rights activists from the Global South take part in global advocacy training. This year’s participants are Alice Vilmaro, a program coordinator promoting women’s involvement in South Sudan’s peace efforts, Maha Babeker, a women’s rights activist seeking to reform adultery laws in Sudan, and Andrea Ixchíu, a journalist advocating for the rights of indigenous women and communities in Guatemala.
The Canadian activists are young social innovators and Studio Y Fellows Anique Jordan, who blends artistic expression with economic and community development, Kelsey Rideout, who uses creative writing to explore the self, intersectionality and feminism, and Emily Finnie, who is exploring the role of social innovation in advancing gender equality.
The discussion will be moderated by Sarah Saska, a Doctoral Candidate at Western University, who works in collaboration with The MATCH Fund to understand how social innovation can change the lives of women around the globe.
Media and the public are invited to attend this free event.
What:
The MATCH International Women’s Fund and Nobel Women’s Initiative present: Voices for Change Conversation Series: Women Redefining Innovation
Interview/ Photo Opportunities
- Speak with Sister-To-Sister Mentorship Program participants, Alice Vilmaro, Maha Babeker, and Andrea Ixchíu about their innovative work as young women’s rights defenders in Sudan, South Sudan and Guatemala.
- Speak with panelists Anique Jordan, Kelsey Rideout and Emily Finnie about harnessing creativity and social innovation to advance women’s rights and drive social change.
- Speak with panel moderator and The MATCH International Women’s Fund’s Advisory Council Member Sarah Saska about the need to support women’s social innovation for sustained empowerment, development and equality.
Where:
Auditorium of MaRS Discovery District
101 College Street, Toronto, ON
When:
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Interactive discussion followed by casual reception
The MATCH International Women’s Fund is a Canadian international organization that has been working with women’s rights organizations in the global South for 37 years. Since its founding, they have partnered with more than 650 women’s organizations in 71 countries to help improve the lives of women and girls.
The Nobel Women’s Initiative was established in 2006, and brings together sister Nobel peace laureates Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Mairead Maguire, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman. The organization uses the prestige of the Nobel Peace Prize and courageous women peace laureates to magnify the power and visibility of women working in countries around the world for peace, justice and equality.
For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Needham at [email protected], 613 761 3684