Nobel Women’s Initiative and the Coady Institute welcome these 24 exceptional young feminist activists and leaders from 18 countries to the 2024 Sister-to-Sister Mentorship Program. Through the six-week program they will build connections and strengthen skills for feminist peacebuilding and activism.
Learn more about the program here!
Participant: Abigail BL Freeman
Country: Liberia
Area(s) of expertise: Human rights.
Abigail is a human rights activist and youth development professional with over seven years of experience. She founded the Alliance for Peace, Justice, and Human Rights in 2019 to advocate for peace, social justice and rights in communities affected by conflict, violence and extremism.
Abigail served the Mano River Union Youth Parliament as Gender Coordinator 2019, participated in the CIVICUS YAL program 2020, and contested the 2021 legislative Bi-Election in Nimba County. A SUSI fellow, she's engaged in the US Department of State's exchange program 2022. Abigail holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from AME Zion University, complemented by specialized training from University of Delaware, Peace Corps, ZOA, YMCA. She has also served as an observer in Ghana's 2016 elections.
Participant: Ademun Sharon Leah
Country: Uganda
Area(s) of expertise: Gender equality.
Ademun Sharon Leah is a Ugandan youth politician with a bachelor's degree in "Arts in economics" from Makerere University Business School. She's passionate about women empowerment and gender equality. Throughout her career, she has worked and volunteered with numerous youth platforms and NGOs where she has actively advocated for women rights and women empowerment. She's a youth leader under the national youth council Uganda representing the female youth of Ngora district and currently volunteering with Teach for Uganda, an NGO focusing on addressing the education inequalities in rural communities of Uganda. She has used her position in Teach for Uganda to advocate and empower young girls in the rural communities through mentorship programs. She's also currently running the project "Train up a child". A project meant to empower, train and mentor adolescent girls on how to navigate challenges at school and train them on menstrual hygiene, manufacturing reusable sanitary pads. Sharon is a passionate leader with a focus on transforming communities through women empowerment; she believes that empowering a woman is empowering a community.
Participant: Amani Moussa Chehade
Country: Lebanon
Area(s) of expertise: Human Rights, Gender-based violence, sexual and domestic violence, social justice
Amani is a passionate advocate for women's rights and social justice, with over seven years of experience in the private and humanitarian sectors. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Law and a Master's Degree in European Union Law. Her academic focus was on restorative justice and domestic violence. She has pursued extensive human rights studies and actively participated in various initiatives, including receiving a scholarship to take part in the Erasmus Mundus program.
Through her work in non-governmental organizations Amani has documented cases of violence against women and other human rights violation, and supported women refugees. She excels in strategic planning, risk management, and partnership development and is dedicated to create safe and equitable environments for women.
Participant: Andy Stepka Mycop Morales
Country: Guatemala
Area(s) of expertise: Sexual Gender Based Violence and Gender Equality.
Andy Mycop is a Guatemalan artivist and activist with over six years of experience. She is a student activist from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala.
Her political and feminist interests always go hand in hand with art because she believes it is a universal language tool through which all people can share knowledge and create spaces for exchange. She is especially passionate about the rights of children and youth.
Participant: Beatrice Waruinge
Country: Kenya
Area(s) of expertise: Refugee and Migrants Rights, Human Rights.
Beatrice is a humanitarian and human rights defender with a keen interest in the welfare of refugees. She is currently focusing on international relations but possesses a background in community development.
Beatrice is an ardent follower of global affairs, is people-oriented, reveres human dignity, and is devoted to promoting inclusion. She has a particular interest in community work and social empowerment. This has seen her develop a keen interest in the cultural and creative industries, as they harness innovative approaches to addressing social challenges and building sustainable development, thus presenting an opportunity for both social and economic impact.
Participant: Diana Maria Gomez Aguirre
Country: Ukraine
Area(s) of expertise: Refugee and Migrants Rights, Human Rights.
Diana Gomez is a psychologist, intercultural mediator, and activist of Ukrainian-Colombian origin. She was born in Mariupol, Ukraine, and raised in Colombia. She graduated from the National Pedagogical University of the Faculty of Special, Medical Psychology in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2015. She began her career supporting disabled children and their mothers and volunteered in the European Voluntary Service in 2017.
In response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Diana joined the emergency team of CivicoZero Soc. Coop. Soc. in Rome, Italy, aiding refugees with psychosocial support and healthcare access. Subsequently, she worked on an EU project for the integration and socio-economic inclusion of refugee women and she continues to support adolescents and unaccompanied foreign minors through expressive creative activities.
At the beginning of 2024, she co-founded an association in Rome called ‘Sensi HCA’ which aims to empower refugees, migrants, women, and vulnerable populations to achieve post-traumatic growth and find their well-being by creating an inclusive feminist community and creative sustainable safe space.
Participant: Hannah Jean Jimala
Country: Philippines
Area(s) of expertise: Human rights.
Hannah is a feminist organizer, human rights activist, and social researcher. She is currently the Membership and Community Engagement Director of DAKILA, an artist-activist organization based in the Philippines. DAKILA marries creativity and activism in building a movement of heroism that is rooted in human rights and democracy.
Hannah contributes to DAKILA’s mission by organizing communities to engage in the movement. Hannah is undertaking a Master’s in Women and Development from the University of the Philippines. She is also doing social research for development projects, while also exploring her passion for pole dancing and burlesque.
Participant: Hareer Hashim
Country: Afghanistan
Area(s) of expertise: Human rights.
Hareer Hashim is a dedicated human rights advocate and social programming professional based in Canada. With extensive experience in project and stakeholder management, Hareer has a deep passion for promoting the rights of women and human rights defenders. She has represented Afghanistan at various national and international forums, including the European Parliament and the UNHCR.
Hareer has a proven track record of leading teams, organizing conferences, and empowering women through capacity-building initiatives. She holds degrees in International Relations from American University in Dubai. Fluent in multiple languages, Hareer is working as a Project Coordinator with Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom-Afghanistan section and has been a champion of women and human rights.
Participant: Jihan Ahel
Country: Palestine
Area(s) of expertise: Women's rights.
Jihan is originally from Gaza, Palestine, and currently residing in Egypt. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Translation and a diploma in General English Translation from Al-Azhar University. Her professional background is diverse, including roles in translation, content writing and digital marketing.
She worked as a translator and content writer for UNRWA, Awda association and the CODI Association, where she served as a translator and content writer on projects focused on empowering marginalized women. Through this work, she has witnessed how some communities marginalize women, which has fueled her determination to advocate for women's rights.
Participants: Mahabad Khalid Mohammed
Country: Iraq
Area(s) of expertise: Gender-based violence and mental health.
Mahabad is a dedicated professional with a BA in Sociology from the University of Duhok and ten years of experience. She has worked extensively in case management, referrals, and psychosocial support, primarily with the SEED Foundation in Kurdistan.
Her work focuses on survivors of violence and conflict. She has facilitated numerous trainings and workshops on topics such as gender-based violence, mental health, and sexual exploitation. Her goal is to provide comprehensive support and advocacy for vulnerable populations, especially women and girls.
Participant: María Dilia Rosa Reyes Torres
Country: Colombia
Area(s) of expertise: Gender equality.
María Dilia Rosa Reyes Torres is an Afro-Colombian activist and defender of the human rights and guarantees of a dignified life for girls and women.
She is co-founder of the organization Artemisas del Caribbean, and a social communicator with a master’s degree in political communication with an emphasis on peacebuilding.
She currently coordinates the National Network of Young Peacebuilders of the Mi Sangre Foundation and works as a communications consultant for change and public policies. Her vocation is service, and she is inspired to transform narratives that close gaps and open paths in favor of gender equality.
Participant: Milena Oliva Alfaro
Country: Guatemala/Costa Rica
Area(s) of expertise: Youth and women's rights.
Milena is a Costa Rican- Guatemalan woman. She is a sociologist and a feminist. She is sensitive, observant, smiling with outrageous laughter, and she likes to dance while cooking. From an early age Milena made the decision to transform the world, one step at a time. Her work, volunteering and participation in learning spaces, leadership, activism and development in general, are related to children and diverse youth. She believes that the struggle for human rights is indispensable across disciplines, including, the arts, academia and organizational spaces.
Milena's experience has been mostly in civil society spaces, addressing issues related to sexual and reproductive rights, empowerment, participation and leadership of young women in Guatemala, as well as with youth organizations linked to processes of influence in national and regional articulation in Latin America.
Participant: Mukasekuru Mungala Lydie
Country: Democratic Republic of Congo
Area(s) of expertise: Peace and Security and Human rights.
Lydie Mukasekuru Mungala has over five years of experience working on human rights and peacebuilding, including as program officer at Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation. Lydie has actively volunteered with youth organizations in the DRC and abroad and has served in different capacities, including as Secretary-General of the Young African Leaders Initiative and team lead at the Million Peacemakers.
Lydie believes peace is everyone's business and she strives every day to make a meaningful impact in her community by training young people in subjects related to conflict resolution and leadership. To leverage this impact, Lydie has received grants from the U.S department of state through IREX and the Million Peacemakers to conduct training in peace journalism and non-conflict methods.
Participant: Niloufar Rasouli
Country: Afghanistan
Area(s) of expertise: Education and Global affairs
Niloufar Rasouli is a young activist from Afghanistan. She is an alumna of the US Embassy & American Councils for International Education, IOWA University’s Between the Lines Creative Writing Program graduate, and Every Woman Treaty and Peace Practice Alliance fellow.
Niloufar has been working as a volunteer project developer, proposal writer, program organizer, and capacity-building trainer with several national and international organizations like International Psychosocial Organization, International Labour Organization, American Councils for International Education, Afghan Youth Empowerment and Peace Building Organization, The Bookies Organization, Afghan US Alumni Network and many more.
She is passionate about education and global affairs. She is currently working as a development officer at Girls Toward Leadership Organization, with the aim of empower young Afghan girls through education.
Participant: Nkatha Muthaura
Country: Kenya
Area(s) of expertise: Gender equality, peace and development.
Nkatha Muthaura is an environmental lawyer with a background in gender equality, peace and development, focusing on climate justice and sustainable development. Experienced in bridging environmental challenges with conflict resolution, particularly in marginalized communities, she works at the intersection of law, policy and community empowerment to foster equitable access to resources and just green energy transitions.
Her work has seen her contribute to UN Global Compact’s Sustainable Development initiatives, in developing renewable energy solutions in Kenya. She also works alongside the Institute of Economics and Peace as a Peace Ambassador and Activator in peacebuilding efforts across East Africa.
Participant: Nour Dawsam Rabi
Country: Palestine
Area(s) of expertise: Human rights.
Nour D. Rabi is an accomplished legal professional and lecturer at An-Najah National University, holding an LL.M. in Law and Economics. She demonstrates expertise in commercial, international, and intellectual property law, seamlessly blending academic and practical experience. Passionate about human rights, Nour co-founded an association and leads Rewaq Legal Academy, contributing to legal education.
A dedicated feminist and human rights activist, she defends women's rights, particularly in war zones, through volunteering with civil society organizations. She is committed to promoting and defending human rights from an intersectional perspective, aspiring to make a positive global impact.
Participant: Nura Brimo
Country: Syria
Area(s) of expertise: Peace and security.
Nura Brimo is a PhD student at Duke University, interested in the intersection of scientific research and humanitarian advocacy. She holds an MSc in Entrepreneurship and an MPhil in Biomedical Engineering and is a prolific scientific author with numerous articles and publications to her name. Nura has received multiple patents and awards for her contributions to biomedical applications. Her professional journey reflects a deep commitment to social justice and innovation, with leadership roles in the humanitarian sector, including her work with the White Helmets.
Nura participated in the United Nations Young Leaders Training Program. She is dedicated to feminist principles of peace and security. She is proficient in multiple languages, with a strong interest in meditation, reading, and tennis.
Participant: Olla Alsakkaf
Country: Yemen
Area(s) of expertise: Women, peace and security.
Olla Alsakkaf is a researcher and an activist from Yemen.
Olla is working on furthering the women, peace and security and youth, peace and security agendas and has briefed the UNSC on the UNSC Resolution 2250. She has worked with several organizations, leading projects which target youth and women. She is also a climate activist, and founder of Peace Environment for Development, working on climate change.
Olla enjoys public speaking and has represented Yemeni youth in many regional and international events. She is a member of several national and regional networks.
Participant: Paola Pacheco Ruiz
Country: Mexico
Area(s) of expertise: Human rights.
Paola studied Political Science at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She has been involved in activism and social movements in Mexico related to feminism, victims of enforced disappearance, human rights defenders, and indigenous peoples. In 2015, while pursuing her master’s degree in political studies, she participated in an international consultancy with the University of York, focusing on how human rights defenders navigate risks and the resources they develop to face challenges. With this knowledge, she coordinated protection and security efforts for human rights defenders of migrants in a shelter.
Currently, she is coordinating strategic initiatives at a peacebuilding NGO in Mexico.
Participant: Shahd Almahameed
Country: Jordan
Area(s) of expertise: Peacebuilder.
Shahd is an ecofeminist and a peacebuilder with over five years of experience in international and local non-governmental organizations in the SWANA region.
She has led programming in climate justice, gender justice, and spatial justice while working virtually in Jordan, Libya, Tunisia, North Macedonia, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka. Academically, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied English and a Master’s degree in Human Rights and Human Development from the University of Jordan.
She is a proud Lazord Fellowship graduate and has also dabbled in the Public Policies for Innovation Program producing policy papers addressing the critical need for improved civic e-participation, particularly among women, in political processes.
Participant: Shahd Hatim Izzeldin Abdulrahman
Country: Sudan
Area(s) of expertise: Gender based violence.
Shahd is a feminist, social change activist, and final-year law student. With extensive experience in creating and managing advocacy campaigns focused on advancing gender equality and peacebuilding, her primary area of interest centers on addressing gender-based violence (GBV).
She is particularly fascinated by the intersection of anthropology in understanding the root causes of GBV, and how religion, culture, and traditions influence both individual and societal attitudes towards women.
Shahd currently resides in Alexandria, seeking refuge following the conflict that erupted in Sudan in April 2023. She endeavors to combine her passion for law and advocacy to contribute towards creating a more just world for women.
Participant: Tayeba Hashemy
Country: Afghanistan
Area(s) of expertise: Human rights.
Tayeba Hashemy is an Afghan human rights activist with experience in promoting peace and conflict resolution in Afghanistan.
With a Master’s Degree in Economics and over eight years of research experience focused on women's issues in Afghanistan, she possesses a deep understanding of the country's social and economic landscape. Additionally, she has served as a university lecturer in Afghanistan. Her experience and knowledge of the Afghan context enable her to effectively navigate complex situations and foster meaningful results.
She works with numerous local groups in Afghanistan supporting education and economic empowerment.
Participant: Vian K. Hussein
Country: Syria
Area(s) of expertise: Women's rights
Vian K. Hussein is a Kurdish refugee from Syria currently residing in the United Kingdom.
She is an artist and a third year interior design student at the University of Central Lancashire, UK. In 2011, she was forcibly displaced with her family to Beirut, Lebanon. She lived there for seven years, later resettling in the UK.
After arriving in the UK, she decided to resume her education after a ten-year hiatus and join humanitarian and feminist groups to make a positive impact and support women.
Participant: Yasmina Benslimane
Country: Morocco
Area(s) of expertise: Women's rights and gender equality.
Yasmina Benslimane is an award-winning feminist activist, consultant, and women's empowerment coach dedicated to advancing gender equality and promoting women's rights.
As the founder of Politics4Her, she advocates for increased political participation and representation for young women and girls from global majority countries. She focuses on climate justice, forced migration, gender-based violence, and peacebuilding. Yasmina's achievements include BBC 100 Most Influential and Inspiring Women of 2023, Forbes 30 Under 30, MADRE Champion, Top 100 Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent 2024, and recognition as a UN Women Peace-builder in the Arab States.
With about ten years of experience, Yasmina contributes her expertise as an advisor and board member to various institutions.
Mentors
This year’s participants will be supported throughout the program by a team of mentors who completed the program in previous years.
Mentor: Alina Vasieikina
Country: Ukraine, now living in Italy
Area(s) of expertise: Creative Education and Mentorship-Holistic Methods of Sustainable Art, Upcycling and Play
Alina is a Ukrainian artist, creativity teacher, activist and currently a refugee, based in Rome.
She is a founder and president of a nonprofit association called “Sensi Holistic Creative Agency” that aims towards building a strong, inclusive, creative community that fosters social cohesion between people with forced displacement experience and locals through organizing immersive cultural experiences, art therapy, public speaking, as well as filming videos and documentaries.
Before the war on Ukraine Alina worked as an Academic Director at an Experimental Creativity School, where she also researched the impact of mental health on creativity.
Mentor: Esra Saleh
Country: Egypt, now living in UK
Area(s) of expertise: a feminist journalist, researcher and podcaster from Egypt. Founder and Producer of "Salmon podcast" Initiative
Esra Saleh is a feminist journalist, researcher and podcaster from Egypt. She holds an MA in Gender and Media from the University of Sussex, Brighton, UK and an MA in journalism and new media from the Jordan Media Institute, in Amman, Jordan.
Esra is the founder and producer of "Salmon podcast" initiative, launched in 2022, which features women challenging societal taboos and gender norms. She produced dozens of stories tackling gender inequality and GBV issues in the MENA region. Fellow of Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) 2021 and producer of the New Media Writing Prize 2022 nominee investigation, "Egyptian Survivors of Sexual Violence Complain of Forensic Examiners Mistreatment". She is a podcast Mentor in Aswatona Project to support and empower podcasters in West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region, sponsored by Yasmin Collective organisation.
Esra is a specialised trainer of feminist journalism and gender-sensitive reporting with several national and regional organisations such as the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship (Lebanon), Friedrich Ebert Organization (Libya), Edraak Foundation for Development and Equality (Egypt), and Love Matters.
Mentor: Michelle Antonella Carbajal Mejía
Country: Honduras, now living in Spain
Area(s) of expertise: a feminist social worker with expertise in Gender violence, sexual and reproductive rights as well as rights of LGBTTI + populations.
Michelle is a feminist social worker who works in development processes and community organization in organizations that fight to defend women’s rights and LGBTIQ + populations. As an activist, she is part of the We Are Many Platform, which fights for the decriminalization of abortion in Honduras, and the I Do not Want to be Violated Movement, which is a space that addresses sexual violence, impunity and feminist political training as tools for organizing, training and defending the bodies of young women and women in the country.
Michelle seeks to empower women and young people in her country through feminism, empathy and sisterhood, without forgetting the importance of political alliances with other organizations, movements and collectives. Michelle finds strength in joy and dignified anger, and meeting and learning from other women who vindicate their struggles for women’s rights.
Mentor: Negina Yari
Country: Afghanistan, now living in Germany
Area(s) of expertise: a feminist social worker with expertise in Gender violence, sexual and reproductive rights as well as rights of LGBTTI + populations.
Born in Ghor Province of Afghanistan. Negina is a Master Student with King’s College London (Women Peace and Security Studies), she graduated with an MBA master's in business administration from Kardan University of Afghanistan and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Dunya University of Afghanistan. Negina has contributed to the Afghanistan civil society development in more than 13 years of her active work and engagement on women economic empowerment, women peace and security, Promoting and protecting women and girl’s rights, and women’s leadership. She is Founder and Co – Chair of Window for Hope Organization, (WFH) is a Network of 380 Afghan women led civil society organizations working on Women Peace and Security to Empowering women and girls to champion peace security and equality through collaborative, inclusive and sustainable initiative, creating a future where women every women voice heard, and women rights are protected, and women and girls lives free from violence and conflict. Negina is the Country Director of Global Peace Chain (Afghanistan). She Co – Produced (Unstoppable Women) The Afghan Women’s Movement, which is the stories of loss reverberate throughout Afghanistan, but also telling there’s also hope even in the face of such a loss. (“Unstoppable Women” The Afghan Women’s Movement | Publications | UN Women – Asia-).
She has been an Afghan delegate and Speaker Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Humanitarians situation In Afghanistan.
Mentor: Thelma Aretha Kaliu
Country: Malawi, now living in Sweden
Area(s) of expertise: feminist leader with expertise in elimination of sexual and gender based violence and child marriage, gender in the humanitarian action, women’s economic empowerment, feminist action for climate justice, and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services.
Thelma Aretha Kaliu is a passionate and dedicated Malawian feminist leader and gender development expert with nine years of experience in promoting gender equality and ending violence against women and girls, including in emergency contexts. She has extensive expertise in advancing gender equality through intersectional feminist and human rights approaches across Malawi and Sub-Saharan Africa. Thelma holds a postgraduate diploma in International Gender Studies from the University of Iceland and a Bachelor's Degree in Education (Social Studies) from the University of Malawi. She is pursuing a Master's Degree in Gendering Practices at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Thelma is an alumna of the United Nations Graduate Study Program in Geneva, where she participated in reshaping the future of technology to promote AI for social change and equitable technology. She has worked with key organizations such as Plan International, UN Women, the World University Service of Canada, and UNFPA in Malawi. Throughout her career, Thelma has championed the transformation of discriminatory social norms, practices, laws, and policies to promote gender equality. She is committed to amplifying women's voices in policy spaces and leading innovative, evidence-based initiatives to reshape gender norms across Sub-Saharan Africa.
