women-activists

"I believe that the only qualification you need to conserve the environment is the fact that you live on this planet."

"I want to prioritize the climate agenda and have it as the first point of discussion before someone speaks about poverty eradication. I want to ensure we have discussions about how climate change is affecting other spheres, including water shortage or lack of access to clean and safe water, food insecurity, health and more. I believe the environment is at the center of economic development and social issues. I will not rest until these conversations are had in political spaces and the work is done."

"I fight to protect the environment and I like to say I chose one master and that’s nature."

"Pick what you are passionate about, read about it online, engage people in the same space and always know that the problem is that challenge you want to solve and it’s not a competition."

"Hindi po ito pagtatraydor sa prinsipyo na ni-lay out naman ng iniina ko sa pulitika na--aminado po ako... na maraming nagtatampo sa akin ngayon, talagang hindi po ako magkakaroon ngayon ng, how do you call it, future po sa political awareness ng tao kung wala po si (Vice President) Leni (Robredo).” (This is not a betrayal of the principles laid out by the one whom I consider as my mother in politics—I admit... that many seem to be bearing grudges against me now. I acknowledge that I wouldn’t have a political awareness in the minds of people if not for VP Leni Robredo.)"

"We must raise children who will love and work for peace, not ones who are desensitized to violence and will continue to perpetuate this vicious cycle. Our children’s future is at stake."

"The Philippine Army engineering battalions say nahihirapan ‘yung backhoe at ‘yung mga gamit nila para sa mga bombang kasinglaki ng tao. Pero you know, we remind [them] na kasingbilis ‘nyo binomba ‘yung location ng Marawi, the Islamic capital of the country of the Philippines, ang tagal ba naman alisin. So it was easy to decide bombing but you cannot de-bomb the area?” asked Gutoc. (The Philippine Army engineering battalions say they find it difficult to use their backhoes and other equipment to remove bombs as big as humans. But you know, we remind them that the speed by which they decided to bomb the location of Marawi, the Islamic capital of the Philippines, is contrary to their slow pace in removing these bombs. So it was easy to decide bombing but you cannot de-bomb the area?)"

"Working for, by, and with young people, and honoring youth by giving the Provincial Youth Council a new image."

"[Urban planning is] an ideal profession for a woman because it builds on her innate capacity for providing an orderly and aesthetic environment for herself, her family and the community in which she lives."

"Q: Some new projects like the Desmund Tutu forgiveness project are promoting forgiveness as a way forward from violence. In the closing chapters of your book, you also wrote about forgiveness. You have known pain; day by day, more people are experiencing undeserved pain with the many incidence of violence in our world today. Is Forgiveness the solution? A: In our culture in Somalia, we do not go to the court when offended. Culturally, we select wise elderly people to sit and decide over disputes. To the offender, they punish and to the offended, they say please forgive. Sometimes the punishment of the offender is the price of Camels or Cows. This way, people whose rights are violated become happy. We never hold on to grudge, we forgive each other immediately because we were the children of one father. This was Somali culture; this is why I crave for the return of that culture. We can stop these court cases and proceedings that require appeals upon appeals and corruption. Now they divide by clan, clans are no solution; the solution is one society where we have understanding of oneness with no clan division and where no man is allowed to beat his wife or another person."

"I am beyond thrilled and we are honoured to accept the award! Like I always say, we do not do the work in order to be awarded but to be awarded for doing the work we love is a different kind of blessing. We are immensely grateful. When I say we, I mean my entire team and everyone that has been involved in my journey as a Healthcare advocate and humanitarian. The doctors that went before me and took the time to teach me what it means to be a good doctor, my mentor, my family and friends but most importantly, God. I’m excited for what the future holds for me and the millions of lives we are yet to save."

"The emergence of social media platforms like Clubhouse has reiterated the importance of speech, a social media platform where all that matters is what you say and how you say it has reminded many that public speaking is of utmost importance."

"Q: Tell me about Somalia as you know it. A: Somalia was a very strong country, my favourite African country. They developed really fast then and Mogadishu was the prettiest city in the world before everything collapsed. All who fought for independence and showed patriotism were greeted with shock at its fall. In our time, we were trying to hold on the clans but the men just want to be angry, to fight and to kill. Clan mentality was destructive but our people didn’t listen or understand this, and then we lost a lot. People of importance have fled the land, and some died. Some became sick with stroke and are now living daily on their beds. These things have changed Mogadishu. In later years, with the formation of a new government, Somalia’s in Diaspora came back with big hope after waiting for years. Expectations were high, but not much has happened there. One day I hope we will pass this situation and go to the peace side."

"Being a confident orator has gotten me into rooms I’ve only dreamt of. How you speak changes everything."

"I am really passionate about public health, and assisting people from poor backgrounds and the north was a better fit for me."

"We do not work to be acknowledged, but to be acknowledged for doing the work you love is a different kind of blessing. This is my first international humanitarian award."

"The aim is to establish the largest public speaking school in the world and train the world’s greatest speakers."

"I am still trying to process this award. I’m still in awe. Hearing the news that I had won the award was a cherished but emotional moment. It has been years of hard work, sleepless nights and a lot of mental exhaustion."

"Our culture teaches us, whether it be Hindu or Muslim or Christian or whether it may be Kannadiga or Tamil or Malayali, the culture of human beings, the culture of neighbourhood. So we are Muslims, and if there was a feast the female elders of the family would bring a plate of sweets, coconut, prawn, flowers, everything to share with our neighbours, who were vegetarian [...] And they would invite us for their feasts. And this culture of coexistence is there even today. The fabric seems to be tarnished, but it remains there. So, there is no question of othering. There is a question of only inclusiveness."

"In a world that often tries to divide us, literature remains one of the last sacred spaces where we can live inside each other's minds, if only for a few pages."

"My stories are about women – how religion, society, and politics demand unquestioning obedience from them, and in doing so, inflict inhumane cruelty upon them, turning them into mere subordinates."

"I want to say good luck to each of the 15 girls who’ll be tussling it out at the grand finale before thousands of compatriots."

"This is a prime opportunity to lift up my country’s flag worldwide. Though it’s a stiff competition, I’m prepared to try my best and do whatever it takes at the apex of my ability. Hope for the best because a competition remains a competition ."

"Miss Rwanda is not only an initiative that promotes our culture; it also gives girls a platform to air out what they can do and creates confidence among them. It is through this that girls are able to do more for their country ."

"I talked about key lessons other African countries can draw from Rwanda as a country that has been able to foster development and peace after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi ."

"My trip in Germany, particularly to the Sebapharma industry is aimed at strengthening the relationship in terms of partnerships with the Miss Rwanda projects and investing in our country ."

"I want to sensitise the Rwandan Diaspora, especially the youth about embracing Rwandan values as their identity because wherever they are, they portray Rwanda’s image ."

"I believe I can."

"Women are often harder on women than men are. They step into the shoes of men and adopt their own strategies to oppress women… like how senior convicts become supervisors of other convicts."

"I have also been writing about how the media often misrepresents Muslims. I once saw a misleading photo of an elderly man garlanded by a young girl, implying child marriage. But in reality, it was a photo of a Quran teacher and his student after she completed her Quranic studies―a tradition where the teacher is honoured with garlands and gifts. Misrepresentation like this damages perceptions deeply."

"It was a great honour and pleasure for a young lady like me representing most of my country's generation to partner with such a large institution as UNESCO. I presented to them my projects and they were very interested and ready to work with me ."

"Community work brings together people from diverse backgrounds, working towards a common goal. The youth have the power and potential to promote unity through community work. Start involving your neighbours and take responsibility ."

"Isn’t he a man? Whether he is there, not there, whether he carries responsibilities, whether he neglects them, who's going to ask? Who does he have to answer to? He is langoti yaar, after all, a man, everybody's best friend. His past does not rise up to dance in public. The present doesn't touch him. The future doesn't move him, nor is it a mystery. He does not have to remain shyly in the shadows. He does not have to say who he belongs to. He does not need to seek forgiveness, not ever at all, because nothing he does is a mistake."

"I like being a people’s person, I don’t fear people apart from instances where the media criticises you, which was hard at first but I learned how to handle that. It didn’t give me a hard time because I didn’t change. I have always been like this."

"It was a good experience meeting and sharing ideas as beauty queens who advocate for social causes. I’m positive that combining our efforts and partnership would have a big impact on our countries ."

"I want to assure Rwandans that I will set a good example as Miss Rwanda, and I know that this position is a platform that will let me achieve my goals ."

"beyond promoting Rwandan culture, the beauty contest gives girls a platform to realise their potential and builds their self-esteem."

"There are a lot of things I feel I can do for the country, I can’t say I have a set plan yet but what’s key is I have the ability to be an ambassador and a voice for my country. I want to assure Rwandans that I won’t let them down ."

"I am super excited not just to be speaking on such a platform but to also listen, learn and build a diverse network of the elites. This is a great opportunity for me and Rwanda in general."

"I am grateful to have been one out of the many that were nominated but also the overall winner of such an international award. It means that people beyond borders see what we do and it’s an encouragement to push to greater heights ."

"I am very passionate about service, about giving back to the community. I was convinced that this is a platform that I would like to tap into and then see if I can also do something diligent for society. So came 2016, I tried my luck and 16 has always been my lucky number."

"During my reign, I have had a big experience. I have executed a number of activities related to the youth, women and particularly, tried to represent my country at an international level during last year’s Miss World. This is why I think other girls should consider being part of this competition ."

"Material things had become priceless, and human beings worthless. Behind those material possessions, people's feelings were on sale. Things decided the relationships between small people with big shadows. A fridge had the capacity to change the life of a young bride. The different colours it came in could play Holi on her young dreams. Such possessions held a prominent spot not only in the house, but also in making life decisions. People were running, having tossed their worthiness and their relationships into the air."

"dream is to see the documentary go beyond Rwanda and its neighboring countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda."

"I am happy on a personal level but also grateful that it’s Rwanda that took the award out of so many other people from different countries."

"If you were to build the world again, to create males and females again, do not be like an inexperienced potter. Come to earth as a woman, Prabhu! Be a woman once, oh Lord!"

"I was advised not to go for it because every information about the company and people behind it was a screaming scam. That’s how I was saved from the unknown intentions of the crooks"

"Even though much has been done to equalize gender imbalances, Unfortunately the glass ceiling is still present and it is not easy for a woman 2 hit the level where they hve enough influence to hve any impact. Beauty pageants is a way for a young woman to do that #MIssEastAfrica2021."

"I have travelled to Tanzania to organize Miss East Africa and more about the beauty competition will be aired through a press conference in Tanzania ."

"There are many people who write to me telling me that I inspire them, but I am sure that I didn’t have an easy path, and which doesn’t define a person. There are a lot of things said about me which aren’t true. Sometimes they say that I am an arrogant person, which gives a different perception of who I am ."