Neema Namadamu

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Neema Namadamu is an advocate for peace and a women's rights and disability rights activist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). [1] She founded the Maman Shujaa Media Center to empower women and give them voices to tell their stories.

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Biography

Namadamu was born in the High Plains of Itombwe in South Kivu Province. [2] When she was two, she contracted polio and became physically disabled because of the disease. [3] Because of this, her father decided to take a second wife because in the DRC, disabled children are "often regarded as a curse." [2] She recalls that as a child, she did not have crutches, so her mother, Polline Nyirambarato, carried her on her back to school when road conditions were poor. [2] Namadamu started promoting awareness for people with disabilities when she was in high school and had her own radio show. [4] Later, when she went to college, she became the first woman with disability from her tribe to graduate from university in DRC. [5]

After she graduated, she was chosen as a Deputy to represent her province in Parliament. [5] After serving in Parliament, she became the Technical Advisor for the DRC Minister of Gender and Family. [5]

When Namadamu's daughter was twenty-five, she was attacked by members of the Congolese National Army and beaten. [6] Namadamu recalls that she "felt a strong desire for violent revenge," however, she chose to break the cycle of revenge and instead of fighting individuals, "We are fighting the system," she said. [7] Namadamu founded the Maman Shujaa Media Center which works in connection with World Pulse, a global women's empowerment network. [8] The organization is located in Bukavu, where she is able to provide digital literacy education for women. [6] Maman Shujaa means "Hero Women" and the project is designed not only to educate women, but to give them a platform to share their stories with the world. [7] Each woman learns to become a "digital activist" in the DRC. [8] Her work shows "the resilience and importance of women in Congo who live in an environment that is violently oppressive to women." [9]

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References

  1. ↑ Cunningham, Erin (April 4, 2014). "Making a Difference in Hell". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Namadamu, Neema (18 April 2014). "Congo's Hero Women: Creating a Different Future". Huffington Post. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Activist Spotlight: Neema Namadamu". Nobel Women's Initiative. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  4. ↑ Namadamu, Neema. "Neema Namadamu". World Pulse. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "Neema Namadamu: When Women Roar!". Channel Initiative. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Neema Namadamu". Beauty in the Middle. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  7. 1 2 Dear, John (15 October 2013). "Neema Namadamu, Congo's Visionary Peacemaker". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  8. 1 2 Afzal, Sara (23 September 2013). "Digital Connections Empower Women to Change Their Futures". Mashable. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  9. ↑ Smith, Katie (22 July 2013). "Women and Congo: When We Are Together, We Are Strong". Enough. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
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