Rwanda is hosting the Women Deliver Conference, the world's largest conference on the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women. First Ladies from various countries convened in Kigali to discuss ways of promoting the health, rights, and overall well-being of girls and women. ALSO READ: First Lady: Youth can inspire end to gender inequality The First Ladies will be among the most powerful voices of the feminist community, sharing a stage to inspire, drive dialogue, and mobilize the collective into action to achieve true equality, rights and dignity, for girls and women everywhere. Jeannette Kagame She is the Chairperson of Imbuto Foundation, an organization that contributes to generational improvements in health, education, youth, and economic empowerment in Rwanda. She is also the Chairperson of Unity Club, an organization founded in 1996 after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Unity Club comprises current and former members of the government and their spouses to promote social cohesion and sustainable development in Rwanda. She is a founding member of the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS and for Development (OAFLAD), and served as its President from 2004 -2006. The Rwandan First Lady was awarded the “African Woman of Excellence Award” in honour of her commitment and drive for excellence and overall contribution to Africa’s development, specifically her role and efforts through the involvement of Imbuto Foundation. ALSO READ: First Lady calls for gender equality in African scientists The recognition is in line with her work to educate and empower women, young girls and the most vulnerable groups in Rwanda. While speaking virtually at the YouLead Africa Summit, in November 2021, she stressed the importance of gender equality, noting that it doesn’t only mean uplifting just one gender, but the whole community. ALSO READ: First Lady: Equality is not about uplifting one gender Monica Geingos First Lady of Namibia is also the President of the Organization of African First Ladies (OAFLAD). A qualified lawyer, she served on the Boards of large public- and private-sector companies as either Chairperson or Deputy Chair and played a meaningful role in private sector development. She received numerous merit awards, and is ranked by an international publication as one of “Africa’s Top 100 Economic Leaders.” Monica serves on the Boards of Africa Reach (Chairperson), the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Centre, the Concordia Leadership Council, WomenLift Health, and Virchow Foundation. ALSO READ: Empowering teen girls key to gender equality - Women Deliver boss Angeline Ndayishimiye Angeline Ndayishimiye, born in 1976, has been the First Lady of Burundi since June 2020. She holds a degree in Economics and Management and was a government official from 2005 to 2018. She is the President of the Good Action Foundation “Umugiraneza,” which she founded in July 2019. First Lady Ndayishimiye also founded the association “Femmes Intwari”, in 2017, which brings together women ex-combatants and the wives of ex-combatants for peace and democracy. Graça Machel The former First Lady of South Africa, Graça Machel, is a women’s and children’s rights advocate, former freedom fighter, first Education Minister of Mozambique and co-founder and current Deputy Chair of The Elders. An outspoken champion for the African continent and its success, in 2010 Machel founded the Graça Machel Trust, which advocates for the rights of women and children, as well as good governance and democracy. She also founded the Foundation for Community Development (FDC), a Mozambican organization supporting civil society to strengthen their communities, facilitate social and economic justice, and assist in the reconstruction and development of post-war Mozambique.
