Neema Namadamu
Advocate for Peace, Women's Rights and Disability Rights Activist, Hero Women Rising Neema (she/her) was born in a remote mountain village of eastern DR Congo. In 2012, after years in public service, Neema started the Maman Shujaa (Hero Women) movement and the organization Hero Women Rising – with a mission to enable and empower Congolese women. Neema’s heart is as a grassroots leader, working alongside her Congolese sisters to lift them into a different future, operating a number of personally transformative, future-changing programs for women, girls, and their communities.
About this speaker
Neema (she/her) was born in a remote mountain village of east Congo. At the age of 2, Neema contracted polio, but with the big love and support of her Mom, when she was strong enough to go the distance, Neema was enrolled in school and made her way each day by leaning on a stick. Education was important to Neema and so in spite of the daunting social stigma and personal hardships, Neema persevered to become the first disabled woman from her tribe to graduate university. In 2012, after years in public service, Neema started the Maman Shujaa (Hero Women) movement and the organization Hero Women Rising – with a mission to enable and empower Congolese women.
Neema’s heart is as a grassroots leader, working alongside her Congolese sisters to lift them into a different future, operating a number of personally transformative, future-changing programs for women, girls, and their communities.