August 19, 2016
Welcome to our new IREX Community Solutions Leader, Beatrice Savadye of Zimbabwe!
As the director for ROOTS, Beatrice Savadye has been working in the field of women’s rights for the past nine years, focusing on promoting dignified futures for young women and girls through advocacy, lobbying and capacity building of young women. In 2013, through her advocacy, Beatrice managed to get her government to remove a 15% tax charged on feminine hygiene sanitary wear. Her organization is running the “Not Ripe for Marriage” Campaign on ending child marriages in Zimbabwe which contributed to the ban of child marriage through a ruling by the Constitutional Court since January 2016.
During her fellowship in the United States, she hopes to learn about young women’s participation in political spaces and how this can enhance women’s organizing and the advancement of their civil and political rights. Upon returning from the Community Solutions Program, Savadye plans to continue her advocacy efforts for women and girls’ access to the justice system, specifically focusing on ending child marriage.
Beatrice will be involved with our election education and outreach work including: candidate outreach for Voter’s Edge California, Easy Voter Guide distribution and sales, Local League community activities like voter registration, Pros & Cons events, candidate forums, and speaking at events. Beatrice will be working at the League office through the election and into December. Please contact us about hosting her as a speaker for your next meeting or event.
Post a welcome message to Beatrice on our Facebook page.
The Community Solutions Program is a professional development program for the best and brightest global community leaders working in transparency and accountability, tolerance and conflict resolution, environmental issues, and women and gender issues. Leaders participate in a four month US fellowship with a local nonprofit organization or government agency, structured virtual learning and networking via the Online Community Leadership Institute, and the design and implementation of follow-on projects in their home countries.
