By Judith Boadi
Being in a young feminist Conference for the first time I felt lost in the room. When I chanced upon the title Claiming Space, Shaping Future: The Power of Young Feminist Movements, deep down I was intrigued to experience the conference. I expected to learn from individuals who advocate for women's rights and connect with them.
Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo’s keynote address on unbowed: African Feminist journey of healing, the Survival and the thriving from the title of Wangari Maathai’s Memoirs started shaping my psychology about what was happening in the room. Her words, We are fighting for patriarchy and justice resonated with a better understanding of why it was important. I had the chance to check in about how I was feeling about myself. I would love to share to motivate someone if I could but it has to be confidential for me anyway.
The panel discussions, the workshops and the healing circle were the most striking concepts of the conference. It engaged background experiences on how we can heal and thrive as advocates, how we can network with allies, why we should be sensitive to contradictions and lastly centre Africa. The creative activism session was filled with a representation of young feminists solidified in claiming space for future generations. I cannot fail to recall one of my best parts, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. A movie that truly defined a resilient advocate.
While leaving the premises of the Conference, I felt empowered and inspired by how far advocates have come and how we continue to do more for the next generation but on second thought, I ask myself how long are we going to be in unison to avoid the backlash and arguments advocates experience while in their space of driving change. At the end of it all we are driving for equal opportunities regardless of class, physical or mental ability, religion and gender for everyone.
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