Fungai Chirongoma is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Theology/Religious Studies at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Her dissertation will examine the interventions of faith based organizations in addressing violence against women in Cape Town. To enhance her experience, she is volunteering at Ihata Shelter for Abused Women. She is 27 year old whose birthplace is Zimbabwe where she grew up with a single mother who worked hard ensure her children received education despite economic hardships in Zimbabwe. Her future goal is establishing a shelter for abused women in Zimbabwe impact the lives of women through addressing the scourge of violence.
Susan Chenai Mutambasere
Susan Chenai Mutambasere is a 2020 South Africa Program grantee and PhD student studying Law at University of Pretoria. Susan is Zimbabwean and a lawyer whose focus has been on human rights working in both the public and private sector and serving as a Board/Founding Member of Cradle of Hope Trust. Her passion is driven by seeing girls drop out because of the belief that their only value was in marriage. Her thesis is looking at how culture, customs, and traditions affect the implementation of the Maputo Protocol on reproductive rights of married women in Zimbabwe. She plans on carrying out research, and consultancies, as well as teaching with a view to supporting sexual and reproductive rights on the Africa content. She has a dream of assisting in the establishment of a specialist Master’s program in sexual and reproductive rights at a university in Zimbabwe.
“I have more than a decade experience as a human rights lawyer, and i have worked on civil and political rights in a non-profit set up, as well as different types of rights in a private sector set-up. I have also engaged in consultancy, working with different types of organisations whose mandates focus on an array of rights. In all these activities which i undertook in my country, I realized that sexual and reproductive rights remain an underdeveloped area of human rights. Given that i have worked in various sectors, my next career goal is to enter the academic arena as a researcher and teacher.”
Hannah Simba
Hannah Simba is a 2020 South Africa Program grantee. She is pursuing a PhD in Public Health at the University of Stellenbosch. Hannah is Zimbabwean and brings a strong multidisciplinary background in biology and environmental studies to her current and planned research into the etiology of cancers that have a severe impact on women and children in Africa. Simba realized early the crucial role of mentoring and guidance for African girls, if they are to realize their potential. For 8 years she has been an energetic leader and participant in empowerment activities for high school girls through STEM tutoring in schools, and organizing girls’ camps and workshops focused on programming and reproductive health. She has managed to reach hundreds of girls, and has trained around 20 university students as mentors, working as Chapter Leader in WAAW (Working to Advance STEM education for African Girls), as well as through an organization she co-founded.
“I am only one,…..I can’t do everything, but I can do something” are the words I live by. I have found my purpose in medical research and the empowerment of women. I want to change the status quo. Throughout my undergraduate studies where I had 28 courses, I was lectured by only one female professor. This bothered me. We need locally trained female scientists who will sit in critical decision- making bodies and represent women. When women lack mentorship and guidance….. they fail to reach their full potential. Since 2012 I have been involved in programs and campaigns for mentoring and empowering women and girls.”
