Biography

Neema Namadamu is a visionary and activist in her community. She is dedicated to the empowerment of women and adolescent girls so they can make positive life decisions for themselves and their families. Early in her life, Neema survived polio; however the disease weakened her leg muscles and impaired her ability to walk. She has overcome life’s obstacles to become the second woman from her ethnic group to earn a university degree. She has served in Parliament for South Kivu province and act as Chief Advisor to DRC’s Minister of Gender and Family. She founded Synergie des Associations Feminines du Congo (SAFECO) in 2012 as a way to foster collaboration amongst the women­-led NGOs in their work for peace and human rights. One chief program of SAFECO is its Girls Ambassadors Leadership program. Neema’s efforts to amplify the voices of all the girls and women in the DRC has been recognized and celebrated by several international organizations including Women Thrive Worldwide and the Global Fund for Women.

SAFECO has connected a diverse community of NGOs and women leaders in their shared goal of empowering the lives and status of girls and women. They have created opportunities for women to gain financial independence and employment and are enabling women to become successful seamstresses and forest conservation advocates.