international activist scholarship winners annie zaidi, india cristina quisbert, bolivia pilirani...

International Activist Scholarship Winners

Annie Zaidi, INDIA

Cristina Quisbert, BOLIVIA

Pilirani Semu-Banda, MALAWI

Toyin Ajao, NIGERIA

Moderator: Anita Doberman Tedaldi

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Annie Zaidi, INDIA

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Annie Zaidi, INDIA

• I am a journalist

• I blog to encourage people to rethink stereotypes based on gender, religion or race

• Blogging has set me free

• I am a journalist

• I blog to encourage people to rethink stereotypes based on gender, religion or race

• Blogging has set me free

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Annie Zaidi: What I have accomplished

• I have drawn attention to serious issues in India:

• Scavenging

• Sexual harassment

• Religious prejudices

• My work has been reprinted and syndicated, and even adapted to the theatre

• I have become a published author

• I have drawn attention to serious issues in India:

• Scavenging

• Sexual harassment

• Religious prejudices

• My work has been reprinted and syndicated, and even adapted to the theatre

• I have become a published author

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Annie’s Tips

• Write honestly

• Write what you see

• Don’t be afraid

• But also don’t judge too harshly

• Write honestly

• Write what you see

• Don’t be afraid

• But also don’t judge too harshly

Annie Zaidi, INDIA

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• I build community among Bolivia’s indigenous people

• I build a bridge to understand our roots, our daily life

• I seek to recover and preserve the memory of our ancestors

• I build community among Bolivia’s indigenous people

• I build a bridge to understand our roots, our daily life

• I seek to recover and preserve the memory of our ancestors

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Cristina Quisbert: What I have accomplished

• I have created a step-by-step record of art, music, dance and history of indigenous peoples

• I have provided a rare link between two worlds: indigenous/non-indigenous and rural/urban

• Other indigenous people are finding their voice through my work with the site: Voces Bolivianas

• I have created a step-by-step record of art, music, dance and history of indigenous peoples

• I have provided a rare link between two worlds: indigenous/non-indigenous and rural/urban

• Other indigenous people are finding their voice through my work with the site: Voces Bolivianas

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Cristina’s Tips

• Know that what you do is important

• Have a clear objective for your blog and your writing

• Define your motivation to continue blogging

• Know that what you do is important

• Have a clear objective for your blog and your writing

• Define your motivation to continue blogging


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• I am a journalist, and a mother, wife, caretaker

• I am committed to unearthing Malawi’s social & economic ills

• I advocate for the people of Malawi, especially women, because I want to bring their suffering into the public eye and am passionate about improving their lives

• I am a journalist, and a mother, wife, caretaker

• I am committed to unearthing Malawi’s social & economic ills

• I advocate for the people of Malawi, especially women, because I want to bring their suffering into the public eye and am passionate about improving their lives

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Pilirani Semu-Banda: What I have accomplished

• My work has led to real change:• The improvement of monitoring programs to

get rid of child labor in the tobacco industry• Better treatment for women suffering from

fistula• More support for women vying for decision-

making positions

• I have received various awards for my work, including scholarships, journalism awards, and human rights/media awards.

• My work has led to real change:• The improvement of monitoring programs to

get rid of child labor in the tobacco industry• Better treatment for women suffering from

fistula• More support for women vying for decision-

making positions

• I have received various awards for my work, including scholarships, journalism awards, and human rights/media awards.

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Pilirani’s Tips

• Believe in yourself

• Be willing to go the extra mile

• Be assertive

• Question, question, and question some more

• Believe in yourself

• Be willing to go the extra mile

• Be assertive

• Question, question, and question some more


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Toyin Ajao, NIGERIA

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Toyin Ajao, NIGERIA

• I am a gender & feminist activist

• I grew up seeing women treated as baby factories and the property of men. I need to make a difference

• I want women’s rights to become integral, and I am building a network of women, and men, who will work towards this goal

• I am a gender & feminist activist

• I grew up seeing women treated as baby factories and the property of men. I need to make a difference

• I want women’s rights to become integral, and I am building a network of women, and men, who will work towards this goal

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Toyin Ajao: What I have accomplished

• I have formed a coalition with like-minded bloggers, so we can better advance the lives of young women

• Used the “Interview Thursday” series on my blog to identify and connect with others who can work with me to affect policy

• I have formed a coalition with like-minded bloggers, so we can better advance the lives of young women

• Used the “Interview Thursday” series on my blog to identify and connect with others who can work with me to affect policy

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Toyin’s Tips

• Passion for change

• Dedication to the cause

• Persistence

• Interest in improving women's conditions and rights

• Courage

• Passion for change

• Dedication to the cause

• Persistence

• Interest in improving women's conditions and rights

• Courage

Toyin Ajao-Dawodu, NIGERIA

Thank You!International Activist Scholarship Winners

Annie Zaidi, INDIA



Toyin Ajao, NIGERIA

Moderator: Anita Doberman Tedaldi

international activist scholarship winners annie zaidi, india cristina quisbert, bolivia pilirani...

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