The Changemakers Programme aims to empower advocates and activists dedicated to advancing gender equality by providing tailored support for research projects tied to their work or local communities. This initiative recognises the pivotal role of grassroots movements in fostering genuine societal change and endeavours to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world impact. We are looking to partner with gender equality movements and leaders from across the world because we know that their unique expertise and experience is the key to addressing complex inequalities. This non-residential, fully funded programme spans over one year, working flexibility and collaboratively to adjust to the priorities and requirements of the Changemakers.

We envisage that each Changemaker working with GIWL would benefit from:

• Time out from usual activities to work on research

• Tailored financial support to ensure participation – this could cover anything that makes the programme more accessible, ranging from childcare costs to providing backfill to cover costs for the employer

• 1:1 time working in a reciprocal relationship with a researcher from GIWL. The researcher will provide guidance in building robust research skills and carrying out the project, and learn from the changemaker about their mission, goals and the change they want to make happen

• The opportunity to spend time in London embedded within the GIWL team with all travel and accommodation costs covered

• Introductions to GIWL’s networks including global leaders in the fields of academia, politics, business and the third sector

• Support to build an Impact Plan to communicate and disseminate research

• Access to GIWL’s platforms to raise awareness and help translate research into action

• Opportunities to contribute to the intellectual life of King’s and gain exposure to different perspectives by engaging with wider King’s community 

Our Current Changemakers

Florence Sesay

Florence is currently the Executive Director of Media Matters for Women- Sierra Leone (MMW), an NGO which has earned recognition from UNESCO and UN Women for its innovative approach to addressing the information needs of rural communities in Sierra Leone. Florence has two decades of broadcast media experience and she is strong advocate for women and girls.

Media Matters for Women vision is to bridge the information gap of last mile communities and provide critical information on sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) to rural women and girls. MMW work closely with community activists, leaders, and groups— especially those directly impacted by SGBV, FGM, inequality and cultural fundamentalism—with information to enable them to build communities and networks that create change.

Florence is proud winner of the 2020 Women Forward Mentor of Distinction Bronze Award by BPeace- the US Women’s Business Council for Peace. She is a member of the Civil Society Regional Reference Group (CSRRG) Spotlight Initiative Program representing Sierra Leone among 15 member countries. She is among 50 women across the world that joined the 2022 Vital Voices fellowship.

Her area of work focus on the following areas;

1. Strengthening women's activist leadership through activism, movement building skills, organising, and lobbying.
2. Building and sustaining diverse and inclusive alliances to enhance women's time, connections, and impact to strengthen a movement that fights for women's rights.
3. Amplifying voices by influencing and informing public discourse, attitudes, and behaviour through creative media and communications strategies aimed at making women's rights and feminist agendas and movements more visible and important, and to challenge all forms of discrimination.

 Domtila Chesang

Domtila Chesang, an esteemed activist and advocate from West Pokot,  Kenya focused on combating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), is our first Changemaker, in collaboration with The Five Foundation and funded by Firebird Foundation. 

Domtila Chesang's project focuses on researching the persistence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) within the Pokot community in Kenya, as despite extensive efforts to eradicate this harmful practice, it remains prevalent, necessitating an in-depth exploration of the cultural beliefs and social dynamics that sustain it.

Through qualitative methods including focus group discussions and interviews with community members, the study seeks to examine the underlying reasons behind the continued practice of FGM and identify strategies to combat it effectively. 

By engaging with local stakeholders and enhancing information literacy at the grassroots level, the project aims to generate data-driven insights to inform targeted interventions and contribute to the broader mission of advancing gender equality.

The Changemakers programme is funded by Oak Foundation