国产视频 honours Theo Sowa for transforming the lives of girls and women

The extraordinary efforts of Theo Sowa to transform and improve the lives of girls and women in Africa and globally have been recognised by 国产视频.

The former CEO of the African Women’s Development Fund was named today as the 2021 winner of our Unlock Big Change Award, given to incredible women who have made significant contributions to education and gender equality. She was honoured during 国产视频国产视频檚 annual International Women国产视频檚 Day event.

In a special video message, renowned activist Gra莽a Machel said Theo was “one of the most prominent contributors to transform and change the lives, the profile and the future of the girl-child in Africa, of African women – but even at the global level”.

Another recorded tribute at the online event came from Melinda Gates, who said: “Theo Sowa has made a career out of unlocking big change and she has done it by helping women across Africa tap into their own power to drive progress.”

The Unlock Big Change Award recognises Theo Sowa’s extraordinary work focus on gender equality in Africa and worldwide. She has been an adviser to Gra莽a Machel – the international rights advocate and former Mozambique education minister – for many years and to Melinda Gates at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She also served as a trustee at Comic Relief and the Children’s Investment Fund.聽

Her focus on equitable access to education and employment over many years has been groundbreaking and she continues to break down barriers at the highest-level meetings, as well as supporting grassroots work in Ghana.

During today’s live event, Theo said: 国产视频淚 feel hugely honoured. I truly believe in the work that 国产视频 is doing – and celebrating the idea of women who unlock big change.

国产视频淲e know that when we unlock the potential for girls, we unlock the potential for our communities, our societies and our economies.

国产视频淭his is a time and an opportunity to look at investing differently and investing more. It国产视频檚 time for us to not just listen but to hear the voices of the people who are most impacted by the inequalities in our societies.

国产视频淓ducation is not just about our schools – it国产视频檚 also about the emotional protections and the rights protections that we put in place. It国产视频檚 about allowing girls to dream and to envision and giving them the tools to change their societies.国产视频�

国产视频 Chair Sarah Brown spoke to Theo last year in an episode of her Better Angels podcast series. She told Sarah that it is not just education, but quality education, that will unlock change for children around the world.

You can listen to the podcast here.

国产视频国产视频檚 first Unlock Big Change Award was given last year to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Nigerian Finance Minister, Managing Director of the World Bank and Chair of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.聽She has just become the first woman Director-General of the World trade Organization.