Miriam Were

Overview

Miriam K. Were born Lugala, Kenya April 12, 1940. Quaker; physician; public health official. UNICEF Ethiopia Chief Health Adviser, 1985-90; WHO Representative, 1990-93; UN Population Fund Director, 1993-2000. Founded UZIMA Foundation for youth health, 1995. First recipient of Noguchi Africa Prize, 2008.

Quotations

"Compassion is the missing ingredient in development work. . . this is particularly needed in the health sector. . . We need the UN now more than ever!" (UN University Tokyo, May 29, 2008; photo africanexecutive.com)

Glenda Wildschut

Overview

Glenda Wildschut born District Six, Cape Town, South Africa March 12, 1953. Psychiatric nurse experienced in trauma of Apartheid; worked with WHO on trauma in war zones. Founded Cape Town's first trauma center, 1993. Commissioner of Truth & Reconciliation Commission, 1995.

Quotations

“A post-conflict process of reconciliation can only succeed if it is legitimate in the eyes of the victims.” (Wildschut & Hauupt, “I’ll Walk Beside You”, 2004; photo uct.ac.za)

Jenni Williams

Overview

Jenni Williams born Gwanda, Matabeteland, Zimbabwe April 1, 1962. Co-founded nonviolent WOZU (Women of Zimbabwe Arise), arrested 43+ times; imprisoned 2008 Bulawayo for protest against denial of food aid; Ginetta Sagan Prize 2012.

Quotations

"Part of strategic non-violence is that you have to create the dilemma, put yourself in the position and then if you are beaten, arrested, tortured, you expose that injustice without retaliating. It's been easier to train the women than it is to train the men." (Zimbabwean, May 25, 2012)

"We call it tough love because we love our country enough to sacrifice being arrested and beaten." (NicoleItano, womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=2522; photo Wikipedia from frontlinedefenders.org)