At Search for Common Ground West Africa, we honor the resilience and strength of women making a difference in conflict-affected communities. We are proud to work alongside these women, leading the way in conflict transformation and peacebuilding.
To mark International Women’s Day, we want to share stories of four inspiring women breaking barriers and transforming their communities in Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Niger.
In Mali, Sylvie, the president of the Coordination of Women’s Associations and NGOs of Mali, and her team work tirelessly to prevent violence among young people and raise awareness in the community. With Sylvie leading the way, women in Bamako are breaking down barriers and fostering peace.
In Burkina Faso, in the town of Ouahigouya, over 300 women from different communities have come together to promote peaceful coexistence through art and culture. They are taking the lead in creating opportunities to build bridges across differences and envision a new and peaceful future.
In Nigeria, women like Wonasato Uziel have stepped up to promote peacebuilding and dialogue in their communities, especially in the face of recurrent farmer-herder conflicts that have negatively impacted their livelihoods and well-being.
In Niger, Hamsatou Ousmane, a 43-year-old widow and mother of six has overcome adversity and become a beacon of hope for women in her community. She is the President of the women’s group “Kautal Koyé” in Mainé Soroa, established by Search for Common Ground as part of the “Kallo Karayé” Project.
You can read the complete stories of Hamsatou, Uziel, Sylvie, and the women of Ouahigouya here.
