In recent years, the global community has witnessed a significant shift in recognizing the invaluable contributions of women to society. Empowering women and ensuring their rights and opportunities are upheld has become a global priority. Against this background, the Women Deliver 2023 Conference serves as a platform to convene leaders, advocates, and change-makers from around the world, sharing ideas and strategies to promote gender equality. The Women Deliver Conference is a renowned gathering that advocates for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. The event brings together activists, policymakers, and influencers to discuss pressing issues, share best practices, and develop innovative solutions. The conference acts as a catalyst for change, propelling the women’s rights movement forward. Though we derive our work from grassroots levels, FOWODE’s commitment to empowering women has earned it recognition on a global scale. Our participation in the Women Deliver Conference in Rwanda amplifies our impact through highlighting the importance of grassroots initiatives and community-driven approaches to achieving gender equality. In this blog, we delve into FOWODE’s contribution to advance the struggle for gender equality through the Imara Women’s Centre.

The Imara Women’s Centre is FOWODE’s initiative to anchor and sustain our work on the advancement of women’s rights. Founded with the objective of advancing the struggle for gender equality, the Centre will be instrumental in upholding FOWODE’s vision. The Centre will be a symbol of hope and resilience for women and girls. Imara, which means ‘Bold’, ‘Strong’ and ‘Firm’ in the Swahili language, encapsulates the essence of the organization’s core values which are highlighted in the work we do. In March 2022, we broke ground for the Imara Women’s Centre. The Centre will be located in Wakiso District, in Kasangati Town off Gayaza Road in Uganda. The Imara Women’s Centre will be a base to nurture women’s voices and transformative leadership which are pivotal for women’s empowerment. The Centre will be a place for rejuvenation, reflection, nurturing, healing and self-care and will facilitate networks and connections to bring about togetherness for equality and women’s rights.

The Imara Women’s Centre will take a holistic approach to women’s empowerment by providing a safe and nurturing environment that fosters personal growth and well-being to ensure that women are empowered to thrive in all aspects of their lives. The Imara Women’s Centre will serve as a powerful testament to the transformative effect of empowering women. By investing in the potential of women and girls, the Center will create a ripple effect in facilitating women’s own independent voice, providing a safe space for supporting activism for zero acceptance of sexual and gender-based violence. Through the Imara Centre, the impact of empowered women will reverberate far beyond the confines of the Centre.

The Imara Women’s Centre’s commitment to empowering women aligns perfectly with the goals of the Women Deliver Conference. Through our participation in the conference, we will further amplify our impact and contribution to the global movement striving for gender equality. As we envision the Imara Women’s Centre, let us remember that empowering women and girls is not just a noble endeavor, but a necessary step toward building a more equitable and inclusive world.

For more information about the Imara Women’s Centre, visit https://fowode.org/imara-womens-centre/