Varsity Student gets selected by UN’s Empower Women as a 2016/2017 Global Champion for Change

On 10th December 2016, the UN’s Empower Women released its list of 170 selected global champions for change. The 170 winners were chosen after a month-long online rally which had attracted four thousand applicants globally. The candidates had campaigned and advocated for women’s economic empowerment through various activities.

In its press statement, Empower Women stated, “The champions will serve as advocates for women economic empowerment both online and in their local communities. They will be involved in a series of innovative initiatives such as expanding the Organizational Hub, piloting the Financial Literacy course, and participating in the #BreakTheGlass and #HERstory campaigns.”

Among the champions is a nineteen-year-old university student, Josephine Adeti. She was among the only nine Kenyans selected for the championship. Josephine is a second year engineering student in JKUAT Juja.

Speaking about the championship, she says, “I am very excited to have been selected among the champions. It is such an honor to advocate for women’s economic empowerment in my community.” During her championship tenure, Josephine aims to raise awareness about women’s economic participation among university students.

She has begun an initiative Aditya’s Financial Literacy and Economic Endowment (AFLEE) which she has piloted in her university. Speaking of AFLEE, she says, “AFLEE aims to raise awareness about the importance of women economic empowerment. We will design flyers, create videos, write stories and engage with the community for the next two months. We will as well take our advocacy online through Twitter campaigns.” Josephine adds she has received the support and resources she requires from other giant organization including Circle Pakistan and Ananke Magazine. "The greatest challenge we encounter is the on-going lecturers strike, but we will manage," she concludes.