Women of Impact

The Women of Impact series is a powerful initiative that spotlights and honors the important work of extraordinary women who are working on the ground to advance women and girls.

The series aims to inspire and facilitate interconnectivity by bringing together women by sector across geographies through an annual Women of Impact convening and recognizing extraordinary women leaders though the Women of Impact Award. The Foundation is committed to showcasing the accomplishments of Women of Impact Award recipients to help drive resources to the critical work they do on behalf of women and girls in their communities and around the world.

Dr. Hawa Abdi
Dr. Hawa, a gynecologist, runs a medical clinic and 90,000 refugee camp on her family farm near war-torn Mogadishu, Somalia.

Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya
Negotiated with her father and village elders to allow her to attend school and went on to graduate with a Ph.D. in education and start an all-girls school in her village in Kenya.

Leymah Gbowee
2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner led a women's peace movement in Liberia.

Raquel Barros Da Silva
Raquel Barros Da Silva is Founder and President of Brazil's New Moon Institute, an institution dedicated to working with mothers and pregnant women at risk.

 Maria da Penha
Maria da Penha's husband twice tried to kill her: once by shooting her  and leaving her paralyzed for life, and then by attempting to electrocute her. Her crusade prompted Brazil's government to enact the landmark Maria da Penha law, which toughens penalties for domestic violence and so far has led to more than 300,000 prosecutions.

Dona Anna Marcondes Faria
Dona Anna Marcondes Faria is a leader in Brazil’s favela community. She is the founder of the Community Center of St. Lidia (CEACA), offering education and access to public services to youth at risk and underprivileged population in the community. 

Khalida Brohi
Despite death threats she crusades against honor killing and for the rights of women in Pakistan through her organization, Sughar.

Humaira Bachal
At age 12 she set up classes to educate Pakistani girls
in Karachi’s poorest neighborhood; now she runs the Dream Model Street School for 700 children.

Molly Melching
She founded Tostan, which works against female genital cutting and child marriage in Africa while building sustainable communities and promoting equal rights.

Phiona Mutesi
She rose above a childhood of poverty and abject hunger to become Uganda’s national chess champion and a contender in the World Chess Olympiad.

Susana Trimarco
Her daughter was kidnapped in 2002 and sold to sex traffickers; in her honor this Argentine mother fights against sex slavery through her Maria de los Angeles Foundation.