Empowering marginalised women
Interview with the director of Women Needed Peace
Jacqueline's journey began in adversity in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite facing early hardships, she persisted in her education. Showing resilience and tenacity, she navigated through university. Determined to make a difference, she founded a foundation which empowers marginalised women.
Jacqueline Bagabo is the executive director of Women Needed Peace (WNP), a Congolese organisation dedicated to women’s and indigenous rights. As she explains, “We work mainly with indigenous communities that face discrimination and gender and sexual-based violence and are stigmatised by their local community. These women live around the National Park of Kahuzi Biega and Virunga, but also in the different forests of South and North Kivu.“
“I started selling mangoes and sugarcane to be still able to afford the syllabi.”
Amplify marginalised voices through scholarly writing
Through the academic writing workshop offered by ARQ and Intervention Journal, she discovered that her knowledge about the needs and experiences of indigenous communities could form the basis for an article or field report. In the train-the-trainer programme, she learned how to share her knowledge of academic writing with her peers and the communities.
For Jacqueline, this wasn't merely an opportunity to enhance her skills; it was a chance to amplify the voices of the marginalised through scholarly discourse. "Before the workshop, I knew nothing about academic writing. It is really new to us. The training helped me understand how I can support these vulnerable communities by sharing their needs. I have already started writing about the access to and use of quality healthcare for indigenous women in the National Park of Kahuzi Biega region."
“I will organise workshops so my colleagues can produce field reports, too.”
Global empowerment through education and advocacy
Through activities and collaborative efforts, she aims to empower others to articulate their struggles and advocate for change. As Jacqueline reflects on her journey, she shares her dreams of international outreach. Her organisation, once a small initiative born from a collective desire for change, now aspires to transcend borders, offering support to women and children worldwide.
Jacqueline's story inspires and gives hope. Her journey from adversity to empowerment exemplifies the transformative power of education and advocacy. Through her unwavering commitment, she is not only rewriting the narrative for indigenous women but also paving the way for a more equitable and inclusive society for all.
Jacqueline Bagabo participated in the Academic Writing Workshop designed by ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Intervention and the Université Evangélique en Afrique. The Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs funded this programme through the Orange Knowledge Programme, managed by Nuffic Global Development. We and our partners are grateful for their support in stimulating the transformative power of education and advocacy.
Academic Writing Workshop
Learn more about the ARQ Academic Writing Workshops in collaboration with Intervention journal here: