2020
Lilian Sospeter
- Age: 29
- | She/her/hers
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By educating the community on gender equality, the next generation will live in a world where young boys will respect and understand the concept of equal rights and young girls will realize their power and potential.
- Lilian Sospeter
Bio
Lilian Sospeter is a young activist advocating for girls and women rights specific on sexual reproductive health and livelihood. She is currently working with Voluntary service oversees as a youth engagement officer and an active member of women deliver young leader class of 2020-2023 representing Tanzania. Previously, she was a volunteer for 2 years as a business development service officer helping the local entrepreneurs to grow their business and empower women with gender equality awareness. In 2019 she was nominated for VSO livelihood volunteer award and made it to the top finalist. She also represented Tanzania National youth engagement network (NYEN) at the VSO Global Youth Engagement workshop in Thailand Bangkok as a youth champion. She is an alumni of the Afresist youth leadership program 2019, International citizen service (ICS) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) young Leaders program. In 2020 she received a Small Grant of USD5500 from Women Deliver to implement HER STORY OUR ACTION project in Tanzania. The project aimed at advocating for youth friendly SRHR services by using documentary that captured stories of five teenage mothers. Recently she has been selected for another grant to implement PARENT ENGAGE project that aims at capacitating and involving parents in creating youth friendly SRHR services.
What ignited your pursuit for gender equality?
I do the work that I do because I desire to see women and young girls have equal rights, voices, and opportunities as men. In my community, there is still a huge gender inequality gap where many girls are being denied reproductive health information to protect them from early pregnancy and the right to education that would give them a fair start in life. It pains me to see women face different forms of violence in their everyday lives because of their gender.
Please share your biggest wins as an advocate for gender equality.
My biggest win as an advocate for gender equality is my mentorship program for young secondary school girls that I started in 2019. Mentoring 10 girls on sexual reproductive health and rights, self-awareness, smart goals setting, confidence building, self-love, and career guidance, I have impacted these girls with the right knowledge and information to help them make wise decisions regarding their career, health, and future life. Currently, I have reached out to more than 25 girls. I am so proud to see how my program has helped them become more confident and smart young girls with purpose.
Outside of your gender equality advocacy work, what do you enjoy doing?
I enjoy reading nonfiction books, traveling to new places, and watching movies and documentaries.
Languages Spoken:
- English (Advanced/Native)
- Kiswahili (Advanced/Native)
Speaks On:
- women's economic empowerment
- SRHR,
- domestic violence
Past Awards, Certifications, or Fellowships:
- Afresist Youth Leadership Program (2019)
- Finalist for Voluntary Service Oversees Livelihood Volunteer Impact Award (2019)
