Modesta Joseph – Women Deliver

Modesta Joseph

Ovah Tanzania

25 | She / Her / Hers
Region: East Africa
Country of Residence: Tanzania
Expertise Areas:
Adolescent Girls' Rights Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Youth Leadership / Equitable Youth Engagement
Bio
Modesta is a Tanzanian youth advocate and founder of Our Voices Against Harassment (OVAH), a non-profit organization dedicated to combating sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Born and raised in a low-income neighborhood, Modesta’s early experiences with sexual harassment and witnessing friends drop out of school due to early pregnancies inspired her to take action. At 15, she created OurCries, a platform for students to report harassment, which later evolved into the wider-reaching non-governmental organization. Modesta believes in the power of youth-led change and the importance of equitable youth engagement in shaping interventions that impact their lives. Through OVAH, she has mobilized young people to co-create solutions, such as the animation series Elimika na Mwajuma, aimed at educating adolescents on SGBV. The initiative has reached over 300,000 people and has sparked critical conversations in Tanzania. As a leader, Modesta envisions a future where young people, especially girls, can make informed decisions about their bodies and futures. She is committed to expanding access to SRHR information and services, particularly in underserved communities, and continues to advocate for policy changes that support young people's rights. Through her participation in the Emerging Leaders Program, Modesta seeks to collaborate with global SRHR advocates, gain technical knowledge, and strengthen her impact in ensuring that Tanzanian youth have access to comprehensive, youth-friendly SRHR services and education.