Yordanos (Yordy) Nega

What ignited your pursuit for gender equality?

My burning aspiration for a fair world is what ignited my pursuit for gender equality. I have never shied away from calling myself a feminist or a gender equality advocate. Some people have undermined my fight against injustice, but that has only made me more passionate about creating a world where everyone is equal. I won't stop my fight until every single human in the world has the exact same choices because nobody is free unless we're all free.

Please share your biggest wins as an advocate for gender equality.

As a member of The Yellow Movement, we have an annual project where we sell candies, flowers, and cards for Valentine's Day. The money we raise is used to support female Addis Ababa University students who are unable to afford sanitary pads and stationary required to finish their education. This year, The Yellow Movement was able to generate hundreds of thousands of Birr and help over 200 female students. I am very proud of my role in this annual event that impacts my sisters in a positive way.

Outside of your gender equality advocacy work, what do you enjoy doing?

One of my passions in life is the concept of the power of the mind. I am deeply intrigued by spirituality and a positive mindset. I believe anything is possible with a combination of positive mind and a precise plan. The other thing I am passionate about is poetry. Art gives this world a colorful lens, and I'm lucky to get my share of this artistic flavor by writing poems every now and then as a hobby.