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Josephine

They wanted me to marry when I was still a child. I fought for my rights and said “No, I want to go to school”.

Josephine is the Director of ActionAid Rwanda

For more than ten years Josephine has been the Director of ActionAid Rwanda.  Every day she passionately defends the rights of children and girls in her country.

She herself experienced discrimination as a child, when she had to take refuge in neighbouring Uganda to escape the civil war.

At the age of 13, she also risked being forced out of school and into marriage. Josephine, however, did not allow herself to be overwhelmed and fought for her rights: “No, I don't want to get married. I want to go to school”, she said.

Today, Josephine manages many projects in support of women and girls, so that they can have the possibility to build a brighter future for themselves, gaining the economic independence to be free.

 

Photocredits: Pooja Kishnani/ActionAid