Part 3: The 30 Most Notable Africans of 2013
03 Feb 2014
#9. NEIMAT AHMADI
Country of Origin: SUDAN
What: In 2006, all eyes were on George Clooney and other high profile activists as they gave the world a first-hand account of the atrocities of genocide happening in Sudan. But what happens after those celebrities and the cameras are gone and the issue is still just as urgent? That’s why you have people like Neimat Ahmadi who are fighting to ensure that the word “genocide” is removed from our vocabulary…permanently. This soft-spoken, but fiercely committed advocate did not come the U.S. by choice, she remembers the horror of finding her entire village in Northern Darfur destroyed by the Janjaweed in 2002. As the founder and the president of Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) and the Director of Global Partnerships for United to End Genocide, she conducts outreach to the civil societies worldwide, particularly those represent the communities affected by genocide and mass atrocities from the regions that UEG is working to address. .
Why I’m Inspired: Ahmadi has been a tireless advocate for Sudanese who have been severely impacted by the human rights abuses in Darfur. In this video from the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, she says: “I have been forced to leave my country and to leave my people. But I left for two reasons: to be their voice and to continue to advocate for them.” About founding DWAG, she reflects: “As someone lucky enough to have escaped the suffering and unimaginable pain, I feel the obligation toward my sisters and mothers to stand up and encourage other survivors to accept their responsibilities and undertake the important role that can contribute to the restoration of the dignity and conservation of our society.” Ahmadi is making a way out of no way.
To learn more about the Darfur Action Women Group, click here.
Julian B. Kiganda
I hope you enjoyed this post! A little about me: I’m the founder of Bold & Fearless and a Transformational Brand Strategist. My gifting is in helping purpose-driven women transform and build million-dollar brands. I’m also an author, transformational speaker and multi-passionate entrepreneur. In 2014, I published my first highly-acclaimed book co-authored with my sister: Whose Shoes Are You Wearing? 12 Steps to Uncovering the Woman You Really Want to Be available on Barnes & Noble and Amazon. To learn more about how you can connect or work with me, visit www.julianbkiganda.com.
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