Theo Sowa

thumb|Theo Sowa of the African Women's Development Fund speaking at the Girls' Education Forum in London, 7 July 2016 Theo Sowa CBE (born 1957) is a Ghanaian-born independent adviser working on a wide range of international issues with a focus on social development issues and has spoken publicly on a number of socio-political issues. She has worked with a number of organisations, including UNICEF, Stephen Lewis Foundation, the African Union, DfID, and UNDP, among others, and is currently CEO of the African Women's Development Fund. Her work has included working with Graça Machel on issues pertaining to the youth as well as contributing and editing a number of publications. Sowa is also a trustee of Comic Relief. In June 2010, Sowa was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Quotes We all have power, different types of power. When we don’t acknowledge that power, it’s easier for others to step all over us African women and African women’s organizations are doing incredible things open your eyes and see our strengths there is no successful African who has not benefited at some point from another African’s philanthropy Interview – Theo Sowa,1 September 2013,Alliance Magazine respect, hard work, courage, vision, professionalism, listening and learning, love and a little sprinkling of joy from and with our sisters… and pride in positive disruption! When we box women into single story victim roles, we become part of systemic disempowerment. That means we join in the undermining of confidence, the withdrawal of choice, the ignoring of power and leadership… and that needs to stop. It is a matter of justice, of equal opportunity, of giving girls a real basis for choice in their lives. Investing in girls’ education is about healthy, happy girls and communities who can take their leadership roles in our societies We are the backbones of our communities. We are strong. We are visionary. We have faith. Africa cannot survive without us Walk the talk – Put women at the centre of our economic, political and social development Stop talking about women’s rights when women are not at the heart of that discussion, of planning and of implementing Invest in women and girls – our communities deserve the leadership that African women bring. This is not a matter of charity or benevolence – it is a matter of rights and of common sense Stop patronizing women and girls – we have proved over and over again that investing in us brings huge benefits to our families and nations Theo Sowa shares her thoughts with ‘Deliver for Good’ on Advocacy, Narrative and Her Sheroes,Feb 28, 2019,https://womendeliver.org/elevating-voices-education-a-qa-with-theo-sowa/ External links Category:Social democrats Category:People from Ghana Category:Chief executive officers Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire