Hamisa Zaja (c.1972 - ) is a Kenyan empowering persons with disabilities. She founded the Coastal Association for People with Disabilities. In 2024 she was a finalist in the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) International Women Building Peace Award.
Hamisa Zaja | |
|---|---|
.jpg) in 2024 | |
| Born | c.1972 |
| Nationality | Kenya |
| Known for | disability activist |
| Political party | United Green Movement party |
Life
editZaja was born in about 1972 in Kenya's Mombasa County. She was treated for fever when she was a child and as a result she has a paralysed leg.[1] She went to Port Ritz School for the Physically Handicapped and then Mama Ngina Girls' Secondary School. She knew that her family organised marriages for their children, but no candidates were indentified for her. She went on to graduate in business administration.[1]
She founded the Coastal Association for People with Disabilities.[2] She was chosen to be on the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.[3]
She was one of four candidates at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington DC for the Women Building Peace Awards. The other three were Pétronille Vaweka of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr. Marie-Marcelle Deschamps of Haiti, Abir Haj Ibrahim from Syria.[4][5] The award had previously been won in 2021 by Josephine Ekiru from Kenya.[6] In 2024 Pétronille Vaweka became the Women Building Peace Award Laureate.[4]
Zaja was one of fourteen women who stood for election to replace the Women Representive Asha Hussein in Mombasa.[7] She stood on behalf of the United Green Movement party who are trying to end unfair inequalities.[8] She believed that people with disabilities may be intimidated by others, including some police officers, from voting.[7]
Private life
editZaja is married and has two children.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Women who found ability in disability". The Citizen. 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ Ndunge, Judy (2024-04-15). "Hamisa Zaja, a Kenyan activist feted for championing rights of persons with disabilities -". Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ Arudo, Otieno (2024-03-08). "Kenyan Activist Hamisa Zaja Honored with Prestigious International Women Building Peace Award". KenyanVibe. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ a b "How the World Can Better Support Women Peacebuilders". United States Institute of Peace. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ Abala, William (2024-03-06). "Hamisa Zaja Bags 2024 Women Building Peace Award". Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ "Previous Women Building Peace Award Laureates and Finalists". United States Institute of Peace. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ a b "Don't use violence to scare women, PWDs — Zaja". The Star. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ "UNITED GREEN MOVEMENT – UNITED GREEN MOVEMENT". Retrieved 2024-12-02.
This article needs additional or more specific categories. (December 2024) |