At FORWARD, we believe in nurturing women to become the leaders of tomorrow. Our unique community of women come from a range of backgrounds – from countries to industries, we work everyday to ensure that African girls and women will live in dignity, are healthy, have choices and enjoy equal rights free from fear of violence. Meet our amazing team who help make FORWARD’s vision a reality.
Naana is a social activist and the Executive Director of FORWARD. She has worked at the International Planned Parenthood Federation, where she investigated child marriage and poverty. She believes that to achieve gender equality the world must address violence against women and the socio-cultural norms that accept this behaviour. In 2009 she was honoured in the 2008 Birthday Honours for “services to Human Rights Issues for Women”. In 2014 Naana gave a TEDx talk about women’s rights and FGM. That year she was included in the Evening Standard’s list of London’s most influential people.
Toks is a vastly experienced professional within the not for profit sector. She is passionate about ensuring that individuals who are vulnerable or discriminated against are able to avail themselves of their rights and have a credible voice. Her professional roles have involved liaising with senior managers and key stakeholders, working to achieve desired outcomes by being a catalyst for change with a commitment to improve efficiencies and deliver value for money.” Toks is the Head of UK Programmes and Operations at FORWARD. She leads the UK Community, Training, Schools team as well as the planning and delivery of support casework and Psychosocial Educational risk assessments.
Mary Otuko is the UK Programmes Manager at FORWARD leading in the planning and delivery of multiple projects under our Communities and Youth & Schools Programmes. She is part of FORWARD’s Senior Management Team directly managing staff as well as our work relationship with partner organisations, other service agencies and FGM affected communities nationally. Mary has an MSc in Population and Development from London School of Economics and sits on the Board of Trustees for a new charity called TEST (Tanzania Education and Skills Trust) which is setting up a school and working with street children in Kigoma, North-West Tanzania. Mary is also a Committee member and Projects Lead for the Lango Association UK (LAUK), a community organisation set up by UK Diaspora Ugandans from Northern Uganda.
Kabung holds a BSc in Biomedical science and MSc in Global health and Development. She has been with FORWARD for 5 years and delivers training on FGM, supports survivors of VAWG and engages with community and professional stakeholders to better integrate support services with migrant women’s needs. She has delved into creative projects at FORWARD such as acting in the community drama ‘Uncomfortable Conversations in a Foreign Land’, directing and producing a short film ‘Uncomfortable Conversations: A letter to my husband’ and lending her voice for “These Are Our Friends Too” album.
Paige is an advocate for the human rights of women and children. She has achieved an LLB (Hons) in Law from the University of Surrey. Paige is dedicated to amplifying the marginalised voices of the youth in the community. She believes that if you give the youth a brighter future, there will always be a brighter day. She is determined in providing the young people with development opportunities to shape their future and create a change in society. She actively explores creative ways to advocate against violence against women and girls. In her free time, she enjoys poetry, reading and listening to an insightful podcast.
Dolly is passionate about issues of gender, social and economic justice globally. She has worked in the social development sector as an educator, advocate, and youth development practitioner in countries such as Canada, Lesotho, Japan and Zambia. As a member of the European Women’s lobby, Dolly has advised on increasing engagement with ethnic minority young women across Europe. As well as being the Youth and Community Assistant, she is currently obtaining a Master’s in Development Studies from The School of Oriental and African Studies.
Vanessa has a passion for African History and deems that all women of African descent have the right to enjoy their human rights to the fullest. Vanessa is the Office Assistant at FORWARD. Well-travelled, she has studied in Australia and has gained a BA (HONS) in History from University of Central Lancashire. In this fight against social injustice, she believes that “If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent the night with a mosquito” (African Proverb).
As the Head: Global Advocacy and Partnerships, Adwoa believes she is able to actualise her passion for securing equal rights and justice for African girls and women. She has had many jobs- working in academia, working for Women’s Aid, Local Authority, as well as for an international NGO in Ghana. Her duties include responsibility for FORWARD’ Africa programmes, as well as our policy and advocacy themes as they emerge from those programmes. Adwoa is also responsible for the work we do with the African diaspora in the UK on issues that impact them. She believes there is a joy and passion in FORWARD that is unmatched as we fight to safeguard the rights and dignity of African women and girls.
Amy specialises in behavioural insights and impact evaluations of health interventions. She currently heads Evidence and Knowledge Management at FORWARD, using research and evaluation to develop evidence-based programmes and policy engagement. Previously, she was associate director at Kantar Public, where she led research for UK central government departments, including Public Health England and the NHS.
Fosdicka is the finance Lead at FORWARD. She is a finance consultant with over twenty years of experience working with community and voluntary sector groups in facilitating the smooth running of their finance functions and supporting capacity building interventions. After her first degree in History and Sociology, Fosdicka trained as a company secretary with the Institute of Chartered Secretary & Administrators (ICSA) before commencing her training with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). She brings with her significant expertise and experience of working with the Board of Trustees, Directors and Committees to strengthen financial reporting and financial management and enhancing financial sustainability and governance issues.
Rita joined FORWARD in 2011 and has been with FORWARD for over 8 years. She worked as a Fees clerk with Crown Prosecution Service and volunteered for Ethnic Alcohol counselling as Receptionist. She has gained good experience in her various roles as Receptionist/Office assistant, Executive assistant and currently studying AAT Level 3 Advanced Accounting to get a better understanding in depth to support her current role as Finance Assistant.
Yvette is the Training and Development Coordinator for the FORWARD and her lifelong occupation and passion has been training and empowering with special focus on improving the lot of the girl child and women. Her role in FORWARD also includes delivering bespoke courses for institutions and organisations around the country. She has vast experience in the field of education and was the Vice Principal of the Gambia College for over twenty years. Yvette progressed to further development oriented work in organisations such as Forum for African Women’s Educationalists, Young Women’s Christian Association and The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies in Banjul, The Gambia.
Originally from Sudan, Mahasin is very passionate about women’s rights and women’s empowerment. She is an advocate for African women to speak up to end all the harmful practices and has helped lead FORWARD’s community outreach, engagement and support since 2014. She is currently active in providing support and interpreting skills in English and Arabic to integrate refugee and migrant families for better access to local services. Mahasin helps facilitate our monthly Coffee Mornings and has taken part in creative projects, such as film, that help African women share and discuss sensitive issues in a safe space.
Eiman Hussein is a qualified psychotherapist with an MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy. Eiman has a medical background with an MSc in Public Health and brings more than 15 years of experience working in the charity sector on issues of women’s reproductive health and rights and specifically on the issue of FGM. She currently provides psychotherapy support to women survivors of FGM and other forms of VAWG at FORWARD as well as being in private practice.
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