Name: Make Way
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We are calling on policymakers to use an intersectional approach to ensure sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all!

Everyone needs access to healthcare, including SRHR. Yet, many people are left behind because of, for instance, their gender, sexuality, financial situation and social status. In this campaign, we share the stories of trailblazers who are paving the way in SRHR by using an intersectional approach. So that those who are often excluded when it comes to policies, services and information can finally be seen (#SeeMe).

We talked with youth, journalists, religious leaders and civil society to hear about their perspectives on intersectionality and how it helps them to realise SRHR for everyone. Read the below interviews to find out what they have to say.

Marie Ange Raissa Uwamungu

Marie Ange Raissa Uwamungu is a young trailblazer in gender equality and human rights. She has beaten all the odds from living life in a slum to becoming the successful founder and executive director of the civil society organisation Impanuro Girls Initiative (IGI). Through being aware of the significant disparities that women and girls face when it comes to accessing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information and services, Impanuro Girls Initiative (IGI) applies an intersectional approach to ensure no one is left behind. Read more →

Ngamanya Nkunika

Ngamanya Nkunika is leading the way fighting for access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Zambia. She navigates a conservative environment that frowns upon seeking SRHR when, for example, you are queer or unwed. Ngamanya tackles these challenges through her key roles as a Community Outreach and Mobilisation Officer at the Women’s Alliance for Equality (WAFE) and as a youth panel member of the Make Way programme in Zambia. In both roles, she applies an intersectional approach to ensure that everyone can access the SRHR that they…

Youth panel member John

As a youth panellist for the Make Way programme, John* has a deep understanding of Make Way’s efforts to ensure no one is left behind. He is a dedicated advocate for youth empowerment, disability rights and community development. We interviewed him as part of the Make Way #SeeMe campaign to gain a better understanding of how he applies intersectionality in his life and work to ultimately help realise sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Read more →

Reverend Adera

Godfrey Owino Adera is unlike your average priest. The youthful theologian and academic researcher is as fluent in the word of God, as he is in human rights; often accompanying each piece of scripture with its matching relevance to equality. As part of his pastoral duties at the Cosmopolitan Affirming Church in Nairobi, Kenya, Adera teaches congregants about radical inclusion – stressing the importance of unequivocally recognising the rights of sexual minorities, especially pertaining to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Read more →

Diverse Empowerment Foundation

Diverse Empowerment Foundation in Uganda advocates for the rights and well-being of LBQT (lesbian, bisexual, queer and transgender) womxn living with and without disabilities, through a holistic and intersectional approach. Edna Ninsiima spoke to (Ruby) Loretta Stephania Nakandi, Executive Director, Gracie Brendah, SRHR Advocacy Officer, and Joyce Nakijoba, SRHR Youth Advocate, at this disability-led, queer feminist organisation tackling SRHR inclusion of LBQT and disability identities. They explain how they use safe spaces, arts and language, while also gathering evidence to back up their advocacy. Read more →

Moses Chimfwembe

Moses Chimfwembe is a reporter covering stories on adolescents and women's health for the Times of Zambia. Through his interactions with the Make Way partners Forum for African Women Educationalists of Zambia (FAWEZA), he has developed an intersectional approach to news reporting. “It allows me to investigate more critically and to better understand the challenges that some people face in realising their sexual and reproductive health and rights.” Read more →

Embracing an intersectional approach

Intersectionality helps us understand how systemic barriers and different aspects of a person's identity, such as gender, race, and class, overlap and interact with each other, creating discrimination or privilege. These insights can help ensure that policies, services and more are adaptive and aligned sufficiently with people's health needs and lived realities. Take a look at our infographic and video for more information.

Do you want to ensure no one is left behind? Use our intersectional toolkit.

The Make Way SRHR toolkit offers practical guides to improve the capacity, skills and knowledge in your organisation. It enables you to undertake game-changing intersectional lobby and advocacy to influence policy and improve people’s access to SRHR services and information.