What happens when young women from grassroots movements step into some of the world’s most powerful rooms? Change begins, not tomorrow, but right now.
This March, Her Initiative proudly represented Tanzania’s young women at the 68th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York. Founder and Executive Director,Lydia Charles Moyo together with our Project Lead Nusura Myonga carried with them more than just titles, they carried stories, challenges, and the strong spirit of leadership rising across Tanzania
This year’s CSW was more than an ordinary gathering. It marked 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, sparking global reflection and urgent calls to action for accelerating gender equality. Her Initiative took part in critical sessions like “Generation Equality Towards Beijing+30”, diving deep into issues such as rural women’s land tenure insecurity and gender injustice. These weren’t abstract conversations, they mirrored the daily realities faced by the very communities we serve.
Among the most memorable moments was breaking bread with Tanzanian delegates, including Minister of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups Hon Dorothy Gwajima, during a shared iftar. The Tanzanian Embassy in New York extended heartfelt hospitality to our team, making the space feel like home, even amidst high-level diplomacy.
But Her Initiative wasn’t just present, we had the opportunity to lead, representing thousands of women-led organizations going through similar issues and amplifying the voices of millions across Tanzania who couldn’t all be on that stage.
This month, Lydia Charles Moyo, Executive Director of Her Initiative, had the privilege to be alongside a few others who were given the opportunity to speak at a high-level session hosted by UN Women and UN Youth Affairs. Representing the voices of countless young women, Lydia moderated discussions on aligning the Beijing Platform for Action with the upcoming Pact for the Future, a powerful reminder that young women are not just the leaders of tomorrow, we are leading today. From the Malala Fund Community Luncheon to the African Feminist Generational Dialogue with the founders of AWDF, and a celebration of four decades of feminist movement-building with MADRE, every interaction deepened our resolve. These were not one-time events; they were part of a long arc of solidarity, legacy, and bold futures.
And the journey didn’t end in New York.
Our team joined the Forward Global gathering in Los Angeles, where grassroots organizers met with global donors to reimagine partnership. Her Initiative shared firsthand what resilience looks like for local organizations navigating shrinking aid and growing needs. We spoke not just of challenges, but of what’s possible when resources meet real commitment.
We also strengthened bonds with allies and dreamt bigger. A visit to the Chanel Foundation headquarters having a chance to share Her Initiative’s work and spark the possibilities of future collaborations. We reconnected with Women First, our earliest partners, and engaged with the Girls Opportunity Alliance to imagine future collaborations that could uplift thousands more girls. One of the most powerful exchanges took place at the International Labour Organization (ILO) Headquarters, where we met ILO Special Representative to the UN, Madam Cynthia Samuel Olonjuwon, and explored shared goals around decent work and SDG 8 for youth in Tanzania.Additionally, we had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in powerful conversations and action-driven spaces that centered the voices and realities of women and girls.These conversations urged the governments, civil society, and organizations like ours to come together to reflect, challenge, and push for policies that truly work for women, especially the young and the often unheard. Lydia emphasized “Young women don’t need applause, they need resources!” Lydia Charles Moyo challenges the world to move beyond lip service & commit real funding to grassroots-led solutions.”
This trip was unlike any we’ve taken before. It demonstrated our growth as an organization and proved what’s possible when people and institutions genuinely come together for global development. The future isn’t just being imagined, it’s being built by all of us. From the voices of young girls in Tanzania to the dreams of women around the world, Her Initiative stands beside them, listening, learning, and building a future we all believe in.