Next up in our Take Ten series: Amanda Nasinyama!
1. Who is Amanda Nasinyama?
Amanda Nasinyama is a social justice advocate with a great passion for promoting and protecting the rights of the vulnerable. My interests are in refugee protection, women and children’s rights. I believe that everyone has a right to live with dignity, freedom, equality, justice and peace and that a life ensuring that people get to enjoy these rights will qualify as a life well lived. I am obsessed with Harry Potter, dancing and absolutely love movie soundtracks.
2. What is your occupation?
I am a lawyer by profession.
3. Are you currently doing a job you love or working towards it?
I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. This is part of my ‘master plan’ to reach my goal.
4. What will that be?
My goal is to work with an international organization focused on refugee protection. Refugee protection includes handling women rights issues as well as those of children, who are the most vulnerable of refugees.
5. How did you hear about Teakisi?
My friend Sharon Laker Kimberly who is an amazing blogger sent me a link to the blog and encouraged me to apply to be a guest blogger. She knows I am a huge women’s rights advocate and thought the blog would be a great way to meet women with the same interest and encourage me to write about the issues we often debate about in regards to gender equality.
6. What does Teakisi mean to you?
Teakisi represents a network of women working to empower each other and their readers. The bloggers and the readers may not always agree on certain issues but the blog provides the opportunity to discuss these different issues in an open and free space. I have learnt so much in my few months as a member and reading the ladies blogs, which range from motherhood, business, gender equality and fashion, all meant to empower African women. I also love that it’s a blog by African women, that’s just awesome!
7. Where do you see yourself in five years?
In the next five years I would like to have established myself as a human rights advocate for the vulnerable, particularly refugees, women and children. I hope to write papers about the issues that affect different vulnerable groups and engaging in not only conversations but real work that is meant to bring about change in the world, particularly in Africa.
8. Name three thing you can’t do without?
• Family
• Music
• Sleep
9. What’s the one thing you would change about Africa if you had the chance to?
I would change the mindset of most of our African leaders. A lot of African leaders come into power promising change, promising to govern by the rule of law, to respect human rights and promote democracy. I don’t know where it all goes wrong. It is a question I often think about, why do leaders, especially African leaders, stick to power, no matter the cost? Is it the power that is so addictive? Are they too afraid to leave power? Is it the wealth that they have amassed over the years? Or is it their ego because they believe that they alone have the “vision” needed to govern these countries? But then again, what happens when they die? Change is important. Different ideas and perspectives lead to growth. Africa holds the cradle of humankind, Africa has been blessed with so many resources and African people are the most resilient and hardworking people I know. I think it is time that we act like we know our worth and our leaders need to remember this, as well as the ideals they hold so dear when they came into power.
10. Name five African women who inspire you?
• Scholastica Nasinyama (my mom)
• Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
• Winnie Byanyima
• Wangari Mathai
• Fatou Bensouda