Africa
AJWS supports activists on the frontlines of social change in five countries in Africa. From galvanizing a youth movement for democracy in Senegal to fighting laws that oppress LGBTQI+ people in Liberia to securing Indigenous communities’ land rights in Kenya — AJWS grantees work tirelessly to build just societies across the continent.

“We can’t wait for change”: Congolese activists are fighting to ensure a free and fair election
Many young people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) can’t recall a memory of…

“The queerest space in Nairobi”: LGBTQI+ activists create safe space in Kenya
For years, I spent the High Holidays in Fire Island. Beginning in the mid-1920s, this…

Everything we have comes from this land: How an Indigenous Kenyan community is fighting for their future
It’s a relentlessly sunny day in Isiolo County, Kenya, and a few hundred villagers are…

During Kenya’s Longest Drought in Living Memory, A Lifeline for Struggling Families
Mohamad Mohamud lives in Garissa County — a remote, arid region of Kenya that spans…

The Struggle to Simply Be Ourselves: Meet the Kenyan LGBTQI+ Activists Fighting Fear with Joy
In Kenya, LGBTQI+ people are constantly under threat — from police who extort and abuse…

These Women are Paving the Road to Justice in Senegal
The road to justice in Senegal is rarely a straight path. Especially for women.

Unity is Our Strength: Inside Kenya’s Growing Movement of Indigenous Leaders
Myriad challenges plague Kenya’s Indigenous communities. The effects of climate change have hit them hard.

Activists Up Close: Meet Mercy, a Girls Boxing Coach and Mentor in Kenya
Mercy Musila Musikali grew up in Nairobi, Kenya, like so many girls in her community:…

Claiming a Seat at the Table: The Feminization of Politics in Senegal
In the corner office of a municipal building in Dakar, Senegal, Adama Mbengue sits behind…
