Hadija is a development practitioner with 10 years of experience advocating for peace, conflict resolution, and gender equity. She has dedicated her career to peacebuilding and social justice, particularly addressing the impact that conflicts have on marginalised communities. Hadija currently serves as a Senior Program Officer in the Public Outreach and Engagement Department at the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) in Kenya.
Through her work at NCIC and beyond, Hadija has also championed equality in access to education, particularly for girls. Education is the cornerstone of opportunities and it holds a special place in her heart. However, the harsh reality in Isiolo County, where Hadija comes from, is the inequality in access to education, especially for girls. Poverty, cultural practices like early marriage and FGM, and a general lack of emphasis on girls' education create significant barriers. Coming from a historically disadvantaged region, Hadija feels a strong responsibility to change the narrative for girls in her community. She believes she cannot afford to stay silent. She has made it her mission to mentor, advocate, and speak up against educational inequality.
This passion has led Hadija to volunteer and spearhead several initiatives in Isiolo County. She works collaboratively with the County Government of Isiolo and Binti Hope Foundation, a local NGO dedicated to providing girls with access to education and healthcare. Through these initiatives, Hadija has reached over 900 girls with Sanitary pads distribution, mentorship, and coaching. Her dream is a community where every girl, regardless of background, has access to quality education and the chance to reach her full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
Hadija has a degree in Development Studies from Mount Kenya University.
As a young woman from the marginalised Borana community in Isiolo County, Kenya, I am inspired by the transformative power of education. Witnessing the barriers girls face in my community drives my commitment to ensuring quality education for all. Seeing Borana girls access education, attend school regularly, and pursue careers once unimaginable to their ancestors, fuels my passion. Education breaks the cycle of poverty and empowers girls to become change agents, shattering age-old stereotypes.Hadija Mohamed Bonaya