Empowering women through education and health-related research

1. Advocate for Formal Female Education

The SHE IS Project provides participants with formal educational support on:

• Tuition and educational sponsorships
• School supplies.
• Emotional and resilience-based support through follow up meetings
• Mentorship through lived-experience storytelling

SHE IS Project reports for academic year 2023/2024 (For confidentiality purposes, this report is only available upon request)

SHE IS Project reports for academic year 2024/2025 (For confidentiality purposes, this report is only available upon request)

SHE IS Project reports for academic year 2025/2026 (For confidentiality purposes, this report is only available upon request)

2. Health-related research

At FEMME INITIATIVE, our research harnesses epidemiological evidence and lived experience to generate knowledge, inform policy, and drive evidence-based solutions that improve the health, rights, and well-being of women and girls.

Objectives

• Conduct research maternal and reproductive health, digital health for women, women’s health systems research, and arts for well-being. 
• Generate evidence to improve disease programs, strengthen health systems, and inform health policy.
• Publish research for academic and public audiences. 
• Advance advocacy for women in research and leadership.

Activities

1. Primary, secondary and qualitative conceptual research studies 
2. Community surveys.
3. Research partnerships with collaborating institutions.
4. Advocacy campaigns.
5. Support training and mentorship of junior researchers.

Research projects

1. Systematic review on uterine fibroids

Uterine leiomyomas most often occur as asymptomatic benign tumours disproportionately affecting black women of African origin. Although being the most common tumors in women, uterine leiomyomas are the amongst the most neglected and least well understood and understudied female reproductive health conditions. While previous studies have assessed the prevalence of uterine leiomyomas on women in different communities in sub-Saharan Africa, no study has ever looked at the evolutionary trend of uterine fibroids in African women over time. A better understanding of the successes and gaps in epidemiology, diagnostic, medical treatment and psychological management as well as prevention of uterine uterine leiomyomas is needed to  fully support women living in high risk African communities. 

The review aims to i) comprehensively survey the epidemiological data on uterine leiomyomas in Africa, ii) describe their clinical burden and inform about the evolutional trend in epidemiology, management and psychological support, and iv) highlight the gaps in for uterine fibroids management in the African region. 

2. SHE CONNECTS Project

Advocating for better integration of AI tools for sexual health education in rural communities (currently under development)

3. Arts advocacy: Her Canvas, Her Story

At FEMME INITIATIVE, we recognize the transformative power of the arts in storytelling, self-expression, healing, advocacy, education, and economic empowerment. We believe that creativity is not only a form of expression but also a powerful tool for driving social change and creating opportunities for women and girls.

Many women carry unspoken experiences of trauma, discrimination, violence, or loss. Art provides a safe and empowering space to express emotions, reflect on lived experiences, reclaim confidence, and rebuild self-worth. Through painting, writing, storytelling, and other creative practices, women can transform their experiences into sources of resilience, healing, and inspiration.

We advocate for the integration of the arts into health promotion, education, community engagement, and women’s empowerment initiatives. We also support creative entrepreneurship by promoting artistic skills that create sustainable livelihood opportunities and economic independence for women.

At FEMME INITIATIVE, we believe that the arts empower women to transform their experiences into stories of resilience, inspire positive change, and create pathways to healing, leadership, and economic opportunity.

Scriptorium

Scriptorium is a protected writing space for individuals affected by trauma. Our goal is to provide a platform for individuals to express what feels heavy, unspoken, unresolved,or simply meaningful stories. It is also a space for sharing moments of growth, reflection, joy, and personal truth. Many people carry stories shaped by both brokenness and beauty, yet shy away from sharing them due to a lack of trust, fear of judgment, or the belief that their experiences are too small to matter. And so, they remain silent. We believe that one way of creating meaning and global impact is through honest expression in writing. Every story, no matter how quiet, holds the power to resonate, to heal, and to connect. 

This online platform is a place for reflection, release, and discovery. A space where individuals can write freely, without pressure or expectation, and where stories can exist in their raw, authentic form. Over time, these stories will be thoughtfully curated into a collection of books, each one reflecting shared human experiences and the many ways we make meaning from our lives.

Here, anonymity is our watchword.

FEMME INITIATIVE Books

1. The Memoir

SHE IS: A woman journeying through brokenness. A woman broken into a thousand meaningful pieces

This memoir is a reflective exploration of adversity, survival, and healing which transformed Naomi`s  lived experiences into a message of resilience and possibility.

Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GQQW45T3

2. Our First Community Book Project

A Word Garden for Expressive Healing

This is our first scriptorium project. We invite you to write and share a short story that feels meaningful to you, something unspoken, unresolved, healing, or rooted in growth, reflection, joy, or personal truth. Write only what feels safe to share. There is no pressure to explain everything.

In no more than 500 words, you may reflect on (if helpful):

• A meaningful experience or moment in your life
• The emotions connected to it—past or present
• Something you’ve learned, discovered, or come to understand
• Something you wish you could say, or something you’re ready to release

Painting project

Through painting and expressive arts, women can explore healing pathways and reclaim their identity and voice.

By leading and supportive arts projects, exhibitions and community partnerships, FEMME INITIATIVE aims to supports women’s access to creative story telling and self-expression and empowerment. The goal of the Painting project is to ensure women who have experienced trauma could express themselves while belonging to a community that promotes purposeful rebuilding and self-worth.  We use arts and storytelling as a platform for trauma healing, awareness, and advocacy, while mobilizing support for EMME INITIATIVE’s work in formal female classroom education and empowerment. Women will part take in:

• Hands-on painting workshops.
• Storytelling through art.
• Exhibitions + sales opportunities.
• Gain creative income generation skills.

4. Mentorship

TalkWithNaomi

Mentorship areas

·  Career mentorship, personal growth and development

·  Scientific research mentorship

·  Research data management

·  Scientific writing and communication