Shoutout to Gwen Madiba! Gwen Madiba is an International public speaker, a women and children’s rights advocate who has dedicated her life to empowering women, young girls and the youth around the world.
A designer and former model, she has created spaces where all people can feel appreciated, valued, respected and equal regardless of their social background, race, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and beliefs.
Gwen Madiba deeply believes that Education should be a fundamental human rights. For this reason, she launched an Education Funds for Orphans in Africa (in Gabon, in the DRCongo and Senegal)
In 2010, with the support of Her Excellency the Right Honorable Michaelle Jean and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond, she founded the University of Ottawa Black History Month Gala. The successful event which became the Canadian Black History Month Gala recognizes black and non-black people who work with black communities around the world or whom stories and achievements have inspired so many to pursue their own dreams and come together as one. That same year, she was included in the Women’s Executive Network of Canada’s list of Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the category Future Leader.
In 2011, she was presented by Canada’s Revenue Agency as one of ”tomorrow’s leader”.
Through her initiative, the Dare Empowerment Network, she launched a series of events, activities and dialogues which aim to encourage people to follow and achieve their goals and dreams. Using her network of Community Builders, Entrepreneurs and Celebrities, she launched ”Inhale-Excel”, a dialogue series in which the public is invited to intervene, share their stories and ask questions to a panel made of celebrities, successful entrepreneurs, community builders and dreamers.
She is also the founder of I AM FASHION & the Safara African Print Fashion Shows. These initiatives were designed to boost participants’ self-esteem while embarking them on a journey of self-love, elevation and discovering African Cultures through fashion, design and empowerment.
In 2012 she received the CCSR Conference Youth Social Entrepreneur Award at Algonquin College and pursued her humanitarian work in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Haiti, in Senegal and in Gabon. A part of her work was dedicated to assisting women and children victims of war and participating in efforts to reinsert them in their society.
From 2014 until 2016 she became of the Ambassador of the Nelson Mandela Legacy and Official Representative of the Honorable Nelson Mandela’s family in North America (the Unites States of America and Canada).
In 2017, she successfully launched the ”ONE VOICE” campaign to raise awareness on violence against women in Ottawa, Canada. In less than 24 hours, over 300 participants had signed up for the local campaign. The campaign brought together children as young as 3 year-old, parents and even grand-parents. That same year, she made history at the International Women’s Rights pageant, Mrs. Universe, becoming the first Black Woman to pass the top 20 and land in the top 2. She brought back her crown to her native Gabon and adoptive country, Canada.
She launched Equal Chance, an NGO which aims to empower women and girls to move into leadership and confidence while providing them with key resources.
In 2018, she received the Young Alumnus Award from her ”Alma Mater”, the University of Ottawa where she obtained a Bachelor in Communication and Sociology and a Master’s degree in Sociology.
She is currently working on a Documentary called LEADHER, which will showcase the lives, obstacles and triumphs of phenomenal women in leadership positions around the world. She is pursuing her advocacy work through the Native Women’s Association of Canada, Equal Chance and the Education Fund for Orphans in Africa.
Gwen Madiba speaks French, English and Spanish.
