Humanitarian

Gertrude Chepkemoi is a visionary philanthropist dedicated to transforming menstrual health through sustainable and eco-friendly solutions. In 2023, she received presidential recognition during Mashujaa Day as a human rights champion.

As the founder and director of Beacon of Hearts, she has been at the forefront of empowering African children by advocating for education, menstrual health, and access to sanitary products. Through her efforts, over 10,000 girls have received sanitary products, ensuring they do not miss school due to menstruation and reducing the risk of early marriage.

Committed to environmental sustainability, Gertrude has pioneered the introduction of biodegradable sanitary products to combat plastic waste and promote eco-friendly menstrual care. Actively seeking partnerships with NGOs, green technology innovators, and policymakers, she is driving a movement where menstrual health empowerment and environmental conservation go hand in hand. Recognising the urgent need for sustainable solutions, she has spearheaded the distribution of biodegradable sanitary towels, reducing plastic waste and environmental pollution for a greener future.

Linnet Sherry Kawira is the Founder of Tumaini Africa CBO, a youth-led organization dedicated to promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and combating period poverty within her community.

As a youth leader and SRHR advocate, she is passionate about empowering young people with the knowledge and resources needed to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. Through Tumaini Africa CBO, Linnet actively works to break taboos, provide menstrual health education, and improve access to essential hygiene products for girls and women, ensuring they can live with dignity and reach their full potential.

Amondi Edith Oluoch is a Medical & Clinical Administrator, Agricultural Economist, Author, SRHR Champion, Global Changemaker, and Art & Cultural Icon. She is the Founder and Executive Director of The Artistic Bliss and serves as a Health Ambassador at Lake Region Empowerment Network (LREN).

Founded in 2019 and officially launched in 2020, The Artistic Bliss is dedicated to fostering four key thematic areas: Artistic Expression, Cultural Enrichment, Youth Development, and Community Engagement.

As a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Champion, Amondi has actively led advocacy initiatives in multiple counties, including Kajiado (Shompole community), Nairobi, Nakuru, and Homabay County, where the organization is now fully based.

Through strategic collaborations with Kajwang Foundation, Lake Region Empowerment Network (LREN), and DADREG, The Artistic Bliss has successfully hosted medical camps and monthly follow-up clinics, forging impactful partnerships both locally and internationally. These initiatives have significantly improved healthcare access and advocacy efforts in Homabay County and the greater lake region.

With a strong commitment to human rights and healthcare accessibility, Amondi and her team continue to champion SRHR, advocate for community well-being, and work towards equipping their clinic with advanced diagnostic machines to enhance medical services.

Grace Kiboi #ZuriAwards 2023 Humanitarian Honoree is the director at springs of hope childrens home an organization started in 2007 with the aim of helping the less fortunate children due to the high level of HIV infections which leads to high mortality rates, leaving most of them infected and orphans. The organization also goes an extra mile to rescue other children in need ,this include the street children and those whose parents are drug addicts and fail to perform their parental responsibilities.

Patricia Njeri is the Founder and Director Birth and Beyond an organization that empowers teenage mothers focusing on creating solutions that give teenage mothers an edge in the society where they remain relegated to their own designs and ensuring they thrive and reach their optimum potential. The initiative operate around four key pillars;-

• Recruitment which involves going out to the field to identify the young mothers.
• Psychosocial counseling/debriefing with professional counsellors.
• Dignity Kit& Food packs which they offer to the young mothers
• Vocational training where they source sponsorship from well-wishers.

Sharon Korir is the founder Save a woman Fistula Foundation’ (herein known as ‘the Foundation’) an organization run by women for women suffering from Fistula in Kenya. Although they primarily focus on obstetric fistula often resulting from childbirth, they also support women with Fistula resulting from rape, cancer, early marriages and female genital mutilation. They provide the much-needed awareness and timely responses with a view to safeguarding the dignity and wellbeing of the survivors and also making Fistula a normal condition that women need not be suffering from.