Chidinma Kalu: Engage in what you are interested in

While I was writing this blog post, I did some soul-searching. What makes a lady passionate about girls' and women's empowerment? The answer was not farfetched. Either she was held back by limitations because of her gender, or she knew other women who faced the same issues but, despite the odds, rose up to fight for other women. 

This is how Chidnma Kalu became an advocate for girls' and women's empowerment. Honestly, I had forgotten that I had reached out to her for a feature. But on this fateful day as I strolled on LinkedIn ville, I got a notification and it was from Chidinma. She started off by apologising for responding late and she gave her reasons. It was good to hear from her. She is the recipient of several accolades notably the most prestigious Chevening Scholarship award from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Armed with support and knowledge, Chidinma has been recognised for her contribution to gender equality. This earned her a nomination for the 'Excellence in Gender Equality Awards' by the Warwick Institutional Athena Swan and Gender Task Force.

Chidinma is a proverbial goldfish that has no hiding place. Her good works speak volumes and Omote Ro Dhe could not have asked for another for this feature. It was an honour to chat with her despite her busy schedule. She opened up about this women and girls empowerment thing(why she is deeply passionate about this), her work, her philosophy about success and more. Read the excerpts below:

Can you share with us your journey into advocating for the economic empowerment of women and girls? What inspired you to focus on this area?

Growing up, I observed the societal limitations my mother faced balancing the demands of motherhood and her desire to pursue a professional career. Despite having two formal degrees and a strong ambition to achieve more, she encountered barriers that hindered her progress. These challenges, shaped by societal expectations and lack of support, contributed to her economic disempowerment. I was also inspired by women who had gone on to achieve great feats in their careers and communities, in the face of similar challenges.

This experience made me realise that with the right information, opportunities, and support, women and girls can lead the lives they envision.

Motivated by this, I started my journey into advocating for the economic empowerment of women and girls. In 2017, I joined The GirlLEAD Project https://thegirlleadproject.org/ as a volunteer. Since then, I have worked to empower over 1500 girls with digital and technological skills. I have utilised social media platforms for online campaigns, engaged in advocacy, carried out personal projects, and worked and volunteered with organisations such as The Cognito Project, YouthHubAfrica, UNFPA and The GirlLEAD Project for the economic empowerment of women and girls.

How has your experience as an international development practitioner shaped your approach to empowering women and youth?

My experience as an international development practitioner has profoundly shaped my approach to empowering women and girls, particularly in community engagement and resource mobilisation.

Community Engagement:

Working on various projects has taught me that community engagement is vital for meaningful and lasting empowerment. It ensures that the voices and needs of women and youth are prioritised and that solutions are co-created with them. By actively involving beneficiaries, we can ensure that our interventions are not only relevant but also sustainable.

Resource Mobilisation:

With five years of experience in the development space, I have learned that while funding is critical for project implementation, collaboration can be equally valuable. Even without direct financial support, partnering with organisations that provide resources or in-kind contributions can help bring initiatives to life. This insight has enabled me to implement personal projects and collaborate with partner organisations successfully. One example is my work on the She STEM Project with DO Take Action, where I led - alongside 4 young professionals in STEM - an educational session for over 20 secondary school girls interested in STEM careers. My involvement in a fundraising initiative at the University of Warwick is another example of how resource mobilisation can drive impactful projects. I addressed this by carrying out a fundraising activity at the University of Warwick, where my team and I raised £364.12 to support the digital education of young girls and women.

What are some challenges you have encountered in your work, and how have you addressed or overcome them?

Funding is a critical issue for educational and women empowerment projects, and getting access to funding has been a challenge in my work as a volunteer and in initiating personal projects. I have addressed this by being innovative and initiating personal projects.

Related to the point above, most of the programs on girls' education are dependent on securing facilitators who are willing to volunteer their services. A challenge I have identified is securing their services given the funding constraints highlighted above. I address this in my role as the Head of Programmes and Partnerships by expanding my network and leveraging my network to increase the pool of facilitators, leveraging less cost-intensive avenues for facilitation such as online platforms and also increasing the visibility of the work we do at GirlLEAD.

You were nominated for the 'Excellence in Gender Equality Awards' by the Warwick Institutional Athena Swan and Gender Task Force. What does this recognition mean to you, and how does it motivate you in your advocacy work?

Being nominated in the 'Excellence in Gender Equality Awards’ was inspiring and motivating, encouraging me not to relent on my advocacy for the economic empowerment of women and girls. It also gave me the opportunity to read about others working in the field of women empowerment and gender equality at the University of Warwick.

How do you see the role of education and skills training in empowering women and girls to maximise their potential?

The relevance of education and capacity building for women's and girl’s empowerment cannot be overstated. Education and skills training is also a powerful tool that empowers women and girls, helping them to unlock their potential which pushes them to achieve greater heights. Beyond the role of education in increasing economic empowerment, it also deepens the knowledge of their rights which is crucial for achieving gender equality. Full empowerment of women and potential maximisation is impossible without education and skills training. To ensure that no woman or girl is left behind by 2030, access to education and skills development is a necessity.

Success is relative, what does it mean to you?

Success to me is about fulfilling a purpose. If I can make a meaningful impact on girls' education, empowerment and the causes I deeply care about in my daily life, then I consider myself successful.

What advice do you have for young girls pursuing purpose but seem confused if they are on the right path?

Engage and Explore: Start by engaging in what you’re interested in. It may be through volunteering, enrolling in online courses, attending events and creating content (writing articles, blogs). Explore activities revolving around your interests, and I believe that in being productive, you will find a particular interest that gives you a greater sense of fulfilment. I will advise younger girls to volunteer in the various fields that pique their interest, as it will be very relevant in finding their path.

Educate: As you work towards finding the path for you, continue to educate yourself. If you’re interested in the health sector, read more about the health industry, if you’re interested in girls' education and empowerment, research about the field. In building knowledge and capacity, you will find your niche, and then strive for excellence. 

There are platforms that can also aid your learning such as the Young African Leadership Initiative online courses, FutureLearn, McKinsey Forward Program, edX, Global Health eLearning Center and LinkedIn learning.