World YWCA General Secretary Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda awarded as a Sister of the World
World YWCA General Secretary Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda has received the 2008 Soromundi Award from the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles (LA) for her work on women’s rights and peace with justice. The award was presented at the Grand Masquerade Benefactrix Ball, October 24 at the Beverly Hills Hotel with over 350 people present to celebrate women leading change in the Californian region.
Once every two years, a Soromundi Award (Sister of the World Award) is presented to a woman in the world for specific work efforts and Gumbonzvanda was grateful to be acknowledged. “I was so honoured to receive this award for the many years of work on women's human rights and peace with justice. My current role and space within the YWCA movement and at the World YWCA Office offers that much more opportunity and scope to deepen this work and to support and encourage many communities.’’
For many years, Gumbonzvanda has worked in the women’s rights movement on issues of constitutionalism, inheritance, property and land rights. Notable recent achievements include work on the integration of gender equality issues in the peace processes for the Sudan, Somalia and Northern Uganda and a lead role in the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region that resulted in the adoption of the Protocol on Sexual and Gender Based Violence as well as property rights for returnees. She was involved in the development of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on Women’s Rights in Africa. She has also worked for many years on issues of gender and HIV and AIDS.
Along with Gumbonzvanda, three silver achievement awards were also presented to outstanding Californian women Beth Quillen Thomas, Karen Bass and Barbara J Parsley.
Gumbonzvanda took the opportunity to learn more about the YWCA of Greater LA on her visit. The association is over 100 years old and has programmes focusing on child care, work-placement, career counselling and support to survivors of violence. They are also building a seven story multi-purpose centre that will include transit shelter and housing especially for young women.
Gumbonzvanda also visited the YWCA of Santa Monica and said she was inspired by her visit to the USA. ‘’I continue to learn every day, and each day I am encouraged. I am also touched by how this movement is indeed making a difference in lives of especially young women, children and their families.’’
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