When it comes to ending gender-based violence (GBV), everyone has a role to play—women and girls, the primary victims, included. For girls, this means staying in school, empowering others to do the same, and fighting for access to sexual and reproductive health services. Conversely, women must address unconscious biases and implicit associations that form unintended, often invisible barriers to equal opportunity, states the 2023 UN report on gender equality.
Through Miss Nacre Africa, Frida Gates, a student at the African Leadership University (ALU), has taken on both roles, though she primarily focuses on the latter. Founded in 2021, her organization has empowered hundreds of young women in Kigali and Rubavu districts to take on leadership positions in the country’s decision-making processes.
Frida asserts that although Rwanda has made significant strides, with 63% of parliamentary seats and 53% of the president’s cabinet positions occupied by women, more work is needed at the grassroots level. “When you look around, young people are not prepared to become the next Louise Mushikiwabo or First Lady Jeannette Kagame, to name a few, which goes against our goal of eradicating gender inequality,” she notes.
She has made it her team’s mission to hold empowerment workshops, skills development projects, and community engagements to ensure that thirty years from now, Rwanda remains a leader in gender equality and women’s empowerment.
While students are a key focus (as schools offer vast leadership opportunities), the wider community is also involved. Frida acknowledges the importance of collaboration in achieving their goal, emphasizing the need to educate the public on the nuances of gender equality. She points out that many people mistakenly believe it means “lifting women while downgrading men.”
To challenge these misconceptions, they reach out to various groups, explaining not only the concept of gender equality but also its benefits. Along the way, they’ve faced setbacks, including high rates of teenage pregnancies in Rubavu district, which stem from the very issue they’re working to address: gender inequality.
“During our research, we discovered that many of these girls were forced out of school due to domestic violence and ‘ignorance’—parents not believing in ‘girl child education.’ As a result, these young women often lose faith in education and opt for early marriages to men who promise them a ‘better’ life, only to be abandoned,” Frida explains.
Luckily, Miss Nacre Africa has stepped in to help, offering empowerment programs that restore lost hope. In July 2024, for instance, the organization sponsored 10 teenage mothers in Rubavu to take vocational courses in hairdressing and tailoring at the Rubavu Youth Center.
Frida believes that once these young women gain new skills, they will be able to care for themselves and their children, reclaiming their power in society.
The 24-year-old is a testament to women’s empowerment and leadership. Growing up surrounded by women—four sisters and one brother—she says this had a profound impact on her life and decisions. She wishes the same for others.
“My parents, family, and the community at large have been incredibly supportive of my endeavors, always guiding and assisting me. I want to offer the same support to others because I believe that with help, anyone can achieve great things,” she remarks.
This selflessness, coupled with ALU’s mission-driven learning model, led Frida to connect with like-minded individuals, giving birth to Miss Nacre Africa. According to her, women are like nacres (the mother of pearls)—their beauty can only be revealed once they’re brought to the surface. Thus, Miss Nacre Africa symbolizes women before and after empowerment.
“Women in the past were undervalued. Today, after education and empowerment, they have become some of the world’s strongest forces, proving their worth. However, more policies and support are needed to harness this power,” Frida adds.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) defines gender equality as the equal enjoyment of rights, responsibilities, and opportunities for all people. It means that the interests, needs, and priorities of everyone are respected, regardless of gender.
The organization further emphasizes the importance of gender equality in strengthening GBV prevention.
Although Rwanda has made significant progress in fighting GBV, including criminalizing it in 2008 and introducing an anti-GBV policy in 2011, the 2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey, published by the National Institute of Statistics (NISR), revealed that 37% of women aged 15-49 had experienced physical, sexual, or psychological violence. Moreover, 46% of ever-married women reported experiencing spousal physical, sexual, or emotional violence.
The government is, however, working relentlessly to prevent violence and seek justice for victims. The same applies to private institutions and individuals like Miss Nacre Africa and Frida Gates.
