City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
I am a young African Feminist and activist based in Cape Town, South Africa. I currently work at The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) as the Knowledge & Voice specialist within the programmes department. I am passionate about nurturing and amplifying narratives of African women, African Queer folk and African feminism in ways that are diverse, intersectional and inclusive. I am also passionate about resourcing African Feminist Movements in their diversity! I am an accredited dialogue facilitator and have worked with youth & gender diverse communities, including LGBTQIA+ youth, in underserved communities across South Africa, using emergent learning & other dialogue methodologies to have conversations about racism, racial justice, historical injustice, gender, gender justice, gender-based violence, identity, belonging and human dignity. Through highlighting the lived experiences of people and the lived legacies of Apartheid, colonialism and slavery, my work aims to dismantle racism and all forms of othering in post-Apartheid South Africa and to explore pathways for justice, equity and collective healing. My approach is confidently intersectional, decolonial & trauma-informed. My work also prioritises intergenerational trauma, intergenerational dialogue, intergenerational poverty, socioeconomic justice, oral history, storytelling & community healing. My academic journey at Stellenbosch University was marked by my role as a student leader and activist challenging systemic injustice within higher education. I was part of several nationwide movements calling for free decolonised education, rallying under the hashtags #FeesMustFall, #RhodesMustFall, #PatriacrhyMustFall and the #EndRapeCulture campaigns. My activism is deeply rooted in the pursuit of radical change and justice. I believe that justice ought to be pursued boldly and with courage.
Jodi Williams is a Cape Town-based young professional and intersectional feminist working in the field of Transitional justice, Social Justice and Peacebuilding in Africa. Jodi has been at The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) for 5 years now and she currently leads IJR’s Anti-Racism, Social Cohesion & Inclusion Project. Jodi is an accredited dialogue facilitator and works with youth, gender minorities including LGBTQIA+ youth, in communities across South Africa, using dialogue to have courageous conversations around racism, racial justice, historical injustice, gender, gender justice, gender-based violence, identity, belonging and human dignity. Through highlighting the lived experiences of people and the lived legacies of Apartheid, colonialism and slavery, Jodi's work aims to dismantle racism and all forms of othering in post-Apartheid South Africa to explore pathways for positive social change, justice and equity.