CHEVS is a queer young feminist organisation dedicated to strengthening Sexual and reproductive health rights and social justice outcomes for young LGBTQI persons and sex workers through a cross-movement building approach. We are a vibrant community of young people working collaboratively and intersectionality to build solidarity across youth movements to realise the liberation of LGBTQI+ persons, sex workers, and women in West Africa. We go along with diverse communities of young people to transform systems of oppression, patriarchy and imperialism.
CHEVS aims to accelerate social inclusion and rights for sexual and gender minorities. We are also on a mission to create a West African society where everyone has equal access to health and human rights, irrespective of gender, sexuality and social status.
PURPOSE OF THE YEMOJA FEMINISTA FELLOWSHIP
In line with CHEVS five-year West Africa strategic plan (2022 – 2-26), CHEVS identified women’s rights as one of our five programmatic priorities, also known as the Five Pillars of Action – building movement power, transforming power relations, reimagining movement resourcing, visibility and expression, and women’s rights. The Yemoja Feminista Fellowship was conceptualised from a conscious desire to promote inclusive feminist ideologies and replenish the feminist ranks through nurturing the agenda, improving the insights of young feminists and creating opportunities for emerging feminist activists to fully grapple with the nuances, the languages of feminism, gender and the myriad of contentious issues that hold sway in a patriarchal African society. Through the Yemoja feminista fellowship, we intend to focus on mentoring the next feminist generation.
The inaugural cohort of the Yemoja Feminista Fellowship fellowship will bring together twenty (20) young and passionate activists from across women’s rights, LGBTQI, and disability rights movements in West Africa, between the ages of 18 – 30 years over a six (6) month incubation period (April – October 2023).
OBJECTIVES OF THE YEMOJA FEMINISTA FELLOWSHIP
The objectives of the Yemoja Feminista Fellowship include:
- To contribute to the African feminist movement through grassroots mobilisation and education.
- To foster ideological solidarity between feminist and pro-choice/LGBTQI ideologies in West Africa.
- To raise a crop of West African feminists who embody the teachings of a comprehensive pan-African feminist and queer ideology.
- To create an enabling atmosphere for increased collaboration between women organisations, LGBTQI-focused and disability rights organisations.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To be eligible for the Yemoja Feminista Fellowship, candidates must meet the following criteria.
- Be a citizen and resident of Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
- Be between the ages of 18-30 as of December 31, 2023.
- Have proficient/native use of the English language.
- Be able to demonstrate knowledge of human rights, feminist principles and practices, women’s rights, and movement building within your country’s context or in West Africa
- Be available to commit to the fellowship on a part-time basis for a period of six months
- Have reliable access to the internet and be proficient in using productivity tools (Microsoft/Google Workspace, Zoom, etc.)
- Be able to demonstrate previous leadership experience within formal or informal advocacy spaces
- Be open and willing to learn, unlearn and relearn!
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, click on the link here. Young sex workers, sexual and gender minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application closes on Monday, April 10, 2023 at 10am GMT+1.
All applicants will be contacted within two weeks past the deadline.
All enquiries can be directed to anitagraham@chevs.org.