On September 21, Carol Bouwer's African Odyssey and the UN Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) celebrated their 10th anniversaries in New York. The event, held on the International Day of Peace, brought together women leaders, philanthropists, humanitarian advocates, and supporters of women-led peacebuilding. The gathering highlighted the work of women living and working in conflict-affected communities.
The event featured a keynote address by Botswana's First Lady, Her Excellency Madame Kaone Boko, who announced a new Gender-Based Violence Fund. Boko emphasized that gender-based violence is inseparable from the broader question of peace, stressing that peace must include dignity, equality, safety, and opportunity. The fund aims to address the issue of gender-based violence, which is a significant challenge in many communities.
African Odyssey is a collaboration space for women in the African diaspora, while WPHF is a global partnership supporting local women's organizations working to prevent conflict, respond to crises, and build sustainable peace. For Carol Bouwer, the anniversary represented a decade of building connections around women and their role in shaping communities. Bouwer emphasized the importance of sisterhood, courage, and connection in achieving their goals.
The event also recognized Malaak Compton-Rock as a WPHF Global Luminary, in recognition of her humanitarian work and advocacy for women leading peace efforts around the world. The gathering included an auction organized by African Odyssey, with proceeds going towards WPHF and its work supporting women's organizations and women peacebuilders in conflict-affected communities.
The auction featured several items, including a necklace and earring set donated by Lucara Botswana, as well as a bespoke Lindiwe piece featuring a bag designed by Carol Bouwer Bags. Botswana media reported a P1 million contribution from Lucara Botswana towards a National Gender-Based Violence Fund. Boko pledged to use her platform to speak for women and children who do not have access to similar platforms.
The partnership between African Odyssey and organizations supporting women across business, philanthropy, and humanitarian work was also highlighted during the event. Bouwer emphasized that the milestone was ultimately about what could come next, building on the decade-long role of African Odyssey as a platform connecting women in business, government, philanthropy, and impact work across Africa and its diaspora.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment to supporting women's peacebuilding efforts and promoting gender equality. The celebration marked a significant milestone in the journey of African Odyssey and WPHF, and it is expected to have a lasting impact on the lives of women and communities around the world.
Key points
- The event raised funds for WPHF's work with women peacebuilders.
- Botswana's First Lady announced a new Gender-Based Violence Fund.
- Malaak Compton-Rock was recognized as a WPHF Global Luminary.
