Some of Africa’s most accomplished women leaders gathered recently under one roof at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center in Italy to reflect on their leadership journey, exchange experiences, receive mentorship, and look ahead to future successes.

Coming together for the 2022 Amujae Leadership Forum from 12 to 14 July, the Amujae Leaders—who are part of the EJS Center’s flagship program, the Amujae Initiative—exchanged ideas and lessons learned on the theme “Enduring Bonds.”  The Forum was generously supported by Big Win Philanthropy, which has provided funding and collaborated closely to design and implement the Amujae Initiative program. 

Following a warm welcome by Managing Director of the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center, Pilar Palacia, the Forum kicked off with a series of activities in which the Amujae Leaders shared their goals and ambitions as changemakers on the African continent and globally.

With an aim to strengthen bonds, a series of group discussions and workshops took place in which the Amujae Leaders received valuable mentorship from a group of distinguished mentors and speakers. The group included Amujae Coach, Former President of the Republic of Mauritius, H.E. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim; Amujae Coach, Under-Secretary General and Director-General of the UN Office at Nairobi, Zainab Hawa Bangura; EJS Center Board Member and Former US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Dr. Jendayi Frazer; and CEO of KRL International, Riva Levinson. EJS Center’s Chief Operating Officer, Amini Kajunju, and Director of Programs, Rumbidzai Chisenga, were on hand over the two days of the Forum to lead activities and facilitate discussions.

The two-day event saw the Amujae Leaders embark on a journey of reflection on the Amujae Initiative experience. The journey also allowed the Amujae Leaders to examine this unique program’s current state of play and discuss ideas for its future development.

Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf described this event as a unique opportunity for the Amujae Leaders to take stock of their recent achievements and share the successes that make them “changemakers and leaders in your fields.” Addressing the Amujae Leaders, she encouraged them to make the most of the activities offered to them over the two days at the Bellagio Center:

“Let this Forum be an opportunity to renew your commitment to leadership, your support for each other, and your ambition to make Africa and the world a more equal, prosperous, and peaceful place.”