Sonke Gender Justice

Introducing the last member of the ‪WMATI2015‬ faculty

Josephine Mukwendi is the coordinator of the 2015 Women’s Health, Masculinities and Empowerment: Advocacy and Training short course, that is being currently held at the Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya.

From Stellenbosch University, she joined Sonke Gender Justice in March 2013 as the Projects and Administrative Assistant of the International Projects and Networks (IPN) unit. Josephine first joined Sonke as an intern in February 2011 where she worked in the Communications & Strategic Information Unit assisting on the Red Card Campaign evaluation. Before joining Sonke, Josephine worked for the Treatment Action Campaign from 2012 – 2013.

Josephine MukwendiJosephine has also worked for the South African Medical Research Council as a field researcher specialist in the HIV migrant women survey project. She completed a BSc (Honours) Psychology at the Women’s University in Africa-Zimbabwe in 2012, and a post-graduate Diploma in HIV and AIDS Management at the University of Stellenbosch. Josephine is currently pursuing her Masters in HIV and AIDS Management at Stellenbosch University. Her research is focused on HIV and AIDS programmes and interventions in relation to widows in poor rural communities. There are a lot of gender misconceptions and myths surrounding widowhood and issues of HIV and AIDS and the research will strive to reflect more on the subject and policies surrounding property and human rights of widows in selected parts of Southern Africa.

In 2002, Josephine worked with Manhinga Orphanage in Juliasdale, Zimbabwe assisting the organisation by offering psychological support services to orphans and vulnerable children.

Josephine joined Sonke because of her passion of working with men for the empowerment of women and girls for gender just societies.