In line with its commitment to feminist leadership and collaboration, Global Girl Project has appointed Brita Fernandez Schmidt and Marie Githinji as Co-Chairs of its Board of Trustees on May 9th, 2024. Both women have a shared passion for mobilising girls in the Majority World, and bring nearly four decades of combined experience in advancing the rights and well-being of women and girls.
Commenting on her appointment and emphasizing her commitment to Global Girl Project’s mission, Marie stated, “I am thrilled to transition into the role of co-chair. I'm a huge supporter of Global Girl Project's mission to equip girls with the skills and confidence they need to take charge of their lives and influence their communities. Working alongside the incredible Brita, with whom I share a passion for feminist leadership and practices, is an exciting opportunity. I'm eager to collaborate and expand Global Girl Project's impact.”
Brita also expressed her elation at joining Global Girl Project, “I am super excited to be joining as the Co-Chair of Global Girl Project for a number of reasons. Firstly, because of the unapologetically feminist commitment of Global Girl Project. Secondly, I deeply believe in co-leadership as a powerful way of living feminist principles and to be able to do this alongside someone like Marie, is amazing. And thirdly, Global Girl Project is living its values and mission at every level of the organisation! This level of integrity is what inspires me deeply and I am honoured to contribute what I can to further the power of girls around the world.”
Marie is a strategic and visionary leader, with over 13 years of experience working at the intersection of development and technology. She has created opportunities, fostered leadership values, and championed equity throughout her career. In her role as the Co-Founder and Executive Director at AkiraChix, a nonprofit dedicated to providing hands-on technical training and mentorship to young women, she scaled and deepened the impact on hundreds of marginalised young women across East Africa. She also co-founded eLimu, a social enterprise that was the first to digitise the Kenyan Primary School curriculum content for revision and literacy to improve learning outcomes. She played a pivotal role in establishing the organisation as a leader in leveraging technology for improved education in Kenya.
Brita has a long history of working in international development with a specific focus on gender equality and women’s rights. For 13 years, she served as the Executive Director of Women for Women International – UK and co-founded Women for Women International in Germany, in 2018. She was the Chair of the Network Gender Action for Peace and Security for 5 years, the Chair of the Gender and Development Network for 5 years, and had previously worked as the Programmes & Policy Director at Womankind Worldwide. She started her career as Policy Officer at the European Women’s Lobby, and is now the Company Director of Fierce Power Ltd, where she works with organisations and businesses to create working cultures that are value-led, inclusive, in-powering, innovative, trauma-informed, and sustainable. She is passionate about promoting alternative models of ‘leadership’ in response to the urgent problems facing our society and world.
Their combined expertise and guidance will drive Global Girl Project’s mission forward and deepen its impact.