Patience Poni Ayikoru got her epiphany for leadership and gender activism at the age of 12, having been exposed to the inequalities women are subjected to in different communities.
“When I realized that being in leadership, you have influence in such matters and also looking at the legal aspect, that is actually where I started thinking about becoming a lawyer. I wanted to be able to speak for the girl child and the women.”
A few years later, the final year Law student and Guild Speaker at Uganda Christian University is living her purpose, as a gender equality advocate, social activist and youth’s leader. Patience was awarded the 2020 ‘Phenomenal Woman Leaders in Universities’ award at the All Africa Students’ Union SHE GAME AWARDS, in Ghana. She has also been a part of various leadership programs like the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Young Leaders’ Forum, African Women Leadership Institute, among others.
In 2019, she founded Femme Talk West Nile, a Community Based Organization based in Koboko District that is advocating for girls and women empowerment through skills training, community dialogues, school outreaches. The organization has so far impacted over 900 people in the district.
“I am passionate about seeing things happen positively in my environment. When I see something that is not okay like gender inequality and social injustices, I cannot settle because I believe I have the voice, and so I should be able to speak about it and come up with the solution.”
What inspired you to start Femme Talk West Nile?
Femme Talk West Nile started as an opportunity being seen in a crisis. During the lockdown, most of these organizations and civil societies were locked out, but then the grappling cases of teenage pregnancy were so alarming in Koboko district. At that time around June- July, of 2019, there were over 800 cases of teenage pregnancy. And so I sat down and I told myself, as a leader, you have to see a solution where everyone sees a pandemic, and pave way where people see no path. So I decided to register Femme Talk West Nile as an advocacy hub, a community based organization and outreach for such girls to speak about the challenges they are facing and how best we can be of help to them. I knew from my community, I was the one who could speak out to the authorities, and more experienced with the leaders on ground. So I couldn’t sit down and wait for someone else to come up with a solution.
What are the current projects you are working on?
We are currently creating a platform for the young people to speak about three aspects of justice, that is the sexual reproductive health rights in order to curb sexual harassment and injustices, like rape and forced marriages. We are also looking at skilling them in order to shape their financial independence, and creating a safe space where they can speak about those pertinent matters that they can’t even speak with a friend or a family member.
How do you balance running the organization with your studies?
Being a student at the University, I balance by scheduling the organization’s activities during holidays. We always go on ground during holidays and have dialogues with different groups like, the students that are in school, those that dropped out, cultural leaders, district office and youth leaders. We speak to them because Femme Talk is not only a community based organization, but an advocacy hub as well so we believe that knowledge is power and it helps us adjust their mindset from being comfortable in the patriarchy oppression, as opposed to seeing light in their potential.
What does the future hold for Femme Talk West Nile and yourself?
I believe matters to do with advocacy and community policing must not be rushed but I see Femme Talk West Nile being a champion in creating, knowledgeable and financially empowered individuals within the region.
Why do you think it’s important for young people like yourself to provide solution to problems that are facing their communities?
I believe that young people need to understand that they have a purpose in this life. Yes we need to have the fun, and all that. But we need to prioritize being of great use and impact and utilizing our potential in society because then we shall not only be leaders in our various capacities, we shall also be bringing a positive change in our environment and be a part of nation building. So we need to do that and there’s no limit to what we can offer the world.
How do you ensure that you are always constantly growing as a leader?
I am excited at what I do, so every time I wake up in the morning, I envision my highest self and move as her the whole day. If my highest self is being, let’s say a professor at some University, I will put that energy in whatever I am doing. To continue my growth, I also prioritize things; first of all I’m a student and that remains priority until I graduate. But on the other hand I do all the other things like leadership, volunteering with other organizations and communities out of love and passion. So it does not break me at all. If at any point I feel tired and very frustrated, I have a right to say NO, so that I can rest my body and care for my mental health. I never try to do too much because when you are doing too much, then you will not achieve much.
What are some of the challenges you face as a young female leader and how do you overcome them?
I have experienced institutional mindset barriers, like most times my potential has been limited whenever I advance an organization or an office. I am sometimes never given an opportunity because of bias on my age. I am 22 and female, so there are socially constructed obstacles that have obstructed opportunities. I am still fighting off some of these challenges, but I have managed to remain steadfast that even when I am being pushed off that run, I never lose hope and instead utilize the few platforms where I am given an opportunity, I put in my all. I also pray about these challenges and I’m confident that really what was started in me by God shall surely be accomplished. I do not give up very easily. I try a second chance, who knows the second time I go to an office I will find a different person.
Who do you look up to?
I look up to the current chancellor of the university of Johannesburg, Phumzile Mlambo–Ngcuka. She is the former executive director of UN Women, and vice president of south Africa. I am so inspired by her politically, inspired by her academia and social justice life as an activist. I look upto the zeal she carries and I am like I should be the Ugandan version of her and also whatever path she is taking is one I have always wished to take.
What do you unwind?
I love dancing and I am very social so I am always with my friends, either reading books in the book lab, playing games, I love chess or listening to music. I love learning from my friends and also sharing what I have learnt probably from my time with out them.
What is your message to other young aspiring leaders out there?
I want them to know that for everything that they do, they need to have a purpose, desire to drive a positive change and to add value to wherever their efforts go, because the purpose driven life or leadership is more result oriented and leaves a great mark behind. They need to have resilience and know that they will get challenges but their potential is more than the challenges they will overcome.
