Passionate climate, social and economic activist Masego Madzwamuse on pushing ahead with social change.
”It’s easier for me because I am passionate about what I am doing. It’s a calling. It aligns with my values and with who I am. I am a committed social justice activist.”
After leaving OSISA in 2018, Masego Madzwamuse continues her work within the social justice space, taking with her a number of lessons from her time at OSISA.
Joining just before the birth of her second child in 2011, she did work that left a lasting impact on the organisation.
With roots in Zimbabwe and Botswana, she developed an interest in climate change after seeing diverse cultures interacting with nature. The interest has taken her to Geneva, which she now calls home, to continue in her climate change advocacy work.
Madzwamuse has spent most of her life advocating for the rights of communities in conservation, while also advocating for the social and economic justice of those on the African continent in particular.
Upon her recruitment in 2011, she was the programme manager for the Economic and Social Justice portfolio. In the same year, she did research on the impact of climate change in Africa.
“They were keen at looking at intersections of climate change and human rights for the region, and I had published a book on climate in the continent. They wanted me to manage the portfolio and help develop strategy.”
She added that at the time she had an environmental background and worked through dialogue, with a lot of the work being entwined with the rural economy.
Masadzamuse says she is most proud of the work done by the Economic and Social Justice programme, adding that the support it gave to regional movements empowered them to claim their space.
In addition to empowering the Masadzamuse regional movements and former director of women’s rights Alice Kanengoni, Masadzamuse said they were able to give a grant to the women’s assembly, which allowed women in rural parts of Africa to claim their rights and economic autonomy.
Masadzamuse says she is grateful for her time at OSISA and has taken the lessons she learned in her position with her.
“I am grateful for the professional autonomy and opportunity to grow a deeper set of skills.”
Her activism started back in her student days, where she spent a lot of her spare time volunteering.
“As a student I spent my vacation time as a volunteer at a conservation union, and I did that because I wanted to give back, as well as to pick up some skills in the field of environment. I wanted to better understand the issues and widen my perspective on the world.”
Since those days as a student, Madzwamuse has continued to learn while she grows in her career.
“When I finished four years of internship, I started at the IUCN office, and from there I moved to the regional office before becoming a consultant. I spend a lot of my time interacting with professionals, which introduced me to experts, and we learned from each other. I have been a lifelong learner.”
She continued to update her knowledge and threw herself into the economic space and other spaces of interest.
“When I wanted to get a handle on women’s rights and issues, I threw myself into that space and I shared what I know.”
Continuous growth is a constant passion for her: “It’s easier for me because I am passionate about what I am doing. It’s a calling. It aligns with my values and with who I am. I am a committed social justice activist. “
After being part of social change in Africa with OSISA, Madzwamuse is inspired by what she is now seeing on the continent.
“It inspires me seeing a lot of groups organise and advocate in their own right. Young people are organising around climate rights. Farmer groups are organising to claim their rights and are putting pressure on governments to give them services and access.
“Things will change because people are now demanding that change. I feel positive. Those protests deliver change.
