New York, NY — African Odyssey and the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) jointly commemorated their 10‑year anniversaries with a milestone event celebrating a decade of connection, courage, and women’s leadership, and underscoring the essential role women play in building peace daily in conflict‑affected communities across Africa and the world.
Her Excellency Madame Kaone Boko, First Lady of Botswana, delivered the keynote address and announced the launch of her new Gender‑Based Violence Fund. Her message — “Gender-Based Violence is the Absence of Peace” — emphasized that peace requires dignity, equality, safety and opportunity for all. She reaffirmed her commitment to using her platform to amplify the voices of women and girls who cannot speak for themselves.
Her Excellency said: “I will never think twice about speaking for women. I will never think twice about speaking on behalf of women who don’t get such platforms. I will never think twice about speaking on behalf of our children. You call me, and I will be there. I will never not make it because I know how serious this is, and I am grateful for the work that you all do.”
As Peace Week begins ahead of the International Day of Peace on 21 September, Tonni Brodber, Head of the WPHF Secretariat, reflected on the importance of sustained investment in women peacebuilders and the need to ensure their leadership is visible, valued, and financed.
“We also support women to get to the peacebuilding table, and when they do, the outcomes change. We see peace agreements that last longer — the data tells us that the chances of agreements lasting more than 15 years rise by 35 percent,” said Ms. Brodber. “Many of these brave women are already on the front lines of crisis and conflict, protecting their families, negotiating safety, and rebuilding their communities long before they ever reach a formal peace table. They risk their lives for peace every single day. When they finally sit in those rooms, they bring truth, courage, and lived experience — and that is why peace lasts. Our work at WPHF is to make sure they have the support, access, and protection they need to keep doing what they have always done: building peace that holds.”
Carol Bouwer, Founder of African Odyssey, said of the evening: “When women and our allies come together with purpose, something shifts — in the room, in the world, and in each of us. Tonight reminded me that the strength of African women is not just in what we do, but in how deeply we show up for one another. This decade has been built on sisterhood, courage, and connection, and that is what will carry us into the next.”
Carl Nelson, Producer from New York and African Odyssey, whose commitment has helped build and sustain this extraordinary community, said: “What moves me most is not the scale of this gathering, but the spirit behind it. We are all here because we believe in women leading change and women building communities. That belief is powerful. It’s what has held this community together for 10 years, and it’s what will keep us building for 10 more and beyond.”
Naseem Banu Lahri, Managing Director of Lucara Botswana, emphasized that a home where a woman lives in fear is not a peaceful home: “A community where a girl cannot walk safely is not a peaceful community. A woman whose life is taken by someone who once professed to love her has not experienced peace. A child subjected to sexual violence has not experienced peace. And that is why Lucara Botswana, though a mining giant, has made the conceited effort to stand for Peace.”
The event also marked the official launch of Malaak Compton‑Rock as a WPHF Global Luminary, recognizing her humanitarian commitment and her role in amplifying the voices of women leading peace efforts worldwide.
Ms. Compton-Rock said: “While I was on mission in Liberia some years ago, I remember a little girl coming up to me. We were in a burntout church at the time. She said to me: ‘Hi ma’am… We need peace, not war.’ This has profoundly impacted me and the work that I do. The women leading peace efforts around the world are some of the most courageous people I have ever met and they are working on making peace possible. For that little girl, and for all in conflict and criss settings. Standing with WPHF means standing with them — and using every bit of my voice to help amplify theirs.”
The evening featured an auction organised by African Odyssey, with proceeds supporting WPHF and its work financing women’s organizations and women peacebuilders in conflict‑affected communities.
Event Partners & Contributors
African Odyssey and WPHF extend their appreciation to the partners whose commitment, generosity and collaboration made this milestone possible. Their contributions demonstrate what is achievable when Africa and the world come together with purpose:
Brand South Africa — for strengthening connections between women in business across the continent and the Diaspora, expanding networks that reinforce the power of an African sisterhood without borders.
Lucara Botswana — for donating items to African Odyssey for auction including a necklace and earing set, and for contributing to the bespoke Lindiwe auction piece.
Carol Bouwer Bags — for designing and crafting the one‑of‑a‑kind Lindiwe bag for auction in support of women’s leadership and peacebuilding.
African Odyssey and WPHF also thank all attendees, supporters and contributors whose engagement and belief continue to strengthen this global community of women leaders and peacebuilders.
About the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF)
WPHF is a global partnership supporting local women’s organizations working to prevent conflict, respond to crises, and build sustainable peace. By investing directly in women peacebuilders and rights defenders, WPHF advances inclusive, lasting, locally-driven solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges in fragile settings worldwide.
About African Odyssey
African Odyssey is a premier platform for like-minded women in business, government, philanthropy and impact work. A safe collaboration space for women in the African Diaspora to connect for growth, mutual support and community development.
Media Contacts
WPHF Communications
Shelly Dolabaille (English): shelly.dolabaille@unwomen.org
African Odyssey Communications
Carl Nelson (English): carlnelson1@gmail.com
