LWF program promotes “healthy and inclusive notions of gender” and “progressive leadership”
(LWI) – Ms Phiona Uwase, a youth leader in the Lutheran Church of Rwanda (LCR) says her work at the It’s Possible Foundation has gained a new dimension: creating a more equitable society where individuals are not confined by rigid gender roles and expectations.
In February 2024, she graduated with a certificate in Theology, Gender Justice and Leadership Education (TGLE) following two residential training sessions at the Tumaini University Makumira (TUMA) in Arusha, Tanzania, and one-year research in her home county. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) established the program in 2022 in collaboration with the university and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. Participants are drawn mostly from LWF member churches in Africa, and the second cohort to which Uwase belonged, had 20 students from 10 countries.
Uwase’s research focused on educating women and men to nurture positive masculinity and femininity that promote gender justice in LCR. “The reason behind my research was to challenge harmful gender stereotypes and promote healthy and inclusive notions of gender,” said the 24-year-old, a member of the LWF Council.
The reason behind my research was to challenge harmful gender stereotypes and promote healthy and inclusive notions of gender
Ms Phiona Uwase, Lutheran Church of Rwanda
The LWF TGLE program has “deepened my understanding of theology, leadership, and more about gender justice, and equipped me with valuable knowledge and skills that I can apply in my ministry and daily life,” Uwase added. “It has brought new perspectives, insights, and practices that will enrich our worship services and also empower leaders within the church to take on new roles and responsibilities, leading to a more vibrant and dynamic community,” she added.
She is putting her new skills to use at the non-profit organization, with the objective of helping young people to achieve their dreams and contribute to nation building. “We often visit schools and have dialogue with students on different topics that concern young people, and share our experiences with them to help them grow with a positive outlook to life,” she explained.
“We are all volunteers—48 female, 28 male—who came together after finishing high school, most of us from the same school but later new members came in slowly from different places in Rwanda,” she says of the team that runs It’s Possible. In May, Uwase also graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business marketing from the University of Kigali.
