Rohingya Women Development Network's founder Sharifah Shakirah grew up in Myanmar until she  was trafficked to Malaysia as a child. Rohingya people haven't been granted rights in her home country, so she was stateless for much of her life. Despite that, she started an organization for Rohingya women in Malaysia to provide support, job training and a safe place to discuss issues like gender based violence. The community flourished and produced handicrafts and a cookbook among other important projects.

 

When Sharifah was resettled in Houston, Texas, she continued her direct outreach work and stepped into an advocacy role as well. Through RWDN, she hosts Houston's Annual Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day. She is in Washington DC this week to advocate for her community. She recently became a U.S. citizen and was able to travel back to Malaysia and Bangladesh and meet with women in her community face-to-face. Our team member Constance was able to be with her in the camps, and many people who had never met her had heard of her and her work. She is always building relationships and on the go. This type of grassroots work involves lots of home visits and tea and listening and Zoom calls with other refugee organizations, but Sharifah is a tireless advocate for her people. The ConnectHER grant will help RWDN to host events and advocate for the Rohingya diaspora. We are so grateful for leaders like Sharifah that we can partner with and cheer for.