INSPIRATION
To celebrate a quarter of a century of Red, , we asked 25 of our favourite trailblazers to nominate the visionaries they believe have a big role to play in the future
MICHELLE OBAMA
The writer, former lawyer and former First Lady of the United States is a force for change.
‘When Maria Omare was at university in Nairobi, she volunteered with children with disabilities. Seeing how they seemed hidden from the rest of society without a chance to get the education they deserved, she knew she had to do something. So The Action Foundation was born. From holistic care to early education curriculums to programmes for girls in science, technology, engineering and math, The Action Foundation has been a refuge for kids with disabilities to learn and grow for more than a decade. Today, the foundation is not only an institution that’s closing the education gap for children with disabilities, it’s a safe haven for young women to explore their truest passions and be their best selves. Because of Maria’s dedication, the girls she works with have confidence and strength – and are dreaming up a whole new world of possibilities. At the Girls Opportunity Alliance at the Obama Foundation, we’re proud to work with Maria and shine a light on her awardwinning work as a disability-inclusion advocate and an example for us all.’
NOMINEE
MARIA OMARE, AWARD-WINNING DISABILITY INCLUSION ADVOCATE, SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR AND FOUNDER OF THE ACTION FOUNDATION
‘I am passionate about creating a world that gives girls with disabilities in Africa a fair chance to succeed and achieve their fullest potential. To make this happen, my vision for the future is to expand our STEM Mentorship Program in the next four years. This enables the girls to access technology training for careers in science, technology, engineering, and maths. With the help of Action Foundation’s networks, I aim to partner with organisations that can help us reach at least 10,000 additional girls in East and Southern Africa.’
DR HAZEL WALLACE
The doctor and nutritionist founded health education platform The Food Medic and has become an advocate for women’s health through her book The Female Factor.
‘I really admire how Thivi, the UK’s first dual-qualified dermatologist and nutritionist, is shaking up the world of medicine and dermatology to include nutrition as a core pillar of support in skin conditions. People want to know what to eat to support the health of their skin and, up until now, many dermatologists couldn’t answer that question. Through her pioneering work in nutritional dermatology and her book, Skin Food, Thivi is really changing that.’
DR THIVI MARUTHAPPU, DERMATOLOGIST AND NUTRITIONIST
‘When it comes to skincare, we so often reach for the latest cream or treatment to g
