Kenya
Qabale Duba is the founder of Qabale Duba Foundation (QDF) www.qabale.org, a community-based organization that is empowering pastoralist girls and women in Marsabit County.
She is a graduate nurse from Kenya Methodist University and currently pursuing masters of science in Field Epidemiology at Moi University. Through QDF she has initiated PAPA (pads and panties) project where they donate sanitary pads and undergarment to the rural schoolgirls in Marsabit. They are also locally making reusable period panties in Marsabit with support from some partners. They champion against Harmful cultural practices like female genital mutilation & early marriages. QDF is bridging the gap in Marsabit too by using women as peace agents to bring cohesion and harmony in among the warring communities by celebrating international peace day together every year.
In 2017 they started a community literacy program by enrolling women into adult education sessions where they are taught how to read and write and also enlightened about their sexual reproductive health and rights. In 2018 they built two classrooms and started Torbi pioneer academy and currently have 68 children in their nursery school. The classrooms serve the kids in the morning and are used by adult learners in the afternoon for the learning sessions.
Qabale’s mentor is Helen Lunkuse.