Biography
Mama Shamsa is a peace mediator, recognized worldwide for her work with youth in Kenya. Through her mentoring, counseling, and empowerment programs, she has helped over a thousand young people leave the world of violence, crime, and extremism in the past few years.
In addition to her work with youth, Mama Shamsa has also been promoting women’s empowerment in Kenya. She facilitates inter-religious relations in the coastal region, mobilizing the community to develop public policies related to early marriages, gender-based violence, and violent extremism
In 2023, the Kenyan leader was awarded the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. Established in 2019 to commemorate the historic meeting between Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb and Pope Francis, when they signed the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together,” the award recognizes her contribution to building a more peaceful and compassionate world based on the values of human fraternity.
