Memory Banda is a girls’ activist, a young woman advocate for girl’s education and a fierce global campaigner against child marriages and harmful traditions. She is a development practitioner, a moderator and motivational speaker.
Memory started her activism work at the age of 13 when she realized the social injustices happening against girls in her community and decided to make a difference. Memory defy all odds and stood up against the long time practice where young girls were being married off and the practice was normalized and embedded in the cultural systems. Growing up in such environment Memory witness the negative effect of harmful traditions on girls; where girls are being denied their right to education, girls getting pregnant, girls dropping out of school.
Memory mobilizes girls in her country to stand up and fight for girls’ rights and gender equality. For the past 5 years, Memory has been mentoring and inspiring girls and young women in Malawi through her work. Memory is a founder and Executive Director of a not-for-profitmaking organization called Foundation for Girls Leadership (F4GL Malawi). Her organization is dedicated at raising young and powerful girl leaders that are influencing and leading the social transformation in their communities and country; promoting the girl’s right to education and access to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights for girls. Memory strongly believe that education open doors of opportunities for girls and young women and therefore the best investment one can make.
Memory led a campaign called “I will marry when I want” a girl movement campaign in Malawi that contributed to the passing and enactment of the new law and amendment of Malawi constitution that criminalizes marriages of minors. Memory took the campaign at global level where she has been speaking at different forums including TED talk among many international platforms and Forums
Memory was awarded the International youth student Award in Taiwan in 2015. In the same year, Memory was nominated for the Kids Right Prize Award. In 2019, Memory was awarded a Young Activist award at UN-Geneva. In 2021, Memory has been named as one of the 100 women in the Global South making the future sustainable under the Gender Security Project #femilist2021. Memory Banda is now the symbol of revolution against child marriages in Africa and beyond. Memory is a member of Pan African Young Speakers and Activists. She is also a member of Freedom Speakers Bureau under the Human Rights Foundation (HRF). Memory is recognized as a Goalkeeper for the Global Goals under the Gates Foundation. She has served as a board member for both local and international organizations as an advisor on adolescent girls.
Memory’s vision is to see every girl getting educated and growing up in a safe environment free from violence and inequality. Memory aspire to increase opportunities for girls through influencing for girl friendly policies, laws, practices and programmes and development of a girls learning and empowerment centre where creative and innovative leaders will transform Malawi, changing the narratives around young women leadership.
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