- Sisterhood and Solidarity across all our diversities
We celebrate our diversities and differences
The Young Feminist Movement was established in Swakopmund in 2009 by Florence F /Khaxas. The organization was founded out of a need to develop analysis of the situation of young women in Erongo region. It started off with a feminist consciousness raising meeting in 10 villages and towns in Erongo region. YFEM organized herself around poverty and unemployment, lack of education and training opportunities, HIV & AIDS, sex work, ignorance about sexuality, SRHR, early cohabitation and force marriage, sexual harassment, teenage and unwanted pregnancy leading to school drop-out and unsafe abortion, domestic violence, incest and rape, lack of leadership skills among young women.
To address these concerns, Y-Fem employed feminist analysis to investigate and develop solutions to test in regions of operation. These learnings enhanced YFEM’s capacity in leadership skills, conflict resolution and peace building; economic empowerment; HIV prevention, knowledge of sexuality and sexual and reproductive health and rights; constitutional and human rights; and confidence in exercising their rights.
To date Y-Fem has been operating for 14 years. Over the years, Y-Fem has actively been advocating for the leadership and justice of lesbians, rural, urban, indigenous cis and trans adolescent girls, young women, non-binary youth, HIV+ women, their movements and organizations to enjoy respect in a safe and just world. Y-Fem is flexible, innovative, courageous and bold in the way she organize herself and continuously shifts power for younger feminists to analyses their own lives, to create their own feminist knowledge create an indigenous Namibian feminism knowledge base to serve as a tool for analyzing discrimination and oppression through the system of patriarchy.
Florence F. /Khaxas
Y-FEM Director
Aïssatou Cisse
In the fight for women to reclaim their voices I have personally pledged to leave no stone unturned.
Allen Sophia
Asiimwe
I often find that stigma is informed by ignorance and once people are informed and engaged with, they often appreciate and join the feminist cause.
Amina Mama
The greatest external threat to women (and by extension humanity) is the growth and acceptance of a misogynistic, authoritarian and violent culture of militarism
Hope Chigudu
When I was young, I thought that life of equality, wisdom and justice would be my birthright if only I worked hard at school, excelled, got a good job and a good salary. I was wrong.
- Engaging in self-education to develop self-knowledge and self-worth.
Vision, Mission and Values
Our Vision
YFEM seeks to see a Namibia where all women are free from the shackles of inequity, thrive in their economic ventures and where Namibian CSO and State has adopted a feminist approach to thinking, programming and resource allocation. Ultimately, YFEM seeks in inclusive Namibia where our people are healed and live fruitful and equitable lives.
Our Mission
Y-Fem Namibia is building a self-sustaining, rights-forward feminist movement to empower young women, redress inequities, and reclaim power stolen by colonial and patriarchal structures. As an accountable, proactive thought leader, we break down systemic barriers, raise consciousness, and advance holistic, sustainable change through advocacy, governance, and creative expression. Grounded in decolonial praxis and healing justice, we are transforming the legacies of oppression to forge a liberated future.
Our Values
Integrity – Ensuring accountability to the community, partners & ourselves. Inclusion – Embracing diversity, including difference in cultures, race, sexual orientation and gender identity & expression. Teamwork – Working together with mutual respect and tolerance. Solidarity – Commitment to collective action, support for all women and intersectional feminists. Peace – Commitment to non-violence, conflict resolution and the promotion of peaceful coexistence. Courage – Commitment to taking bold and decisive actions to achieve feminists’ goals even in the face of adversity and opposition.
Guiding principles based on a shared understanding of feminism and feminist leadership
We take up the torch of feminism as a critical tool for understanding why women and young women in our communities and around the world continue to be discriminated against, marginalized and oppressed – despite all the progressive laws and policies that guarantee our rights to dignity, equality, well-being, pleasure and happiness…