Philile Linda Shongwe

2024 Obama Foundation Africa Leader

Headshot of Philile Linda Shongwe, 2024 Obama Foundation Africa Leader

Founder and Executive Director, Govuka

Kenya

Philile Linda Shongwe is the founder and executive director of Govuka, a nonprofit that trains and mentors peer educators in high schools to co-generate a data-informed sexual health curriculum aimed at reducing new HIV infections and early and unintended adolescent pregnancies in the Kingdom of Eswatini. Through a peer-driven curriculum, Govuka’s goal is to reach and educate 20,000 girls between the ages of 11 to 19 by 2026 about the risks associated with intergenerational relationships. An experienced development consultant, Philile has generated evidence to help NGOs and governments in Zambia, Malawi, and Senegal improve the social impact of their programs. She is dedicated to promoting youth civic engagement through her work and envisions an Eswatini where young people have access to information and support to reach their full potential.

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