This week marks the 2011 Freedom to Create Conference in South Africa.  Freedom to Create is a prize that acknowledges those using creative means to encourage social change.

Same Sky founder, Francine Lefrak, is attending panels, meetings and workshops; being inspired by the culture of the Freedom to Create community.

Freedom to Create draws a strong contingency of women empowering women.  Today’s panel, Courage and Creativity: Empowering Women featured some of these amazing women: Graca Machel, former first lady of South Africa; Chou Chou Namegame, founder of South Kivu’s Women’s Media Association in Congo; Molly Melching of Tostan, an NGO for positive social change in African communities and stopping the practice of female genitalia mutilation; Gcina Mholpe, African freedom fighter; and Unity Dow, first female high courts judge in Botswana.

Issues ranged from HIV to female genitalia mutilation and human rights to female voices in media.  Whether these women encourage change through song and dance or ensuring media access, it is clear that movement of women empowering women is growing to shape Africa.

Freedom to Create has become a force of bringing these ideas and women together.  “This prize creates a platform to affirm women identity and the joy of being human,” says Machel.

Same Sky is proud to participate alongside such amazing women and to be part of this movement of women empowerment.