Isatou M. Bokum is a young leader passionate about advancing the rights of young women and girls. In 2018, she founded Girls Talk Organisation, which fearlessly addresses cultural norms hindering their growth and well-being. Her impactful initiatives, including social media campaigns, sensitisation programs, mentorship, and capacity-building efforts, have transformed the lives of many in The Gambia.

 

As the first Mandela Rhodes Scholar and Rhodes Scholar from The Gambia, Isatou holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of The Gambia and an honours degree in Media Theory and Practice from the University of Cape Town. She has recently completed her master’s degree in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Oxford. Her commitment to education and driving impactful change continues as she is pursuing a second master's degree in Public Policy to shape intersectional policies for social and economic gender justice in Africa.