IMPACT NOW: WHEN WOMEN LEAD BLOG
PERMISSION TO LEAD—AND THE STRUCTURE TO SUSTAIN IT
A few days ago I asked a few NYOTA women the following question: “When women want to be leaders, what barriers do they face? How does NYOTA help?” Cleménce, a 2025 NYOTA graduate, wrote back, "When women want to be leaders, especially in Africa, they first face...
One Woman, Two Crises: The Ripple Effect of Women’s Leadership in the DRC
NYOTA graduate Marie Bulieni went from desk work to freeing child soldiers—and now fights Ebola misinformation in Beni, DRC. Her story reveals how one woman’s growth creates thousands of ripples.
Finding Voice: How NYOTA Teaches Women in the DRC to Speak Up and Be Heard
For women in the DRC, speaking up can carry real social cost. NYOTA’s Communication and Advocacy module equips women leaders in Beni with the skills to navigate conflict, build advocacy plans, and make their voices count. Here’s how it works.
What Values-Based Leadership Looks Like for Women in the DRC
The NYOTA Leadership Development Program’s Module 2 challenges command-and-control leadership norms in the DRC—and shows women what it looks like when a leader truly listens. Discover how values-based leadership is transforming women’s confidence in Beni, Congo.
Why Work/Life Balance Is the Foundation of Women’s Leadership Development in the DRC
Discover how the NYOTA Leadership Development Program uses work/life balance training to empower women leaders in Beni, DRC — and why personal sustainability is the bedrock of lasting leadership impact.
EBOLA OUTBREAK UPDATE
Learn more about how the Ebola Outbreak is affecting the women of NYOTA in Beni, DRC.
Women Leaders Change Their Communities: NYOTA Leadership Program, DRC
Meet Clémence Doty and learn how the NYOTA Leadership Program in the DRC is equipping women to lead, build businesses, and transform their communities.
One Woman. Thousands of Lives.
March is a season to celebrate women. It’s Women's History Month, and there is International Women's Day on March 8th. In much of the world, the day passes as a social media moment. It’s a hashtag, a quotation on Instagram, a story from history, and brief...
Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day
March gives us a moment to pause and celebrate women.
WHEN THE WORLD SHIFTS: NYOTA WOMEN LEAD THROUGH CRISIS
A recent New York Times article brought one of the realities of eastern DRC into sharp focus for me. The piece documented life in Goma one year after M23 rebels took control of the city. The human toll: nearly 3,000 people killed and more than 2,800 wounded in a city...
THE POWER OF CONVERSATION: ONE LEADER’S TRANSFORMATION RIPPLES THROUGH A COMMUNITY
When Rebecca Matabishi founded Les Oliviers School Complex in Beni, the Democratic Republic of Congo, she carried the weight of leading a nursery, primary, and secondary school alone. She had passion and vision. However, she notes, "I was afraid. As a result, I missed...
Continuing the Conversation: From NYOTA Graduate to Community Impact
I consider NYOTA graduate Jeanette Longhi a friend. Jeanette’s smile lights up a room. Her energy inspires action. It was a delight to catch up with Jeanette when I was in Beni in September. After church one Sunday, Jeanette invited me to join her at a seminar she had...