Congratulations to Marie Christina Kolo, 2017 Fellowship Alumna from Madagascar, who has been selected for the 2022 Leadership Impact Award!
Marie is a social entrepreneur, eco-feminist, and climate activist empowering women and youth in the fight against climate change. As the leader of Madagascar’s national coalition on climate justice and gender, Marie is applying the lessons she learned during the 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.
In 2016, Marie founded Green N Kool, an eco-friendly social enterprise that educates her community through activities and programs on sustainable development and waste management. Green N Kool constructs sustainable playgrounds for public schools and orphanages and creates and distributes other eco-friendly, recycled products. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Green N Kool has been distributing eco-friendly soap to hospitals, orphanages, and emergency centers.
Marie Christina has been an active Alumna who inspires us all in her work as a climate activist and social entrepreneur. We commend her work empowering women and youth in their resilience to the impacts of climate change.”
Lovamanitra Felantsoa, Program Specialist, U.S. Embassy Madagascar
After Marie’s Fellowship, she was inspired to share her story as a survivor of gender-based violence and support victims of sexual assault and gender-based violence and launched Women Break The Silence, a national movement leading the fight against rape culture in Madagascar. Since its inception, the organization has supported thousands of students and volunteers. Marie also started the first national campaign fighting sexual harassment in public transport and public administration.