The UNGEI podcast

Welcome to the UNGEI podcast!

Launched on International Women's Day 2021, the UNGEI podcast is a tribute to the transformative power of education. Each episode explores the cross-cutting role of education across the 6 Generation Equality Action Coalition thematic areas, through interviews with two notable activists, experts and leaders working on these issues from two different regions and perspectives. Each episode will answer one big question on education and how it connects to some of the biggest issues of our time. 

Episode 1: Why does education need feminism? 

Launching on International Women's Day 2021, our pilot episode, Why does education need feminism? looks at the relationship between feminism and education. On the podcast is Antara Ganguli, a writer and feminist from India, and the new Head of the UNGEI Secretariat; and Oseyi Etomi, a founding member of the Feminist Coalition, a group of young Nigerian feminists who work to promote equality for women in Nigerian society, with a core focus on education, financial freedom and representation in public office. 

Episode 2: What does technology have to do with gender equality?  

The second episode of the UNGEI podcast looks at the role of technology in advancing gender equality, especially with regards to learning and education. Host Nafesha Richardson (CYGEN) is joined by guest speakers Selin Ozunaldim and Fatima Alkaabi.

Selin is an 18-year-old student and gender equality activist based in Turkey. She is currently the youngest representative for the He for She Initiative coordinated by UN Women, the founder of Girl Up Istanbul, and Girls Who Code Turkey. Fatima is a 19-year-old inventor and engineering student from the United Arab Emirates. Fatima supports girls and young women to enter the STEM field through mentorship and empowerment. 

In this podcast, the speakers share their take on the important linkages between technology and gender equality. Selin and Fatima bravely talk about the challenges girls face in accessing, benefiting from, and creating new technology - as well as exciting opportunities to overcome these barriers. Finally, they share a powerful call to action on the power of transformative education and gender equality to transform our world through equitable and inclusive technology and STEM.  

Episode 3: Why should gender equality and education be prioritised in humanitarian contexts?

The third episode of the UNGEI podcast will be launched on Thursday 9 September 2021, the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. In conflict and crisis contexts around the world, children’s right to education is under threat. Education needs to be protected, with consideration for the gender-specific challenges faced by boys and girls in humanitarian situations. Gender equality and education must not be sidelined in a crisis - they are fundamental human rights, pathways to resilience and rebuilding, and crucial to more peaceful, equal and just societies. 

In this episode, UNICEF Education Specialist Robyn Savage, Generation Equality Global Youth Task Force Member Amani Aruri, and CYGEN member Nafesha Richardson explore the key reasons why gender equality and education must not be sidelined in a crisis. They share promising approaches to ensure girls and boys and continue learning in humanitarian contexts, their take on the recent events in Afghanistan, and ways in which we can all do our part to protect every child’s right to education in situations of conflict and crisis.