Ayikoru Patience Poni

Cohort 43
Eastern Region
Arua
Public Management
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions,
https://linktr.ee/patienceponiayikoru
Ayikoru Patience Poni is a Ugandan lawyer and youth leader with experience in advocating for gender equality, social justice, and effective participation of women and youth in leadership. Currently, she works as a Trainee, Governance at the Austrian Embassy Development Cooperation in Uganda and is a Member of the European Union Youth Sounding Board Uganda where she is also the team leader on the Thematic area of Gender Equality. Prior to joining the Austrian Embassy Development Cooperation, Patience served as a Membership and Research Officer at the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA Uganda) where she is also a Member. She is the founder and team leader of a volunteer-based organization called Femme Talk West Nile based in Koboko District, Uganda, an organization that is raising youth voices, advancing gender justice, leadership and mentorship of young people in the region. She uses creative advocacy to speak up against Gender Based Violence such as using Chess and Dialogue, influencing Community Dialogues, and Storytelling. In 2021, she opened the first Pad booth in West Nile region supplying free emergency pads to the rural women and girls in a bid to end period poverty in the communities. Patience has been recognized for her advocacy against gender based violence in West Nile by UN Women Africa and Uganda in 2022, was among the youngest female leaders whose advocacy story was showcased at the Uganda Museum during the Because of Her Foundation annual women’s exhibition in 2024, and has been recognized for her passion for gender equality and leadership in National media of New Vision.