Umm Kylthum and a B was an Egyptian singer, songwriter and film actress. She was active from the 1920s to the 1970s. In her native Egypt she is a national icon and has dubbed as The Voice of Egypt and Egypt’s** Fourth Pyramid. She was the daughter of an imam who performed religious songs at local weddings. Having heard her father practising one day she asked if she could join his small, all male group. She stood in when her brother fell ill before a public performance. Word soon spread about her enchanting voice and she received invites from near by villages- walking miles to reach the venue. Her early concerts were controversial - some members of the community disapproved of gatherings for entertainment. Her father, for her safety and reputation, suggested she wore a boy’s coat and a Bedouin headscarf. In the 1930s she moved to cosmopolitan Cairo where her reputation grew and grew. Umm had a very strong contralto voice, the lowest female voice, with a range of over 7 octaves, and she performed without a microphone. Her concerts lasted for hours. Audiences regularly requested encores of her favourite lines- she was known to improvise and never sang the same line exactly the same - she might change the scale or the emphasis ! For 40 years she broadcast a live concert on the last Thursday in the month. She recorded over 300 songs over her 60 year career. One of her best songs Enta Omn has been covered and reinterpreted numerous times. Umm embodied pan-Arab unity and her songs of love, longing and loss are still played in taxis, radios and cafes across the Arab world today. Sources Wikipedia *RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World * by Maliha Abidi

Michaela Ewuraba Boakya- Collinson professionally known as Michaela Coel is best known for creating and staring in the E4 sitcom Chewing Gun (2015-17) for which she won the BAFTA Award for Best Female Comedy Performance. (See list of other awards and nominations)) She has written and performed professionally since 2006. Aged 22 she enrolled in the Guildford School of Music and Drama. She was the first black woman admitted there for years. She has also written several books (See book sheet) e In 2018 she gave the MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh International Television Festival. She showed her integrity by turning down $1 million offered by Netfix so she could retain full rights and creative control of I May Destroy You Again, which was aired on the BBC instead. The self-aware ‘misfit’ is now a show business insider, contributing to positive change in the industry while creating some of the in original programming in years. Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Baby Noor Jehan was her stage name(born Allah Rakhi Wasai) was a famous playback singer (one whose voice is played over actor’s lip-syncing) and an actress. She worked first for British India and then the cinema in Pakistan. She had command of Hindustani classical music as well as other genres. She recorded over 20,000 songs in different languages -Urdu, Punjabi and Sindhi. She sang 2,442 songs in 1,148 films. She was awarded 15 Nigar awards and the national* Star of Excellence*. In 1951 she appeared as a main character in her first Pakistan film. She was also co-director with her husband - becoming Pakistan’s first female film director. Her career lasted over 50 years. 1965 saw the war of Pakistan with India. Her patriotic songs broadcast on the radio apparently had a profound effect on the morale of the Pakistani soldiers. Following the partition of India she moved her family to the new nation of Pakistan. Her presence in Pakistan shored up the entertainment industry in Lahore. Noor returned to India in 1982 where she was received by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Sources Wikipedia RISE:Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Nawal El Saadawi wrote numerous books on the subject of women in Islam. She was described as Egypt’s most radical woman. Nawal was founder and president of the Arab Women’s Solidarity Association and co-founder of the Arab Association for Human Rights. She studied medicine in Cairo and New York. She was appointed Director General of Health Education at Egypt’s Ministry of Health. She remained in post until she published Women and Sex -in which she criticised FGM (Female Gential Mutilation) - aged just 6 she had under done FMG.She was expelled. As a psychiatrist she had special insight into the traumas and injustices Egyptian women faced daily. Her writing empowered women but proved unacceptable to Egyptian political and religious authorities. She was imprisoned for a time and wrote Memories from the Women’s Prison (1983) using toilet paper and an eyebrow pencil . Nawal was a prolific writer writing both non-fiction and fiction.They were translated into many languages. ( Selected works) She fled Egypt in 1988 when her life was threatened. She returned to Cairo in 1996 where she stayed until her death in 2021. They call me a wild and dangerous woman. I speak the truth. And truth is wild and dangerous Nawal El Saadawi Sources Wikipedia Rise: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the Worldby Maliha Abidi

Negin is a female conductor leading the Zohra - the first all female orchastra in Afghanistan. Being a girl, under Taliban rule, she could never share her passion with her family. He first steps were in secret until she finally revealed her passion to her father who supported her… She was sent to an orphanage called the Afghan Child Education and Care Organization (AFCECO). Aged 13 she was selected for the Afghanistan Institute for Music by musicologist Ahmad Naser Samast. Half the students are street kids or orphans. Talented and hard working she learned to play the lute-like robab and the piano. , She also studied singing before becoming a conductor. In 2017 they performed outside Afghanistan for the first time at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. They have since been on tours to Switzerland and Germany. I will never accept defeat. I will continue to play music. I do not feel safe but when people say 'That is Negin Khpalwak ’ that gives me energy. Sources Wikipedia RISE:Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Haydes Mercedes Sosa, sometimes known as* La Negra (The Black) because of her darker completion and dark hair, was popular throughout Latin America and many other countries outside the region. Her root in Argentina is Folk Music. She became one of the preeminent exponents of El Nuevo cancionero. With her first husband, Manuel Oscar Matus they were key players in the mid-60s. She gave her voice to songs written by many Latin American songwriters. Her voice made people hail her as the* voice of the voiceless ones.* After the military junta of Jorge Videl in 1976 she faced threats against her family. In 1979 after a concert in La Plata she was searched, arrested on stage along with her audience. She was released through international intervention. Banned in her own country she moved first to Paris then to Madrid. In 1982 she returned to Argentina from her exile in Europe In her lifetime she sang with performers across several genres and generations, folk, opera, pop and rock. ( See blue writing on page 3 of notes). She sang in the most prestigious buildings - Carnegie Hall and the Sistern Chapel to name just 2. She received 8 Latin Grammy awards ( 2 posthumously) Mercedes had a career which nearly spanned 6 decades. Aged 15, in 1950, she won a singing competition. In later years she suffered from recurrent endocrine and respiratory problems. She was still singing in 2009, the year she died, from multi organ failure. Her body was placed on display at the National Congress building in Buenos Aires for the public to pay their respects President Fermandez de Kirchner ordered 3 days of national mourning. Mercedes was cremated on 5th October. She lived her 74 years to the fullest She had done practically everything she wanted, she didn’t have any type of barrier or any fear that limited her * Fabian Matus - her son Sources Wikipedia Rise: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Na Hye-sok’s art name was Jeongwol. She was a pioneering Korean Feminist writer and painter, She was both the first female professional painter and writer in Korea. She created some of the earliest Western-style painting in Korea. She also published feminist novels and short stories. She rejected the traditional** Good Wife, Wise Mother** ** Kyonghur* was her major written work (1918) concerned a woman’s self discovery and her subsequent search for meaning as a ’ new woman’. Na had her first painting exhibition in 1921. She participated in many exhibitions -some sold for 350 won (US $3,000 today). On 10th April 1920 she married Kim Woo-young. He divorced her in 1931 on grounds of infidelity. She lost her children and property Despite the divorce and disgraced reputation she continued to paint and write. In 1931 she published A Divorce Testimony. Her views were regarded as scandalous and shocking. She had advocated ‘test marriages’ to avoid a repeat of her unhappy marriage . Korean Confucian culture considered premarital sex taboo. This ultimately ruined her career. She died destitute and alone on 10th December 1948 in a charity hospital. The location of her grave is unknown. She became known as a feminist because of her criticism of the institute of marriage in the early 20th century. She has recently been acknowledged In Korea for her artistic and literary accomplishments. Soel Arts Centre in 2000 opened a retrospective exhibition of her works. Sources Wikiped RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (nee. Frances Abigail Olufunmiayo Olufela Folorunso Thomas ) and as Funmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti . She was born In Abeokula, Southern Nigeria. She was the daughter of Chief Daniel Olumeyuwa Thomas,a farmer and a member pf the aristocratic Jibolu-Taiwo family. She was the first female to attend Abeokula Grammar School. She then attended a finishing school in England. She returned to Nigeria to marry the notable educator Israel Ransome-Kuti. They had a loving relationship and were married for 30 years. As a young adult she worked as a teacher, organizing some of the first preschool classes in the country and arranging literacy classes for lower income women. In 1940’s established the Abeokuta Women’s Union. She led marches and protests of up to 10,000 women. She became known as the Lioness of Lisabi. In 1949 forced Alake to temporary abdicate. Both before and after Nigeria’s independence (1960) she remained a political force. On 13th April 1978 she lost her life when she was mortally wounded during a military raid on her dissident son’s Fela family property. She has been named as a strong influence on a number of activists. No other Nigerian woman of her time ranked as such a national figure or had such international exposure ans connections . Cheyl Johnson-Odim (biographer) Sources Wikipedia RISE by Maliha Abidi

Hayat is famous for making major contributions to point-of-care nedival testing and biotechnology. She is ranked by Arabian business as the ninth most Influential Arab woman. Hayat’s own inventions for Diagnostic for All include a Magnetic Acoustic Resonance Sensor, which can help diagnose illnesses on the spot- invaluable where advanced health care is scarce.

Mary was the first Native American female engineer -she was the great-grand daughter of the Cherokee chief John Ross. She was also the first female engineer in the history of the LockHead Corporation - aeroplane builders. 1928 , aged 20, earned BA in Mathematics. 1938 earn MA in Mathematics. 1949 obtained professional certification in engineering. She began her career teaching maths and science for 9 years. In 1941 relocated to California to seek work after the US joined WW11. In 1942 Lockhead hired her as a mathematician. She worked for Lockhead from 1942 until her retirement in 1973. She is best remembered for her work on aerospace design. She was one of the 40 founding engineers of the renowned and secretive Skunk Works (Advanced Development Programme) team responsible for many aviation innovations ( eg. P-38 Lightning -then the world’s fastest aeroplane) and aerospace innovations (egs. Poseidon and Trident missiles). In the 1950’s she was a founding member of the Society of Women Engineers. When she retired she continued to recruit young women and Native American youth into engineering careers. She lived to the age of 99. She was held in such high regard her picture was placed on the reverse of the 2019 Sacagawea Dollar.

Mazian is Malaysians first astrophysicist whose work has pioneered her country’s participation in space exploration. In 1975 she earned a B Sc.(Hons), followed by being the first woman ever, in 1981, to gain a Ph.D in Physics both from the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand (founded in 1869) She has helped create the curriculum at the national university. In 1990 Prime minister Mahathir bin Mohamad placed her in charge of the Planetarium Division of the P.M. 's department. From 2007-2014 she served as the director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs in Vienna. In 2017 she was named director of the International Science Council (ISC) Regional Offi ce for Asia and the Pacific. From May 2023 she is a Non- Executive of HKATG, a mostly China funded satellite program. Mazian has received many honours during her ling her lifetime. ( See honours) She is a female astrophysicist in a male dominated field. She believes that her unyielding passion has played the biggest role in her success, keeping her focused only on putting her country on th map for space exploration. Sources Wikipedia *Rise: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World *** by Maliha Abidi

Empress Wu Zetian was China’s first and only female ruler She was de facto ruler of the Tang dynasty from 665-705, ruling first through others as empress consort for her husband Emperor Gaozong and then their sons Emperors Zhongzong and Ruizong ,and then (from 690) as empress dowager in her own right. Under her 40 year reign China grew larger, becoming one of the great powers of the world, its culture and economy were revitalized and corruption in the court was reduced. She was removed from power in a coup and died a few months later. As a 14 year old the bright and beautiful Wu Zetian was noticed by Emperor Taizong and became his concubine…She soon had considerable political power After his death she married his ninth son and successor, Emperor Gaozong. After their wedding In 655 she became the empress consort- the highest ranking of the wives. She was a strong,charismatic , vengeful, ambitious and well-educated women who enjoyed the absolute affection of her husband. In 660 Gaozong suffered a stroke and in 665 she became administrator of the court a position equal to the emperors. (He died in 683) She was at the helm of the country for long years, her power is no different from that of the emperor. Sources Wikipedia Herstory by Katherine Halligan

I have created two sheets which children may like to use during their summer holiday. The first sheet is a Diary idea with lots of Vocabulary and useful phrases. The second sheet is a Poetry Aid which the children may like to use to try and describe the holiday in poetic form. They will also be useful at the beginning of the summer term.

Martin Luther on 31st October, 1517 - 500 years ago - posted his 95 Thesis - the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Just some notes I found on Google. For the full explanation of the 95 Theses you need to go to the web site mentioned on the last sheet. On Easter Eve, 4th April 1523, aided by Leonhard Koppe, he helped his future wife Katherine von Bora, a nun, escape from a convent where she and other nuns were dissatisfied. They married about 2 years later. They had 6 children and raised 4 orphans including Katharina’s nephew, Fabian. Katherina managed the monastery and operated the hospital on site. Luther called her 'boss of Zulsdorf. ‘morning star’ for getting up at 4 am,and ‘My Lord Katie’. She respected him as a higher vessel and formally called him ‘Sir Doctor’ throughout her life The marriage was extremely important to the development of the Protestant Church specifically in regards to its stance on marriage and the role of each spouse.

Esther Afua Ocloo. a Ghanaian business woman who pioneered microlending - a programme of making small loans in order to stimulate businesses. She started in 1943, after graduation, to use her pocket money to buy the ingredients to make and sell her now legendary marmalade in Accra. She then took out a contract to supply orange juice to a Achimota school. She gained an additional contract to provided the Royal West African Frontier Force with juice. Lacking resources to meet the demand she had a loan from the bank. She established Nkulenu Industries - the first food processing factory in the Gold Coast. With her business established Achimota college sponsored her to visit England from 1949-51. In 1956 returned to England to develop recipes for commercial canning. 1958 encouraged by President Kwame Nkrumah she became the first president (1959-61) of what was to become the Federation of Ghana Industries. 1970’s onwards worked at national and international level in the economic empowerment of women. (See Business Activity). In 1990 she became the first woman to receive the Africa Prize for Leadership Esther was a member of Unity Worldwide Missions. She died in 2002 aged 82. Nkulenu industries today still make and export marmalade. Sources Wikipedia RISE by Maliha Abidi

Nouhad Wadie’ Haddad, stage name Fairuz, is considered the musical icon of Lebanon and is popularly known as ‘the soul of Lebanon’. Aged 10 a musician, who taught at the Conservatory, heard her chorus singing when she was part of her school choir… He suggested she joined the Conservatory. She was successful. Her became 'active ’ when she was only 15 years of age. Her first breakthrough came when she was hired by Radio Lebanon as a chorus singer. She met the Rahbani brothers Assi and Mansour. The three became the Rahbani Trio. She married Assi when she was 20. Musical plays or operettas were the corner stone of the trio. Over 30 years they produced 25 popular musical plays (20 with Faituz). In 1975 the 15 rear civil war began. She made music lamenting the violence while refusing to take sides and did not perform in Lebanon during this time. She became a symbol of Lebanese unity and was loved by both sides. She is now in her late 80’s and continues to perform. She had won many awards worldwide. She continues to be an enigmatic, commanding presence on stage- the most listened to singer in the Arab world. Sources Wikipedia RISE by Maliha Abidi

Amna is an Emirati racing driver. She was born in Abu Dhabi. She is a first in several motor sport events. In 2014 she began her karting career and was the first woman to participate at the Rotax Max Challenge (RMC). In 2017 she was the first Arab woman to win the UAE RMC Championship. She was the first female to be selected by ATCUAF to represent UAE at the GCC Young Drivers Academy Programme, which she won. On 16th December 2018 she took part in a motor sport test programme for Formula E after the Diriyah ePrix in Saudi Arabia. She was the first Emirati to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Amna represents women in a male dominated sport and hopes she can inspire Arab women, in particular, to follow their motor sport instincts- and go for it Sources Wikipedia *RISE *by Maliha Abidi

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - AOC is a politician and activist. She has served as the US representative for New York’s 14th congressional district since 2019, as a member of the Democratic party. She is the first and youngest ever female member of the Democratic Socialists of America elected to serve in Congress. She supports workplace democracy, Medicare for All, tuition -free public college, a federal jobs guarantee, a Green New Deal and abolishing the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She has earned a reputation for vigorously holding politicians and business interests to account.

Asima Chatterjee - (nee Mukherjee) was an Indian organic chemist noted for her work in the fields of organic chemistry and phytomedicine (use of herbs and other plants). Her most notable works included the research on vinca alkaloids, the development of anti-epileptic drugs and the development of anti-malarial drugs. Through her research she developed anti-epileptic, anti-convulsive and chemotherapy drugs to treat patients. From different types of plants she developed anti-malarial drugs with her team. She dedicated 40 years of her time researching cancer and anti-cancer growth drugs. Asima, in 1944, was the first woman to receive a Doctorate of Science from an Indian university. In 1975 she received the Padma Bhushan Award - one of the highest civilian awards in India. She lived to the age of 89 and died in 2006 in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Her career spanned 6 decades during which she nurtured students, wrote over 400 papers and saved countless lives with her discoveries. Sources Wikipedia RISE by Maliha Abidi

Autumn Peltier is an Anishinaabe Indigenous rights advocate from the Wiikwemkoog First Nation on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. Aged 8 she began advocating for the universal right to clean drinking water. In her culture water is one of the most sacred elements. Aged just 13 she addressed world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly on the issue of water protection. In 2019 she was named Cheif Water Commissioner for the Anishinabek Nation. She is concerned for clean water for the indigenous people across Canada… She is also the leading voice for all Indigenous matters across Canada- history and on-going racism and inaccuracy of Indigenous people, missing and murdered women and access and support for’ the children coming behind us’. Sources Wikipedia RISE by Maliha Abidi