Magte Chunneiiang Mary Kom is a former boxer and Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (2016-22). Mary has a number of notable firsts for a female boxer from India. She was the only female Indian boxer to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics -in the flyweight category she won bronze. She is the only boxer to win the Amateur Boxing Championship 6 times. At the 2014 first Indian female boxer to win gold at the Asian Games. At the 2018 first Indian female boxer to win gold at the Commonwealth Games. She has been ranked No.1 female light-flyweight by the International Boxing Association. In 2017 the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports appointed her and Akhil Kumar as national observers of boxing. Mary’s parents were concerned that boxing would stop her finding a husband. She found a husband, they had 2 children and she returned to boxing. Her husband supported her - gave up his job to look after the children- so she could continue. Mary has opened a boxing academy in Imphal and been a Member of Parliament. * Take me as an example and don’t give up Mary Kom Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

St David is the patron saint of Wales. I have included a page from Wikipedia. There is an information sheet about St. David followed by two large font sheets containing basic information .There are two pieces of gap work (differentiated), a crossword which needs a picture answer, a word search, information about the Welsh flag and the Union Jack, plus diary ideas with a blank for their diary. These sheets should keep the children interested on St. David’s day - a mixture of different things to do. The extra two pages are the b/w front and back cover for the whole series Four Wise Men. for them to colour.

St. Mungo is the patron saint of Glasgow. His proper name is Saint Kentigern but he is is better known by his nickname. Saint Serf, who became his foster father, is responsible for the name of Mungo. Mungo means ‘my dear one’. His mother was a princess: his father became a king!

Mary Slessor was a Christian missionary in Nigeria. She started life, at 11, as a 'half timer' - school for six hours/ working for six hours for the Baxter Brother's Mill with her mother and father to become the 'white queen of Okoyong' in Nigeria. When she died in 1915 she was given a state funeral in Nigeria in recognition of her life time given to helping others. She is an inspiration for any girl, or boy, who is thinking becoming a missionary. We celebrated the centenary of her death two years ago and there is a lot of material to find on the internet about her.

St. Stephen is the forgotten saint! In the UK we think of it as Boxing Day - a National Bank Holiday. St.Stephen was the first Christian martyr. The twelve disciples of Jesus asked the believers in Jesus Christ to select seven deacons. The seven were given the task of caring for the poor.Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, who probably a Hellenistic Jew - born in Greece, was one of the chosen seven. Stephen, brimming with God’s grace and energy, was doing wonderful things until, out of jealousy, he was falsely accused of blaspheme. Blaspheme is when a person shows contempt or disrespect for God. He was taken in front of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Council. He was given the opportunity to speak. He told them a few home truths - they had not listened to the prophets who they persecuted- they were responsible for the death of Jesus. They were outraged at what he said. He finished by saying," Oh! I see heaven wide open and the Son of Man standing at God’s side" To them that was blaspheme - hey took him outside and stoned him I have Scripture readings, Wikipedia, the Spruce -for Boxing day. There is also a word search with answers.

Margaret Yvonne Busby, born in Gold Coast (now Ghana ), became the youngest, first black female publisher in GB. Along with Clive Allison they were co-founders of Alison and Busby, a London based Publishing House, in the 1960s. Notable works Daughters of Africa 1992 New Daughters of Africa 2019 2020 she was voted one of the 100 Great Black Britons. 2021 honoured with the London Book Fair Lifetime Achievement award. 2023 named president of English PEN. Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Prudence, a 21 year old student, was the first woman in South Africa to openly declare a positive HIV positive diagnosis. After her announcement she was met with insults, presumptions that she was a sex worker and expectations that she would die soon. Her university barred her from finishing her studies. (She lived to the age of 45 and she did gain some diplomas (light current engineering, psychology and management) She turned to volunteer work but struggled with suicidal feelings. She qualified as a sangoma - a traditional healing. *She visited so many grieving families. When lesbians were killed, Pru went. When another HIV positive woman died, Pru was there. When a woman was murdered. Pru was at the font. painted up, dolled up, voice rugged,breathing through her mouth, swearing and joking and sweating, she was there. Sisonka Msimang She a member of the One in Nine Campaign She set up the Positive Women’s Network in 1996. In 1998 she helped start Treatment Action Campaign TAC) She was the recipient of the Felipa de Souza award in 1999. In 2004 carried the Olympic flame in Greece. At the time of her death in 2017 she was involved with many organizations ( See ‘Career’ for full list) Prudence worked to better the lives of those around her,she rose from despair to heroism in incredibly difficult circumstances Maliha Abidi Sources Wikipedia RISE:Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Maria was recognised by the Indonesia in 1969 as a National Hero for her. work towards the emancipation of women. This was 45 years after her death in 1924. Born Maria Josphine Catherine Maramis she was made an orphan when both her parents died froma disease when she was only 6. Maria, with her siblings were adopted by their uncle. Girls were primed for marriage from an early age. They were taught to read and write and received some science and history tuition. When she married her name changed to Maria Walanda Maramis. She began to write an opinion column for the local newpaper. Her topic owere motherhood and the woman’s role in caring for the health, well being and education of their families. In 1917 she founded Perctaan Ibu Kepada Anak Turunannya PIKAT , in English The Love of a Mother toward her children. The organization taught mothers how to cook, sew and childcare. PIKAT spread to other islands. It offered women a network through which they could exchange skills and information. Her daughters became teachers. Maria also worked for political change. In 1921 women were given permission to vote for their representatives. Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Leymah Roberta Gbowe, with her collaborator Ellen Johnson Sirleaf ,and WIPNET, were responsible for ending the second Liberia Civil War in 2003. Together they led the Women of Liberia M ass Action of Peace (WIPNET) to end the civil war. They took hundreds of women to the hotel where the peace talks had stalled and stopped the negotiators from leaving until days later an agreement was reached… *The peace hall has been seized by General Leymah and her troops *Abubaker (Read the paragraph In June …) The president of Liberia , Charles Taylor went into exile but was eventually apprehended and sentenced to 50 years imprisonment. 2005 Ellen-Johnson Sirleaf became the first woman president of Liberia. 2011 Leymah and Ellen shared the Nobel Peace prize with Tawakei Kaman. Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Berta was assassinated, in her home, in 2016, by armed intruders after many years of threats against her life. She was a Honduran environmental activist, indigenous leader, co-founder and coordinator of the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organization of Honduras (COPINH). She had dedicated her life to change Honduras where the rights of indigenous people were routinely violated,activists killed and women died every 18 hours. She successfully led a grassroots campaign/ blockade in 2013, which lasted a year against the world’s largest dam builder to stop the building of the Agua Zarca Dam at the Rio Gualcarque. Protesters were beaten, shot and tortured by the military Berta’s courageous efforts won her the prestigious Golden Environmental Prize.in 2015. In July 2021 Roberto David Castillo, the former president of Desarrollos Energeticos SA (DESA), was found guilty of being a co-conspirator in her murder and sentenced to 22 1/ 2 years in prison. Sources Wikipedia* RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World* by Maliha Abidi

Fatema grew up in the harem of her affluent paternal grandmother along with various female kin and servants. She came of age during a progressive movement. She had the opportunity to step outside the harem doors and receive a university eduction Beyond the Veil: Male-female Dynamics in Muslim Society, written for her PhD, recognizes the power of Muslim women in relation to the Islamic faith. She is regarded as an Influential feminist figure, as she was a renowned public speaker, scholar, teacher, writer and sociologist. Fatema is considered to be one of the founders of Islamic feminism. Sources Wikipedia** RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi*

Wangechi is primarily known for her painting, sculpture, film and performance work. She has established her career in New York City and lived there for more than 20 years. She has directed the female body as subject through collage painting, immersive installation and live and video performance while exploring questions of self -image, gender constructs, cultural trauma, and environmental destruction and notions of beauty and power. Her work often centred on Black women’s bodies.Her Afrofuturist worldscapes confront the pain and discourse of our time. Her art work allowed her to release her anxiety following the 9/11 terrorists attacks. She created beautiful collages using paints, inks and cut-outs from magazines, In 2003 she was invited to take part in a group exhibition with 12 other artists - a major turning point in her career. In 2018 she created scuptures for the exterior niche of the facade for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She is the founder of* Africa’s Out* a platform to* advance change through the power of art and activism.* Wangechi has exhibited across the world, an artist attuned to some of the most complex nuances of the 21st century. Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Have Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Jameel Alia Jamil may be a beautiful woman but she wants us to think carefully about that. As a child, born to a Pakistani father and a British Pakistani mother, she faced numerous health issues. As a teenager she had anorexia nervosa (14-17). Aged 17 she had a serious spinal injworldury after being struck by a car. Her recovery from the accident apparently changed her relationship with her body. She is known for her Instagram account 'I weigh’ She realised that she had been conditioned to hate her body by a culture that profits from the self-loathing of young girls. She wants girls to be proud, for us to fell valuable…and look past the flesh on our bones. In 2016 she relocated to the US. She hosts the TBS late-night game show The Misery Index and is a judge on Legendary. Through her willingness to criticise her peers and the structure of the entertainment industry Jameela is a positive and visible role model for millions around the world. Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Ferdinand Magellan is recognised as being the first person to lead a sea voyage around the world. He started with 5 ships but only ‘Victoria’ returned to Spain. Ferdinand died during the attack on the Mactan island so he personally never completed the voyage - see notes.

Elizabeth Fry was a preacher and reformer. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Gurney and she was born in Norwich into a wealthy Quaker family. She became a member of Plain Friends - a strict religious group who dressed modestly and refrained from singing and dancing. William Savery inspired her to devote her life to helping the needy. Elizabeth Gurney met Joseph Fry in 1799 and married him in 1800. They went to live in his family home in Plashed - now East Ham. In 1811 Elizabeth was acknowledged as a Quaker minister. It was an unpaid post among Friends that nevertheless frequently entailed travelling to serve other meetings. her ministry, which was greatly appreciated on account of her musical voice. She delighted to preach on the theme of the availability of the grace of God for all. When Elizabeth visited Newgate prison in 1813 she found women and children crammed 30 to a cell. There they cooked, washed and slept. To help them she supplied clothes, established a school, chapel and matron. In 1817 Elizabeth, along with 11 other Quakers, established the Association for the Improvement of the Female Prisoners in Newgate. Her brother in law, MP Thomas Fowell-Buxton, raised the issue in Parliament… Elizabeth gave evidence to the Commons committee on prisons. She advocated treating prisoners like human beings. Some MPs saw her as a dangerous radical but the new Home Secretary, Sir Robert peel, was supportive. The 1823 Goals Act was the first step. In a book published in1827 she set down many of her conclusions on penal policy, stating foe example her opposition to capital punishment. Elizabeth became recognised as a well-known , respected figure, consulted by many important men for her professional opinion. In 1824 she founded the Brighton District Visiting Society. In 1840 she created a nursing school at Guy’s hospital. She did not win all the battles. She declared in 1948 the new Pentonville prison, with its dark cells, *should never exist in a Christian and civilized country. * Elizabeth Fry created a lasting improvements for Britain and changed the status of women in society. I found some Bite Size Key stage I pictures which might prove useful for primary work. Sources *Great Leaders of the Christian Church * edited by John D. Woodbridge contribution from David W. Bebbington wikipedia The great British Community BBc Bitesize

Oumou is a Grammy Award winning Malian Wassoulou musician from Bamako, Mali. In 1970 , aged just 2, she was brought up by her mother, Aminata Diakite. Her career 'began ’ at the age of 5 when she won an inter-kindergarten singing competition in Bamako, at the Omnisport Stadium, in front of an audience of several thousand. She left school at an early age and began singing in the streets to help her mother. Aged 16 she went on tour with the percussion group Djoliba to Europe and the Caribbean. Inspired by her reception on tour she established her own musical group. In 1990 recorded her first album* Moussoulou* (Women) with Amandou Ba Guindo - 200,000 copies sold. (in total recorded 8 albums -see Discography) She is considered an ambassador of Wassoulou. Her music has been inspired by the music and traditional dances of the area. Since 1990 she has performed at some on the most important venues in the world. Oumou . is an advocate for women’s rights, opposing child marriage and polygamy. In 2003 she was named ambassador for FAO. In 2022 she was cast in her first acting role. She does not want to become a politician While you’re an artist, you’re free to say what you think, when you are a politician you follow instructions from higher up. Oumon Sangare ,

Wilma and her 10 siblings grew up in extreme poverty in Oklahoma Cherokee territory. They spoke Cherokee, and were taught traditions by tribal elders. The family moved to San Francisco where they lived in a troubled neighbourhood and struggled financially. Separated from tribal ways and facing racism and discrimination she found school difficult. This helped transform her into a feminist and activist. She married, had 2 daughters but her husband discouraged her personal growth. Her dedication to native American issues pushed her to pursue university education. She divorced her husband and began to work as a social worker.in Oakland. She returned with her daughters to Oklahoma to work for the Cherokee nation. She developed programmes for healthcare, child and elderly welfare. She also secured community infrastructure development grants. Surviving a near fatal accident she became Deputy Chief to Ross Swimmer. On Ross moving into federal politics she became chief. She held the post for 10 years - re-elected twice. She was progressive, farsighted and focused on cultural pride. She emphasised economic growth and social programmes. There was improvement in all areas *I want to be remembered as the person who helped restore faith in ourselves Wilma Mankiller on the Cherokee Nation Sources Wikipedia RISE:Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Gua was born in a family of peasants in the impoverished region of Hua County, Henan Province in China. Seeing the poverty, underdevelopment in her village and the violation to her own grandmothers was the stimulus for her lifelong dedication to improving the rights of women . Aged 18 she attended law school at Peking University, graduating in 1983. She worked at the Ministry of Justice, All China Federation for Women, The All China Association of Lawyers.* In 1995 she attended the Fourth International Forum for Women Lawyers and the United Nations International World Conference on Women in Beijing. Her intension was to observe and interview members, she left an activist. She, with others, founded the Beijing University Law School Women’s Legal Research and Services Centre, also in 1995. It was the first non-profit- making non-government organization specializing in women’s legal aid in China. It grew to become an influential force in safeguarding the rights and interests of women. 2010 Beijing University disassociated itself from the centre. 2016 Chinese government ordered it to be shut down. Despite this Guo continues her work as first public interest lawyer fighting full-time on the front lines to protect women’s rights. In 2019 Gua was awarded Right Livelihood Award for her pioneering and persistent work in securing women’s rights in China. Sources used Wikipedia RISE:Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Raziyyat-Utd-Dunya Wa Ud-Din, popularly known as Razia Sultan, was the fifth Sultan of Delhi. She was courageous, just and generous. She was the only female ruler to sit on the Delhi throne. She was the daughter of Sultan Shamsuddin Litutmish. He had 3 sons. The eldest and heir died prematurely The other two were more interested in the indulgence of royal pleasures rather than leadership. Razia administered Delhi (1231-2) when her father was busy in the Gwalior campaign. Litutmish nominated her to succeed him. fe or mistreaa On his death Ruknuddin Firuz , her half brother, succeeded him and his mother, Shah Turkan, wanted Razia executed. But Razia instigated the general public against him. Ruknuddin and his mother were assassinated. Razia, a female, was now Sultan.She adopted masculine attire in court and on the battlefield.She believed in her supremacy as a ruler and took the title Sultan - (she refused to be called Sultana because it denoted a wife or mistress of the Sultan). Her reign was short. She was a great leader who cared deeply about the empire and was popular with her subjects. She expanded the territory of the state, and fostered peace and prosperity. There was unfortunately resentment against her and she reigned for less than years (1236-40) . She married one of the rebel leaders - Ikhtiyaruddin Altunia in an attempt to regain the throne but was defeated by her half brother and successor Muizuddin Bahramin in October 1240 . She was killed shortly afterwards. Sources Wikipedia RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi

Taytu was the third wife of Emperor Manelik II. She was an influential figure in anti-colonial resistance against the Italians during the 19th scramble for Africa. Along with her husband they founded the modern Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa in 1886. As empress she played a valuable role advising her husband on all political matters. Together they laid foundations for medical care, postal service, wool production, the railways and the tax system.Under the powerful couple Ethiopia advanced into the beginning of the 20th century. The Treaty of Wuchale (1889) was signed with Ethiopia and Italy to strengthen their relationship but the Amharic (Ethiopian language) and Italian versions were different. An added article in the Italian version declared Ethiopia a protectorate of Italy. Italy had wanted Ethiopia to become a colony. WAR ensued - the battle of Adwa followed . Taytu was present on the front line and led the Ethiopians to a historic victory with strategic brilliance and courage. Ethiopia had successfully defended its sovereignty and became an inspiration for African freedom. In early 1900’s Manelik II fell seriously ill and Taytu took all the decisions for Ethiopia. In her fourth and final marriage she married king Manelik of Shewa who later become Emperor of Ethiopia Sources Wikipedia *RISE: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World * *by Maliha Abidi .