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Why You Should Listen to This Episode

If you have ever wondered what it takes to challenge deep-rooted norms and protect the most vulnerable, this episode is for you. Naomi Mwaura has spent her career doing exactly that - and her story is a masterclass in resilience.

In this episode:

Naomi Mwaura is the founder of Flone Initiative, working to build a safe, professional public transport industry in Kenya. Raised in a family of matatu owners and operators, she has spent her career tackling gender-based violence in transit, co-authoring a UN-Habitat guidebook on safer African streets, and speaking on the TED Global stage.

Naomi joins Cindy Thompson on A Resilience Project to talk about resilience through the lens of societal and cultural norms, and what it takes to challenge them from the inside. As founder of Flone Initiative, Naomi is working to build a safe and professional public transport industry in Kenya, tackling sexual harassment, and creating safe employment and education opportunities for women.

As one of the lead organizers of the #MyDressMyChoice campaign, Naomi helped mobilize thousands of women to protest gender-based violence in Kenya’s public transport. Her work has since expanded into transport safety projects across Egypt, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania, and taken her to stages including TED Global, the BBC and Al Jazeera. 

The Resilience Project is a Vancouver Island podcast hosted by counsellor Cindy Thompson, featuring conversations with authors, health professionals, community leaders and everyday people whose stories of resilience, healing and personal growth offer hope, encouragement and practical life lessons. The Resilience Project is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

Cindy Thompson’s website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

Learn more about Naomi Mwaura: floneinitiative.org

You’ll find all episodes of the PULSE Community Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok and YouTube.

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