GL@25: Resilience in adversity, purpose in action, courage to change lives

Rosehill, Mauritius, 13 March 2026: Twenty-five years ago, a bold vision was born: that gender equality is not a dream, but a fundamental right. That vision became Gender Links.

On 17 March, as Gender Links celebrates its 25th anniversary, I find myself reflecting deeply on a journey that has shaped so much of my life. For the past 14 years, I have had the privilege of growing within this organisation. What began as a career shift quickly became a calling, a responsibility with a profound life lesson.

When you work in the field of gender justice, you quickly realise that the work is not just about programmes or reports. It is about people. It is about the woman who arrives at the Gender Links Safe Haven Halfway Home with nothing but fear and uncertainty and months later walks out not only as a survivor, but as a confident and financially independent woman with her dignity restored.

In Mauritius, the impact of Gender Links has been tangible and deeply human. Over the years, thousands of people have been empowered through programmes promoting gender justice, financial independence, leadership and rights awareness. Youth attending our trainings realise that their voices matter and that they have the power to shape a more equal society.

Our work has not only helped GBV survivors rebuild their lives through the Safe Haven Halfway Home. It has strengthened the voices of women in politics and decision-making, encouraging greater participation and leadership in public life. Through media training and gender-aware journalism initiatives, we have worked with journalists and media houses to challenge stereotypes and ensure that women’s voices and stories are represented fairly. Our programmes on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) have empowered young people, parents, educators, communities with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about their bodies, health and futures.

Beyond civil society, Gender Links has also partnered with the private sector to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. Through tailored trainings and dialogues with companies and institutions, we have helped organisations recognise the value of inclusive leadership, equitable policies with a safe working environments where everyone can thrive.

The truth is that this journey has transformed me just as much as it has transformed the communities we work with.

Gender Links has taught me resilience in the face of adversity, the importance of listening before speaking and the courage to continue pushing for change even when progress feels slow. There have been difficult days when the stories of injustice feel overwhelming with more and more cases of Human Trafficking. But there have also been moments of incredible hope: a survivor smiling again, a young leader standing confidently to speak, a woman stepping forward to claim her place in leadership, a workplace committing to inclusion, a community beginning to challenge harmful norms that once felt unchangeable. Those moments remind me that change is real and is happening.

Being part of Gender Links for 14 years has given me something invaluable: a strong sense of purpose. The belief that every effort, training session, every conversation, every life touched, contributes to building a world where dignity and equality are not privileges, but guarantees.

As we celebrate 25 years of Gender Links, I feel immense gratitude. Gratitude for the founder Colleen Lowe Morna, colleagues who have walked this journey together, for the communities who trust us and for the survivors whose courage continues to inspire our work.

This anniversary is not only a celebration of the past. It is a reminder that the journey toward gender equality continues.

And I am proud, so deeply proud to be part of it.

Here’s to 25 years of resilience and transformative change… and to the many lives that will continue to be empowered in the years ahead

(Anushka Virahsawmy is Director of the GL Mauritius office. For more information please contact maumanager@genderlinks.org.za)