Lisa Gem a grade 4 pupil at M.M Shah Primary School in Kisumu has become the youngest person to be nominated for human right defender of the year Awards at just 10 years.
She is the only child among the top six nominees for the same award. Lisa she started her activism back in 2019, when she was just seven and in Grade One.
During the gala held on December 2, 2022 at the Swedish Ambassador’s residence in Nairobi, she was among the three individuals who were crowned as the Upcoming HRD of the Year Award.
She has been recognized for her advocacy initiative supporting pediatric cancer survivors, ecological justice, and the rights of health workers in Vihiga and Kisumu Counties.
In her quest to have better pediatric services, Lisa petitioned the Kisumu County Government to invest in pediatric cancer management at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
In addition, she is an adamant children’s rights defender who desires to see every child to enjoy life and a loving upbringing free from abuse and lack of necessities.
Even with her young age, Lisa has managed to start Children’s rights clubs in 5 public schools in Kisumu where children can report their cases.
It’s through this club that she teaches children of their rights to education, food, shelter, health and love.
During her free time she loves doing sanitation campaigns in Manyatta and Mamboleo settlements in Kisumu and teaching children photography as a communication tool.
She says her passion to defend children’s rights was ignited when she accompanied her father to his work place where is a human right defender and noted that children were not represented in his line of work.
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