From Local Impact to Global Influence: Winnie Kennedy’s Fight for Girls’ Rights at The United Nations.

In a quiet corner of West Africa, a movement is taking root—fuelled by memory, conviction, and an unyielding belief in the power of one. At the heart of that movement stands Winnie Kennedy, the formidable founder of the Rosarit Girl Child and Humanity Foundation, an organization transforming lives across the continent by investing in girls, education, and dignity.

Named in honour of her grandmother, Rose Arit Umoren—whom she describes as a symbol of strength, dignity, and community leadership—Rosarit was born from both personal loss and an urgent social need. A personal desire to carry her grandmother’s legacy forward. The spark? A painful moment of realization when Winnie saw a group of adolescent girls, full of promise, forced out of school due to pregnancy, poverty, and a lack of support. “That encounter sparked my conviction,” she says. “I knew I had to build something that not only intervened but transformed their future.”

And transform it has. Take Mary, a young girl from Benin City, Nigeria. Orphaned, out of school, and forced into child labour, Mary’s future looked bleak—until Rosarit stepped in. With a scholarship, mentorship, and a safe place to live, Mary not only returned to school but is now a peer educator, helping other girls reclaim their futures. “Her story fuels my belief that even one act of restoration can ripple across generations,” Kennedy reflects.

But Kennedy’s work isn’t confined to local communities alone. As a youth voice on global platforms such as the UN ECOSOC Partnership and Youth Forums, she brings the stories of underserved African communities to the global stage. “Every global speech I give is rooted in real stories, real statistics, and real struggles,” she says. “Advocacy without grounding is noise.” Her vision is crystal clear: global policy must be informed by local pain points. Winnie believes she remains closely connected to the communities Rosarit serves by listening first and acting second. This way, she is able to ensure that her voice at the United Nations “isn’t just eloquent but effective”

Rosarit addresses some of the most urgent and intersecting crises of our time: poverty, gender-based violence, lack of access to education, and social exclusion. Their model is both practical and transformative—providing education access, shelter and safety, and economic empowerment. From menstrual health kits to vocational training, digital literacy to safe community hubs, Rosarit’s impact is both wide-reaching and deeply personal.

For Winnie, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aren’t abstract targets—they are daily blueprints. SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 1 (No Poverty) are central to Rosarit’s mission. But Winnie emphasizes that SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)—is the key to sustainable progress. “With the Sustainable Development Goals reportedly only 17% achieved, the world must shift from intention to collaboration,” she says.

True to her word, Kennedy’s work is anchored in both collaboration and innovation. One of Rosarit’s most exciting new projects is Youth Sphere, an AI-powered app that connects youth with NGOs based on reported community challenges. Another, Edu Wealth, is a fintech solution offering skill tokenization and micro-grants to help students escape poverty through practical, income-generating training. “These are not just tools,” she says. “They’re lifelines.”

Her message to young African women is clear and galvanizing: “Your voice is valid, your dreams are data, and your story can reshape systems. Own it.” She believes that what African youth need most is not just praise, but platforms—along with access to resources, mentorship, mental health support, inclusive education and role models who reflect their realities and have overcome similar struggles.

Still, building and sustaining a nonprofit is no easy feat. Winnie is candid about the toll it can take. “The biggest lesson? You cannot pour from an empty cup. Self-care is not selfish—it’s strategic.” Her resilience is fed by faith, partnerships, and a constant return to her original ‘why.’

Looking ahead, Rosarit is launching its boldest initiative yet: a $20 million Resilience and Innovation Hub for girls, which will provide housing, education, digital training, and entrepreneurial support under one roof. Kennedy is also working on her first book, We Should All Be Heroes, which redefines what it means to lead in today’s world.

From grassroots villages to United Nations halls, Winnie Kennedy is proof that one voice—grounded in community and lifted on global platforms—can spark a movement that transforms not just futures, but entire systems.

Read Also: The Voice of Africa is Now Inside the United Nations