Original version

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

The Conversation

Factual: Life Stories

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Two women from different parts of the world, united by a common passion, experience or expertise, share the stories of their lives.

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

The Conversation: The Changing Role of Charity

Magazines & Reviews

Charity directors (l)Winnie Byanyima and (r) Brita Fernandez Schmidt

04/09/2017 GMT

The Changing Role of Charity

BBC World Service - The Conversation, The Changing Role of Charity

Two women on the challenges of running international development organisations.

Two women on the challenges they face running global development charities: Oxfam International and Women for Women International UK.

Running an international charity in today's changing world is the task taken on by our two guests, who talk to Kim Chakanetsa about how their organisations are adjusting to the changing demands of those in need.

Winnie Byanyima is Executive Director of Oxfam International, which works to alleviate global poverty. Born in Uganda, Winnie has been a trailblazer and an activist from the beginning - as a student protester she was forced to flee the country at the age of 17. Later, she became a parliamentarian under Yoweri Museveni, and went on to hold high-level roles at the African Union and the UN. She joined Oxfam in 2013 and she's currently overseeing the ambitious relocation of its international headquarters from the UK to Kenya. 

Brita Fernandez Schmidt is Executive Director of Women for Women International UK, a charity which supports women in eight countries affected by war and conflict. They offer a year-long course to marginalised women, with the aim of giving them access to life-changing support and skills. Brita herself was born in Germany but grew up in Venezuela, where she witnessed poverty at first hand, and remembers being particularly struck by how poverty disproportionately affected women. She says she always had a burning sense of justice - and that when she sees something that's not right, she can't leave it be.

Image: (l)Winnie Byanyima and (r) Brita Fernandez Schmidt
Credit: (l) Oxfam and (r) Monia Antonioli

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Conversation

The Changing Role of Charity

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

About BBC World Service