SHEkodo panel discussion: WomXn who change the world

Inspirational Panel Discussion with four women who have in common that they help people to thrive.

Four women with very different backgrounds overcame setbacks and trauma that turned them into strong and caring personalities set out to change the world – one person at a time.

They share their experiences; talk about what helped them to use their struggles as advantage and their vision for a fulfilled future in which everyone has a chance to thrive.

The panel is for every womxn who feels stuck in their personal stories, their trauma memories, relationships or business plans.

Panel speakers:

Esther Vivian Kay, social justice journalist and founder of “Lacuna-The Missing Stories” and trauma-informed coach.

Mona Yosief Michael, psychologist from Eritrea, working voluntarily in Uganda where she lives as a refugee.

Anna-Liisa Reppo, small business owner, Berlin Wood Sisters, and founder of Berlin Female Leaders – Womxn of Impact

Maria Nelden Gericke, psychologist, trauma recovery work, and jewelry maker.

*Note: This event is at 5PM London time

About panelists

Maria Nelden Gericke

Maria Nelden Gericke is a trained psychologist from Indonesia who also got her advanced master’s degree in Cultures and Development Studies in Belgium. In Indonesia she joined a not-for-profit organization focusing on trauma recovery and community-based psychological intervention. She worked, among others, with teenagers from internally- displaced communities, survivors of terrorist-attacks and journalists reporting on traumatic events. After completing a research fellowship on Leadership in Crisis at Harvard Kennedy School, she moved with her husband and son to Berlin. She plans on starting a one-person enterprise to offer workshops that combine four of her passions: jewelry- crafting, psychology, trauma work, and writing

Mona Yosief Michael

Mona Yosief Michael studies psychology in Eritrea, East Africa, where she worked in hospitals and did a lot of voluntary work to help her community. After leaving Eritrea she and her two children become refugees in Uganda. Losing her home and having to start all over again did not leave her unaffected but faith and hoped helped her overcoming trauma and gave her the strength to give the same hope and love to the community around her. She is giving the people back dignity, helps them to build a better life and overcome the trauma of being displaced. Mona has the gift to see the beauty in everyone and find hope in the darkest moments.

Anna-Liisa Reppo

In her small business, Berlin Wood Sisters, Anna-Liisa Reppo teaches women to build sustainable, affordable furniture. She had just started her business and was about to open a studio for in-person classes when lockdowns and restrictions put a stop to that plan. But Anna-Liisa persevered. She pivoted to social media and digital tools to find customers and expand her community of women who want to build furniture instead of buy it.

Her Facebook group, Berlin Female Leaders – Womxn of Impact, is adding value to the lives of over 1600 members. She is helping women to fulfill their dreams of starting a small business and living a creative and fulfilled life. She is holding web talks and workshops and collaborates with women who offer different expertise. This way she is helping her community to thrive.

Esther Vivian Kay

Esther Vivian is a social and climate justice journalist and trauma-informed coach focusing on people traumatized in combat, crisis zones and violent crimes. Through her experience of being born with a rare form of spina bifida and facing a life-threatening bone infection, she has gained an endless passion for life, the strength to sit with suffering and the desire to make a difference in the world and add value to people’s lives.