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Nadine Dirks

Nadine Dirks - 2019 Nominee
Position: Post grad student/ Communications and Advocacy Officer and SRHR activist
Organization: Nalane for Reproductive Justice
Current Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Post Grad - Triple Major in Communication Science, Media Studies, Public Relations from Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Awards Received:
  • Award:
    Junior Ranger Youth Volunteer
    Awarding Organization:
    South African National Parks
    Date Awarded:
    October 15, 2010
  • Award:
    Junior Rangers Youth Education Volunteer
    Awarding Organization:
    South African National Parks
    Date Awarded:
    December 12, 2011
  • Award:
    Junior Rangers Youth Volunteer
    Awarding Organization:
    South African National Parks
    Date Awarded:
    December 12, 2012
75 Public Votes Reached!
Nadine is a SHRH advocate. She has published on dignity, bodily autonomy & reproductive health. She works for Nalane 4 Reproductive Justice as a Communications & Advocacy Associate & also on “ My Body My Choice” campaign, 2018 to present. @nalane4RJ. – Elna McIntosh, Professor / Medical Director at DISA Health care
Describe your contributions to and achievements in family planning.

I serve as a Communications and Advocacy Associate. I have provided project management, planning, media, implementation & advocacy support for advocacy workshops entitled: advocacy & champion building for increase access to comprehensive sexual & reproductive health care on modern contraception methods, affirming history taking, which has had me come into contact with 400 nursing & medical students across SA. The advocacy workshops are dedicated to providing students with science based information regarding modern contraception education & the law. I run the Instagram and Twitter accounts for Nalane for Reproductive Justice. I am a peer education on family planning. I have been on radio and national news re family planning. I have done media & advocacy for a condom usage workshop.

What sparked your passion for family planning?

Growing up in post-Apartheid disadvantaged community - I was reliant on the public sector for my health care needs. When I was in my teens, I developed symptoms, which turned out to be endometriosis. Faced with being unable to afford assistance due to stigma, which could have likely helped lessen my pain earlier if I were given hormonal therapy. Experiencing the stigma & ridicule firsthand & seeing others have their rights stripped away from them has fueled my quest for family planning for all.

Give one or two examples of how you display leadership in your family planning work.:

My family planning work has included being in charge of the My Body My Choice campaign in 2018 to present, for Nalane for Reproductive Justice. I was entrusted with mobilising stakeholders to show up on the day. I assisted with campaign messaging development & lead the way for the organisation on social media in order to get our message out. I communicated with & lead stakeholders, & media ahead of 500 protesters. I galvanised support & received 250 signatures toward the cause.

If you are named a winner of 120 under 40, how will you use this new platform and the $1000 grant to advance your work? :

I would use $1000 to get a laptop as all the work I have been doing has been on my phone. I would also purchase the needed software to create a variety of content which I can produce & house on a blog site. I would use skills I would learn in storytelling & advocacy to mentor young women, as this would help me reach a gender equitable SA wherein young girls don't leave school because of pregnancy. I would use my platform to gain insights to share with my disadvantaged community.

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