Working for Women’s Rights and Gender Justice in Guyana

Akola Thompson launched Tamùkke Feminists in 2017. Similarly to most grassroots projects, the collective started as a passion project aiming to share accessible information on women’s issues with the community. There was a particular focus on ‘taboo’ topics such as abortion, sexual health and LGBTQ+ rights. It is now considered a public education group and has a team of four working in the Caribbean to help promote access to information on these wide ranging issues.

Tamùkke Feminists’ work is split into three main programmes: ‘The Mind Fund’, ‘Work Ready’ and ‘Under the Benab’. The first, The Mind Fund, provides therapy services and mental health care to women in the community. So far, they have supported 71 people who identify as women with therapy sessions and will also undertake self care and wellness activities throughout the year. In 2023, this equated to covering 189 hours of therapy for the community. The focus is very much on overcoming economic barriers to mental health care and, as such, Tamùkke Feminists work with partners to help fund this access. This work also helps break down societal stigma around mental illness in Guyana.

The second strand of their programming is Work Ready. Understanding the importance of having women in the workforce, both for the individuals and the economy at large, Tamùkke Feminists help women with interview preparation, CV writing and public speaking. They also offer advice on labour laws and offer extended mentorship to those that need it. As we all know, how you present yourself at work is important so, on top of the practical advice and workshops, the collective also runs clothing drives across the country, collecting new or good quality second-hand clothing for women to wear to interviews and to the office.

The final strand is Under the Benab. Symbolising a safe community space, a benab is a triangular or rectangular structure made from a framework of palm branches or poles and covered with palm leaves. The term is also used more generally in Guyana for any kind of structure. This strand of the programme is the most community-driven, with learning and belonging the main result. Previous topics of conversation have included abortion law in Guyana, and events such as community picnics and Rest is Resistance feminist retreat. A dive into their gorgeously curated Instagram feed shows the value they place in creating diverse, intersectional and safe spaces for every person who identifies as a woman. 

Tamùkke Feminists clearly have a great offering and have built a community of like-minded women in the Caribbean. As well as their annual programming, they also run one-off events and projects, such as co-creating (alongside UNFPA Guyana) the iMatter app, which provides survivors of violence with information on how to access relevant services in their regions. With organisations like this around the world, it makes us really hopeful for the future!