At Colmena Fund, we send out a bimonthly email newsletter to keep our community informed about our most relevant activities, as well as news from our allies and partners. We invite you to explore our past editions and subscribe to receive them.

New Executive Leadership

by Xilonen | June 24, 2026 | Newsletter | 0 Comments

Colmena Fund is strengthening our commitment to building the world we deserve by significantly investing in the power of people. To support our long-term impact, institutional strength, and strategic growth, the Colmena Fund is proud to announce the expansion of our...

Social Media Buzz

by Xilonen | June 10, 2026 | Newsletter | 0 Comments

Resist, Persist and Reimagine: A New Era for African Women’s Political Power We are thrilled to present Season 2 of our signature podcast! Resist, Persist, and Reimagine: A New Era for African Women’s Political Power continues our mission to amplify the voices of...

The Hive in Motion

by Xilonen | June 10, 2026 | Newsletter | 0 Comments

In the first semester of 2026, Colmena Fund’s team and partners organized, participated and attended the following events: 5th Nalafem Summit (July 1-2) During the 5th Nalafem Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, “Power Meets Capital: When Women Back Women”, our President and...

Voices from Our Hive on the Frontlines

by Xilonen | June 10, 2026 | Newsletter | 0 Comments

In our 2025 end-of-year update, we reported that Colmena Fund partners engaged 1,467 individuals across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Most significantly, over 100 women announced their run for office. Now, we are moving from the...

Gloria Sengha’s Fight for Justice and Equality in the Congo

by Xilonen | April 23, 2026 | Interviews | 0 Comments

Gloria Sengha is a lawyer and human rights activist in the Democratic Republic of Congo who has dedicated her life to defending freedom. Her journey into activism began as a teenager; while others pursued typical hobbies, she spent her time reading and watching...

Ni Sasa Hivi (“it’s right now”): Building a Democracy Where Young Women Lead

by Xilonen | April 23, 2026 | Interviews | 0 Comments

Tabitha Oluoch is dedicated to ensuring that young people—especially women from sidelined communities—are no longer ignored in decision-making spaces. As a Youth Participation Champion at Siasa Place, a youth-led civic tech organization in Kenya, she is working...

Defying the Narrative: How Winnie Kiiza Reimagined Power in Uganda

by Xilonen | April 9, 2026 | Interviews | 0 Comments

Honorable Winnie Kiza made history as Uganda's first female Leader of the Opposition and served in parliament for 15 years. But long before she was a national leader, she was a young girl watching her mother fight for their family’s survival. Her story is a powerful...

Politics Found Me: Crystal Asige on Leadership, Democracy, and Breaking Barriers

by Xilonen | April 1, 2026 | Interviews | 0 Comments

Crystal Asige is not your typical politician. Originally from Mombasa, Kenya, she brings a vibrant, multi-disciplinary background—spanning music, advocacy, and disability rights—to her role as a Senator. In a recent interview on the Colmena Fund’s podcast Resist,...

The Courage to Lead: Fadzayi Mahere on Women Transforming African Politics

by Xilonen | March 25, 2026 | Interviews | 0 Comments

"I'm an engaged citizen who has a deep love for Zimbabwe. I'm also an Africa development enthusiast, meaning that I'm always curious about how the lot of the common person on the continent can be improved.”Fadzayi Mahere Fadzayi Mahere identifies herself first through...

“Democracy is Not a Destination”: Samia El Hashmi on Justice, War, and Sudanese Solutions

by Xilonen | March 18, 2026 | Interviews | 0 Comments

“We need democracy that enables people, and women in particular, to practice their rights as citizens, not as mothers only or as young people only, no, as citizens that have full rights to take care and to decide about the current and the future of their...

Blog

Resisting the Status Quo: A New Model for Women’s Political Leadership in Thailand

Jul 7, 2025

Kunthida Rungruengkiat is part of a new generation reshaping Thailand’s political future. A young political leader, activist, academic, and former Member of Parliament. She now serves as Director of the Progressive Movement Foundation, a key partner of the Colmena...

Redefining Democracy Beyond Elections: A Conversation with Laleh Ispahani

Jun 30, 2025

As democracies face growing threats—from authoritarianism to underrepresentation—a crucial question arises: how can we reimagine and strengthen the foundations of inclusive governance? In episode 05 of Resist, Persist and Reimagine, the Colmena Fund podcast, we had...

Symmy Larrat: Redefining Democracy Through Diversity

Jun 23, 2025

Brazil recently marked a historic milestone: for the first time, the federal government established a vice-ministry dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights. Leading this groundbreaking office is Symmy Larrat, a lifelong activist whose journey—from the Amazon to one of the...