Zeedah Meierhofer-Mangeli

Zeedah Meierhofer-Mangeli
Meierhofer-Mangeli in Abuja, 2025
Born
Zeedah Mutheu Doris

October 1957 (age 68)
Kenya
CitizenshipKenya-Swiss
EducationBA in Sociology and Pedagogy; MA in Resolution and Conflict Management
OccupationsSocial anthropologist, educator, feminist activist

Zeedah Meierhofer-Mangeli (born October 1957)[1] is a Kenyan-Swiss social anthropologist, educator, social justice, and feminist activist.[2][3][4] She is the co-founder of the Zurich Meeting Point for Black Women (Treffpunkt Schwarze Frauen),[5][6] and established the Resource Center for Women and Girls Trust, Kenya.[3][7] In 2023, the City of Zurich awarded her the Züri Taler (Stadttaler) in recognition of her work on anti-racism, gender equality, and social justice through Meeting Point for Black Women.[7][8]

Background

Meierhofer-Mangeli was born in Kenya in 1957 and moved to Zurich, Switzerland, in 1979 as a student.[8] Growing up, Meierhofer-Mangeli was influenced by her widowed mother, who rejected traditional societal expectations and emphasised the values of self-determination, independence, and autonomy.[7] Following her migration from Kenya to Switzerland in the late 1970s, Meierhofer-Mangeli experienced systemic exclusion and racial discrimination, which led her co-founding the Meeting Point for Black Women (Treffpunkt Schwarze Frauen) to provide counselling, community support, and anti-racism advocacy.[3][7] She cited her experiences of racism and exclusion affecting her daughters, and Audre Lorde's visits to Zurich in the 1980s, as catalysts for bringing Black women together.[9]

Education

Meierhofer-Mangeli holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and pedagogy, and a Master of Arts in conflict resolution and management.[10]

Activism and career

Meierhofer-Mangeli co-founded the Meeting Point for Black Women (Treffpunkt Schwarze Frauen) in Zurich in 1993, and led the centre till 2010, supporting Black women to collectively navigate racial discrimination, social exclusion, and migration-related challenges in Switzerland.[2][3][6][8] The centre became an important organising and support system for Black women and migrant communities and received the Municipal Equality Award in 1997.[2][3][6][8]

Meierhofer-Mangeli was the first Black woman to join a Swiss political party and run for public office.[2][11] She joined the Social Party of Switzerland and contested Parliament.[11] Through her career, she led the youth awareness and civics training for Focus World in Switzerland, co-directed the Zurich Women's Shelter for Abused Women and Children, and contributed to concept development and training for the Swiss police on domestic violence.[11]

Meierhofer-Mangeli served as Akina Mama wa Afrika (London and Uganda)'s director.[11][12] In 2007, she founded the Resource Center for Women and Girls Trust, an organisation focused on leadership development, education, and support for adolescent girls and young women from rural and marginalised communities in Machakos, Kenya.[10][11] In 2019, the Center received the With and For Girls Award for its grassroots programmes on mentorship, education, and leadership development for girls and young women in Kenya.[13]

Meierhofer-Mangeli is a trustee of the African Leadership Centre (ALC).[12] She participated in the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing, joining the landmark event to contribute to global efforts for gender equality.[3][8] Photography is one of her hobbies and has been instrumental in documenting the lives and profiles of African women.[7] Her photographs have been exhibited in Switzerland, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and at the United Nations in New York City.[7]

Awards and recognition

  • In 1997, the Meeting Point for Black Women received the Municipal Equality Award in Zurich.[6][8]
  • In 2019, the Resource Center for Women and Girls Trust received the With and For Girls Award for its grassroots programmes on mentorship, education, and leadership development for girls and young women in Kenya.[13]
  • In 2023, the City of Zurich awarded Meierhofer-Mangeli the Züri Taler in recognition of her pioneering work and collaborations promoting inclusion, diversity, and social justice.[7][8]

Personal life

Meierhofer-Mangeli holds dual Kenyan and Swiss citizenship and divides her time between London, Zurich, and Nairobi.[5] Meierhofer-Mangeli is married to a Swiss national, with whom she has two daughters.[3][4][7]

References

  1. ↑ "Zeedah Meierhofer-Mangeli – Officer Appointments". Companies House. UK Government. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Chaieb, Mounira (17 October 2024). "Interview with Zeedah Meierhofer-Mangeli". ALC Pan-African Radio. African Leadership Centre. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Afro-Swiss Spotlight: Zeedah Meierhofer-Mangeli". AfroSwiss Families. AfroSwiss Families. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Zeedah Mutheu Doris Mierhofer-Mangeli". African Feminist Forum. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Rihanna". HistNoire. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "TANGRAM 33 – Feministische Pionierarbeit: Interview mit Zeedah Meierhofer-Mangeli". Eidgenössische Kommission gegen Rassismus (EKR). Swiss Federal Commission against Racism. 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Prof. Zeedah Meierhofer-Mangeli". African Leadership Centre. African Leadership Centre. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Gleichstellungspreis 2023 der Stadt Zürich". Stadt Zürich. City of Zurich. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  9. ↑ Sieber, Méline (3 January 2014). "«Egal, was passiert, unsere Geschichte ist jetzt festgehalten»". SRF. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Reflecting with Leading Feminists: Inclusion, Voice, Ownership and African Agency". King's College London. King's College London. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "Zeedah Meierhofer-Mangeli – Associates". Security and Development Network. Security and Development Network. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Zeedah Meierhofer-Mangeli – Women Writing Architecture". Women Writing Architecture. Women Writing Architecture. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  13. 1 2 "With and For Girls Award Winners 2019" (PDF). TAWINA. Purposeful. February 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
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