Jaha Mapenzi Dukureh is a Gambian-born women’s rights activist renowned for her campaign against female genital mutilation (FGM). Having endured FGM herself as an infant, she has become a prominent voice leading efforts to eradicate this harmful practice worldwide. She is the founder and executive director of Safe Hands for Girls and served as the lead campaigner for The Guardian’s End FGM Global Media Campaign. She serves as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for Africa.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Jaha Mapenzi Dukureh |
| Date of Birth | 1989 or 1990 |
| Place of Birth | The Gambia |
| Nationality | Gambian and American |
| State of Origin | The Gambia |
| Partner | Not publicly disclosed (Remarried at age 17) |
| Children | Three children |
| Occupations | Women’s rights activist, anti-FGM campaigner, Author, Entrepreneur, UN Goodwill Ambassador |
| Net Worth | Not publicly available |
Early Life and Education
Born in The Gambia, Dukureh was subjected to the most severe form of FGM, known as infibulation, within her first week of life. At age 15, following the death of her mother, she was sent to New York to enter an arranged marriage.
She suffered intense physical trauma from the FGM during her wedding night and underwent surgery to reverse some of the damage. After the marriage ended, she committed to continuing her education despite many challenges, eventually earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Georgia Southwestern State University in 2013.
She further earned a Master’s degree in Non-Profit Management from the University of Central Florida in 2018 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in late 2015.
Career
In 2013, Dukureh founded Safe Hands for Girls, a nonprofit dedicated to ending FGM, child marriage, and forced marriage while supporting survivors.
Her advocacy contributed significantly to the banning of FGM in The Gambia in 2015, as well as to legislative changes in the United States that criminalized the transportation of girls abroad for FGM.
She was appointed UN Women’s first Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa in 2018, working to mobilize youth and communities across the continent.
Dukureh has served as a World Bank consultant and has partnered with global brands like L’Oréal Paris to amplify her activism. She also ran for president in The Gambia in 2021.
Personal Life
Jaha Dukureh is a mother of three children. Her first marriage at age 15 was arranged and ended shortly thereafter, and she remarried at age 17 after relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, where she lives now.
She balances her activism with her role as a parent and maintains some privacy about her current relationship. Her lived experience as a survivor deeply informs her dedication to protecting young girls from FGM and child marriage.
Net Worth
Based on available information Jaha Dukureh’s work, grants, and awards, a reasonable estimate places her net worth in the range of $1 million to $2 million as of 2025. This includes funding received through her nonprofit Safe Hands for Girls, grants such as the L’Oréal Women of Worth awards, and earnings from her roles as an activist, consultant, and brand ambassador.
Filmography
- Jaha’s Promise (2017): A documentary that chronicles Dukureh’s life and activism, co-produced by The Guardian, highlighting her personal story and global advocacy efforts.
Awards and Recognitions
- TIME 100 Most Influential People (2016)
- Nobel Peace Prize Nominee (2018)
- Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal (2018)
- L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Honoree (2015), including the Karen T. Fondu Impact Award (2018)
- African Diaspora Awards – Humanitarian of the Year (2017)
- Featured among the 100 Most Influential Africans by New African magazine (2017)
- Additional recognitions include Points of Light Award and various honors from educational institutions.
