Lydia Charles

The founder and executive director of Her Initiative and the creator of the Panda Digital platform, Lydia Charles is working to build financial resilience among young women in Tanzania. She grew up in a community where many girls were unable to complete their education due to extreme poverty and lack of resources, an experience that fueled her desire to help girls overcome such barriers. Her Initiative began as a secondary school self-esteem and rights awareness campaign, and has since transformed into an organization that promotes financial independence among young women. Through her work, she prioritizes the needs of rural girls by customizing the Panda Digital platform in Swahili and ensuring it remains accessible and free despite pressures to monetize it for profit. Lydia is a recipient of the 2024 Global Citizen Prize and the 2023 KBF Africa Prize.