Isatou Ceesay
ENVIRONMENTALIST (1972 - present)
Isatou Ceesay, AKA "Queen of Recycling," is
a Gambian activist who started the recycling
movement 'One Plastic Bag'. The organisation
works with communities across the tiny west
African state to address not only the
environmental impact of unregulated waste
disposal, particularly plastic, but also the
empowerment of women in the male
dominated society. It employs hundreds of
West African women and provides them with
monthly income. At the time she set up the
project, back in 1998 Ceesay was met with
much resistance and ridiculed. Today Ceesay
works to educate citizens about recycling and
reducing the amount of waste that is created.
Eliza Orme
LAWYER (1884 - 1937)
Eliza Orme was the first woman in England to
graduate with a law degree however, with the
Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act not taking
place until 1919 she was unable to be a
practising lawyer. Despite this set back Orme
worked as a trainee barrister, preparing
documents for the courts. She was also
involved in woman's Suffrage, campaigning to
gain the vote for women and their rights to
work.
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