Maureen Owino TrailblazHER Award

Background  

The Maureen Owino TrailblazHER Award was established by the Community Alliance for Accessible Treatment (CAAT) to honour the legacy of Maureen Owino — a fearless advocate, mentor, and leader who championed the rights and dignity of marginalized women, immigrants, and people living with HIV/AIDS. 

 This award recognizes women and gender-diverse individuals who, like Maureen, embody: 

  • Bold leadership and visionary resistance 
  • A deep commitment to social justice and systemic change 
  • Mentorship and inspiration to others in the community 
  • Relentless resilience in the face of structural barriers 

The award celebrates those breaking new ground, dismantling systems of oppression, and championing equity and justice for all. 

The 2025 award will be presented at the upcoming CAAT Annual General Meeting (AGM), scheduled for September 2025. 

Nomination Criteria  

Nominees should demonstrate achievement in one or more of the following areas: 

  •  Bold advocacy and leadership in the face of injustice 
  • Mentorship and empowerment of women, gender-diverse people, and/or peers 
  • Courageous resistance against systemic oppression, stigma, or violence 
  • Innovation in community organizing or social justice work 
  • A lifelong or emerging commitment to equity, justice, and transformative change 

 

 

 

 

 

Eligibility  

Nominees must: 

  •  Identify as a Woman or Gender-Diverse Person 
  • Identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Colour (BIPOC) 
  • Be an Immigrant, Refugee, Non-status person, or Person living with HIV/AIDS (PHA) 
  • Participation in CAAT initiatives or other allied community efforts is preferred but not required 

Note: This award welcomes nominations for individuals who may not have formal titles or positions, but whose grassroots leadership has made a meaningful impact. 

Who Can Nominate?  

Nominations are open to community members, service providers, peers, and allies working in HIV/AIDS, gender justice, health equity, migration, or related sectors. 

Self-nominations are also welcome and encouraged, especially from individuals with lived experience who wish to share their journey and contributions. 

Submissions must include the nominator’s name and contact information. 

Award recipients are encouraged to attend the AGM in person. Remote participation may be arranged in special cases. 

Submission Instructions  

Please complete and submit the official Nomination Form by August 15, 2025.  

For questions about the award or the nomination process, please email: [email protected]  

Subject Line: Award Nomination – Maureen Owino TrailblazHER Award 

 For general queries, contact CAAT at [email protected] or call 647-249-8869 

Nominate Here

Previous Award Winners

Susan Shumba

2025 Award Recipient

Susan Shumba is a Project Coordinator for PASAN’s POWER Project, supporting women living with HIV. She is a member of the IAS Governing Council and holds a BA in Social Anthropology from Great Zimbabwe University, currently pursuing a Master’s in Environmental Studies at York University. Susan has a strong background in youth advocacy, community health, and the rights of underserved populations, including LGBTIQ communities. She has served as an IAS Youth Ambassador, contributed to Zimbabwe Young Positives, and presented work on expressive art therapy at the IAS Conference, placing PASAN on the international stage. She also founded Southern African Settlement Support Centre to help new immigrants.

Maureen Owino

2024 Award Recipient

Fearless, visionary, and deeply rooted in community, Maureen Owino is an activist, scholar, and mentor whose life’s work centers on human dignity and systemic equity. Through her transformative leadership at CAAT and nationwide health equity initiatives, Maureen has fearlessly challenged injustice, championed the rights of Black, Indigenous, and racialized immigrants, and amplified the voices of women and gender-diverse people living with HIV/AIDS. Her legacy of courageous advocacy earned her the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal. As the inaugural winner and namesake of the Maureen Owino TrailblazHER Award, Maureen remains a beacon of hope, resilience, and revolutionary care.