Joëlle Kabisoso is an inspiring advocate for Black women and girls, turning her own experience of injustice into a powerful mission to uplift others. As the founder of Sisters in Sync, Joëlle has dedicated herself to amplifying the voices of survivors, challenging societal barriers, and empowering girls to realize their full potential. In this Q&A, Joëlle shares her journey, her thoughts on the significance of International Day of the Girl, and how the You Go, Girl! Awards celebrate the strength and resilience of young Black girls. Through her work, Joëlle continues to inspire change and create a lasting impact on communities in Canada and beyond.

Meet Joëlle Kabisoso

Sisters in Sync Website: https://sistersinsync.org/

Instagram: @sistersinsync_org

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your work, and Sisters In Sync?

Hello! I am Jöelle Kabisoso, I am 29 years old and I immigrated to Canada from The Republic of Congo when I was four. At 17 years old, I was the victim of a racially motivated gang rape which was tweeted online. Determined to seek justice, I approached the Hamilton Police Service, only to be told, “Maybe next time, you shouldn’t drink too much,” implying complicity and denying me protection. This experience fueled my advocacy, starting with the Violence 360 campaign under Ontario’s Black Youth Action Plan, where I advocate for better services for Black survivors of sexual assault. This led to my founding Sisters in Sync, an organization dedicated to amplifying survivor stories, promoting self-esteem, addressing barriers and expanding survivor-informed advocacy. Our mission is to help Black women and girls to be, become and belong through programs, services and advocacy.

Over the past six years, we’ve engaged youth, caregivers and communities in developing and implementing programs, directly impacting over 650 women and girls. As part of this effort, we launched the #MaybeNextTime Campaign to challenge victim-blaming and advocate for justice, with the message “There Shouldn’t Be a Next Time.”

My advocacy has earned national recognition, including the 2024 Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case, the 2023 Youth Leader Award (BlackNorth Initiative), the 2022 L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Award, and the 2021 YWCA Young Trailblazer Award. I was also named one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch and became the second woman of African descent to receive the Young Alumni Award at Brescia University College.

photo provided by: Sisters in Sync

What inspired you to become a changemaker?

I didn’t set out to be a changemaker; I simply wanted to share my story so no other Black woman would have to face such trauma alone. While the feedback was mixed, what struck me most was how many people related to my experiences and sought a platform to share their own.

That moment of vulnerability turned into a calling. Through Sisters in Sync, I became a voice in my community, often called upon to speak on gender-based violence and anti-racism. This shift became clear when we successfully collaborated with Hamilton Police Services and other organizations to establish the Hate Crime Case Review Team, reviewing hate crimes against racialized communities in Hamilton.

Being in this role has made me keenly aware of the impact I can have. I’m motivated to be an intentional changemaker, inspired by the connections and community built through Sisters in Sync. My journey has shown that sharing our stories can ignite change and foster solidarity among those who’ve faced similar struggles.

What does ‘International Day of the Girl’ mean to you? How does UNICEF’s theme for 2024 International Day of the Girl ‘Girls’ Vision for the Future’ relate to the work you do?

Alongside the intelligent and remarkable girls at Sisters in Sync, there are countless girls around the world who lack the opportunity to celebrate their youth or even dream of a brighter future. According to UNICEF, 119 million girls globally are not in school—34 million at the primary level, 28 million at lower secondary, and 58 million at upper secondary. Many are caught in political conflict and face harsh injustices.

For me, International Day of the Girl is a time to not only highlight the challenges girls face worldwide, but also to celebrate their resilience and potential, regardless of their circumstances. We believe our girls will overcome their hardships, and to help them see how bright their futures can be, they need to know they are not alone—that together, we can help realize their vision.

photo provided by: Sisters in Sync

It is crucial that we, as a society, invest in Black Women and Girls to ensure they feel valued and seen. How can people support this cause? What can they do to support Sisters in Sync and the You Go, Girl! Awards?

I believe many in our community may not fully grasp the profound impact of simply showing up. There’s something powerful about a young Black girl seeing her community gather to celebrate her achievements and potential. Whether or not she wins an award, she will always remember the support and encouragement. It truly takes a village to uplift a child, and many villages to foster the self-esteem and empowerment of young Black girls in our community.

We often rally behind celebrities and athletes who don’t know us, yet hesitate to show up for the youth we call “our future.” I urge my community to stop waiting for our young girls to make it to billboards or international stages—let’s show up now and help them get there.

Every donation matters, no matter how small. Some hesitate to give because they can’t contribute large sums, but even $5 can make a difference. If donating isn’t possible, spreading the word about Sisters in Sync can have a powerful impact. Many girls who’ve benefited from our support were referred by someone who heard about our work.

photo provided by: Sisters in Sync

What do you hope to achieve in the next few years with Sisters in Sync, and what are some of your long-term goals for empowering Black women and girls?

Our team aims to expand Sisters in Sync by establishing a community in at least one city in every Canadian province. We believe Black girls and youth outside Hamilton and the GTA would benefit from a program like ours, along with celebrations like the You Go, Girl! Awards. We also plan to expand internationally, focusing on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Africa, where gender-based violence is rampant. In the DRC, nearly one in three women are affected by child marriage, often tied to early pregnancy. Shockingly, one in four girls begin their reproductive lives before age 18. In rural areas, 40% of women marry before 18, and 11% before 15. In South Africa, over three children and 12 women were murdered daily from October to December 2022, with 21,434 others suffering severe harm or attempted murder. Recovering from this trauma is a long journey, and many girls lack the support they need. Expanding to these regions could help these girls reclaim their autonomy and rewrite their stories.

We are also seeking partnerships with companies and donors for stable, long-term funding. We are grateful for the support we’ve received over the past six years, but our current funding lasts only 18 months, limiting our ability to run consistent programs. Our goal is to continue offering transformative programs without the fear of being unable to help the next girl in need. We’ve seen the profound impact Sisters in Sync has had on Black girls and women, and it’s heartbreaking to think we might not be there for the next one seeking support.