Soonita Kistamah is a dedicated advocate for women’s rights, education, and social justice in Mauritius. With a background in Education specializing in Early Childhood Development (ECD) and a passion for community development, she has devoted her career to creating positive change and empowering marginalized communities. She holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Azteca. Her doctoral dissertation delved into critical issues in education, exploring innovative approaches to addressing educational disparities and fostering inclusive learning environments. Through collaborative research and scholarly engagement, Soonita has demonstrated her ability to generate new knowledge, contribute to academic literature, and inform evidence-based practices in the education landscape in Mauritius.
Throughout her distinguished career, Soonita has held leadership roles in esteemed organizations, contributing significantly to the advancement of education and social development at national and regional level. Soonita spearheaded strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing educational policies, programs, and systems. She played a key role in formulating and implementing policies to improve educational access, quality, and equity for all learners. Her leadership and expertise have been instrumental in driving positive change within the education sector, ensuring inclusive and equitable educational opportunities for children from all walks of life, namely the most vulnerable ones. As an Education Consultant at UNICEF, Soonita provided technical expertise and guidance on early childhood development (ECD) and education programs.
She collaborated with national governments in Uganda and Burundi, NGOs, and other stakeholders to design, implement, and evaluate initiatives aimed at promoting holistic development and learning outcomes for young children. Through her advocacy and capacity-building efforts, Soonita has contributed to the advancement of ECD policies and practices globally. In her role as an Education Consultant for the African Early Childhood Network (AfECN,) Soonita worked closely with regional stakeholders to strengthen early childhood development systems and services across Africa through the establishment of national and regional ECD networks. She provided strategic guidance and technical support to member countries in developing and implementing ECD policies, programs, and interventions.
Her dedication to advancing ECD advocacy and capacity-building initiatives has been instrumental in promoting the well-being and development of young children in Africa. As an Education Consultant for the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada,Soonita contributed to research and knowledge exchange initiatives aimed at addressing educational challenges and promoting innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa. As an independent evaluator for IDRC, she played a pivotal role in evaluating research proposals from African researchers in a view to generate evidence-based solutions for improving education systems and outcomes in their respective countries. In addition to her academic and professional pursuits, Soonita is actively involved in grassroots initiatives aimed at empowering women and girls in her community.
Soonita Kistamah has been honored by being awarded the Grand Officer of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (G.O.S.K) by the President of the Republic of Mauritius for her outstanding work in promoting accessibility to quality education to children in underserved communities in Mauritius and women’s empowerment. As a thought leader and change-maker, Soonita continues to be a driving force in the fight for gender equality and social justice in Mauritius and beyond. Through her tireless advocacy, she strives to create a more inclusive and equitable society where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and fulfill their potential.
