Executive Director/Founder, I_Menstruate Movement

Tracey Malawana is a Tembisa-born social justice activist dedicated to advancing progressive food systems, quality education, menstrual equity, youth empowerment, climate action, and economic justice. An aspiring African Womxn Museum curator and creative youth center innovator, Tracey is deeply committed to preserving history, amplifying marginalized voices, and fostering spaces for young people to thrive. Over the years, she has worked with and led several impactful organisations, including Equal Education, the Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA), and I_Menstruate Movement, where she continues to advocate for menstrual equity. Tracey holds a National Diploma in Public Relations Management and is currently completing her Postgraduate Diploma in Organisational Development at the University of South Africa.  

Tracey is an alumna of prestigious fellowships, including the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Common Purpose Africa Venture, and Atlantic Fellows, among others. Her impact has been widely recognised, earning her accolades such as Sunday World’s 2024 Unsung Hero, Mail & Guardian’s 2019 200 Young South Africans, Avance Media’s 100 Most Influential Young South Africans (2019), and the 2018 PHILA Award for Emerging Health Practitioner by the Public Health Association of South Africa.

Rise Up Cohort: South Africa, 2025