Kirthi Jayakumar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kirthi Jayakumar
Self-portrait photograph
Born	Kirthi Jayakumar (1987-12-15) 15 December 1987 (age 37) Bangalore, India
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	University for Peace, Coventry University
Occupation	Peace and gender equality activist, author and artist

Kirthi Jayakumar (born 15 December 1987) is an amazing Indian woman who works for peace and equality. She is a teacher, a lawyer, and a writer. Kirthi helps make the world a better place for women and girls.

She has received many important scholarships and fellowships. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Kirthi advises world leaders, like those in the G7 group of countries. She was even named one of UN Women Asia Pacific's "30 for 2030."

Kirthi also started The Gender Security Project. This group studies how gender, peace, and security are connected. Before that, she founded The Red Elephant Foundation. This group used stories and activism to promote gender equality.

About Kirthi Jayakumar

Kirthi Jayakumar was born in Bangalore, India. She studied law in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

She then earned two master's degrees. One was in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from the University for Peace in Costa Rica. The other was in Peace and Conflict Studies from Coventry University in the UK. She received a special Commonwealth Scholarship for her studies. Kirthi also worked as a volunteer for the United Nations.

Working for Equality

Kirthi has played a big role in something called "Feminist Foreign Policy." This idea means that countries should make their foreign policy decisions with gender equality in mind. She helped lead discussions about this with the G7 countries in 2022 and 2023.

She has spoken to important groups like the European Parliament. Kirthi teaches the world's first course on Feminist Foreign Policy. Her work helps make sure that everyone's voice is heard in global decisions.

Kirthi as an Artist

Kirthi used to have an Instagram project called Femcyclopaedia. She drew pictures of inspiring women from history and around the world. Then she shared their stories with her drawings. This project won an award in 2017.

She also created an art show for International Women's Day. It was held at the US Consulate General in Chennai.

In 2021, Kirthi started another art project on Instagram. It's called KJ and the Universe. She creates beautiful Astronomical Art. Some of her space artwork was even shown on NASA's official website!

Kirthi as a Writer

Kirthi has written several books. Her first solo book is Stories of Hope. It is a collection of short stories.

She also wrote Love Me Mama: The Unfavoured Child with Elsie Ijorogu-Reed. Another book she wrote is The Dove's Lament. This book was nominated for an award in 2015. A review said it shows the "unvanquished human spirit in words."

The Times of India newspaper also reviewed The Dove's Lament. They said the book takes readers to many places with deep "compassion."

Kirthi in Theatre

Kirthi wrote a play called Frankly Speaking. This play continues the story from The Diary of Anne Frank. It shares the voices of eight young women from different conflict zones.

She also wrote and performed in a show called HerStory. This show brought twelve women from history to life. It used poetry and dance. Kirthi also performed a monologue in a play called Dolls.

Kirthi also lent her voice to an audiobook. She narrated stories about famous Indian women. These included Justice Leila Seth and Mayawati.

Public Speaking

Kirthi has given many talks. In 2016, she gave a TEDx Talk in Chennai. She spoke about how peace education can help stop bullying. She gave another TEDx Talk in 2017 about her art project, Femcyclopaedia.

She has spoken at many conferences and events. She talked about peace education and how it helps create good citizens. Kirthi also spoke about her work with The Red Elephant Foundation. She shared how she helps people dealing with violence.

Kirthi has spoken at the Economic Times Women's Summit. She also spoke at ISFiT 2019, a big student festival. There, she shared the stage with Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakkol Karman.

Global Engagements

Kirthi has been involved in important global meetings. In 2016, she helped choose the new UN Secretary General. In 2021, she spoke at a special meeting of the UN General Assembly. She talked about preventing violence against women and girls.

She has also advised the G7 group of countries. She worked with the Women7 group during their meetings in 2022, 2023, and currently in 2024. In 2023, she spoke at the European Parliament. She discussed how gender affects defense, peace, and security.

Awards and Recognition

Kirthi has received many awards for her important work. She won the United States Presidential Service Award. She also received two United Nations Online Volunteering Awards.

In 2016, she was named one of the EU's top 200 Women in the World of Development. She was also recognized as a "Game changer" by India Today magazine. She was the youngest speaker ever at FICCI FLO in Chennai.

Kirthi won the Rising Stars Award in 2016. She was also recognized as one of the "52 Feminists" by 52Feminists.com. She received the Peace Award from the Global Peace Initiative.

She was featured on Google's WomenWill page for International Women's Day. She was also listed as one of "eleven of India's feminist bloggers who are making a difference." In 2018, she was named Outstanding Social Entrepreneur of the Year.

Kirthi was listed as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy in 2021. In 2024, the Royal Society of Arts listed her as one of "Nine famous female fellows inspiring inclusion."

List of Awards

• US Presidential Services Medal (Gold, Silver and Bronze) 2011–2012
• UN Online Volunteer of the Year Award (Delta Women) 2012, 2013
• UN Online Volunteer of the Year Award (Association of African Entrepreneurs) 2012, 2013
• Finalist, Muse India Young Author's Award in 2015
• Rising Stars of India Award (We Are The City India) 2016
• The Peace Award (Global Peace Initiative) 2016
• Orange Flower Award for Video Blogging (Women's Web) 2016
• Local Pathways Fellow (UN SDSN) 2017
• Social Entrepreneur of the Year (Brew Magazine) 2017
• Young Achiever (Entrepreneurship) MOP Yuva Samman (2017–2018)
• Outstanding Social Entrepreneur (NGO) of the Year, FICCI FLO Chennai (2018)
• Outstanding Woman Achiever Award, FICCI FLO, Jaipur (2018)
• Vital Voices VV Engage Fellow (2018)
• Heroes of Chennai – Social Good (Rising) (2018)
• HerStory Woman on a Mission Award (March 2019)
• Web Wonder Woman (Ministry of Women and Child Development, Twitter India and Breakthrough India) (March 2019)
• CII-IWN Award for Unsung Heroes, March 2019
• Best Feminist Voice, The Lifestyle Journal Awards, August 2019
• The TIAW World of a Difference Award, October 2020
• The World Pulse Spirit Award (Champion), February 2021
• UN Women: 30 for 2030 (August 2022)
• Imagine Award of Excellence for the Rotary year 2022–23
• Women Have Wings Award 2023 (October 2023)
• Apolitical's 50 Gender Equality Gamechangers 2024
• Walkie Talkie (Walking the Talk), Hivos, 2024

Kirthi's Books

• Game Changers: Untold Stories Of Indian Feminists From The Past And The Present (Hay House India, 2020)
• The Doodler of Dimashq (Readomania, 2017)
• The Dove's Lament (Readomania, 2015)
• Stories of Hope (Maitreya, 2013)

See also

• List of peace activists