Our Founding Story
Marginalized Women Foundation (MWF) was founded in response to the long-standing exclusion and systemic discrimination faced by marginalized Somali women & girls. For generations, women in this community have been denied equitable access to education, economic opportunity, healthcare, and leadership—despite their resilience and contributions. MWF emerged from the lived experiences of first-generation women from this historically marginalized community who recognized the urgent need for change. Rooted in social justice, community leadership, and collective action, the foundation was created to break cycles of exclusion and empower women & girls to become agents of transformation in their families and communities.
Muna Muday was raised in the Dadaab Refugee Camp and is now a U.S. citizen. Her journey—from displacement to global advocacy—is rooted in resilience, courage, and an unwavering commitment to justice for marginalized women and girls.
Muna is a international public health professional with a Master of Public Health from Vanderbilt University with years of experience designing and implementing public health programs for medically underserved communities across East Africa, including her home country, Somalia. Her work has focused on improving access to equitable health services while centering community voices and culturally responsive solutions.
As a social justice advocate, Muna has actively engaged with the IOM and the broader UN system, advocating for equity, dignity, and inclusion for historically marginalized communities. She has also worked with international development organizations as both a volunteer and grassroots activist—bridging lived experience with policy and practice.
The Marginalized Women Foundation was born from Muna’s personal story. At the age of 14, she survived early marriage—a reality faced by many girls in her community due to poverty, exclusion, and lack of opportunity. Rather than allowing this experience to define her limits, Muna chose to transform it into purpose. She continued her education, stepped into leadership, and committed herself to being a living example for women and girls—locally, nationally, and internationally.
Through Marginalized Women Foundation, Muna channels her lived experience, professional expertise, and passion into empowering Somali women to lead, thrive, and shape their own futures.