Grace Mera Molisa

Activist Type

Women's Rights

Grace Mera Molisa was a ni-Vanuatu politician, poet, and women’s rights advocate. She campaigned for equal rights for women in politics and was the first woman from Vanuatu to achieve a university degree. She is regarded as “a vanguard for Melanesian culture and a voice of the ni-Vanuatu, especially women”. She founded Vanuatu Women in Politics, a group that helped women enter politics. She published three volumes of poems which are described as “biting social commentary on life in patriarchal, post-colonial Vanuatu.”

Artwork by

Julie Sauerwein

Grace Molisa is regarded not only as a great poet and political leader for Vanuatu's independence but as a woman with a vision for women's life in that part of the world. It is an honour to draw her portrait. I’ve lived in Vanuatu for 8 years and have been involved in many projects of art for social change where her influence and inspiration was always at the root (see https://www.marilenacrosato.com/aelangel). In the drawing I have surrounded her with women and girls of all ages and had them close their eyes together in a common dream for a peaceful future.

Vanuatu

Capital

Port Vila

Founded

July 30, 1980

Demonym

Ni-Vanatu