Aline Nizigama, CEO of YWCA Canada, said that Uber's Driving Change initiative is "the key to building safer and more equitable communities across Canada." This statement was posted on Uber's website on December 10, 2024. The initiative aims to combat gender-based violence through strategic partnerships and community-focused programs.
According to its website, Uber’s Driving Change initiative launched in 2017 with a focus on eradicating gender-based violence (GBV) through partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the development of safety features, and community-driven programs. In 2024, key efforts included a global awareness campaign, funding for GBV research, and a human trafficking initiative that reached 1.8 million users in Latin America.
Uber's website reports that Harmy Mendoza, Executive Director of the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (WomanACT), emphasized the importance of strong partnerships like Uber’s Driving Change initiative. She said, "We applaud their commitment to support and partner with experts in the field and advance women’s equity in Canada and around the world." The initiative funds public education, raises awareness, and promotes the inclusion of women with lived experiences of GBV.
On Uber's website, Gabriela Toledo, Director of Fondo Semillas—a women's organization based in Mexico City—said that Uber’s seven-year partnership as a corporate donor has enabled collaborations with "women’s organizations that are at the forefront of working to advance lives free of violence."
According to UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), gender-based violence violates human rights and includes physical, sexual, mental, and economic harm such as intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and child marriage. It disproportionately affects women and girls, particularly those who are forcibly displaced.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Nizigama is a public policy and community development leader with over ten years of executive non-profit experience and more than twelve years in research and strategic analysis. She specializes in addressing issues affecting minoritized communities and the social determinants of health.