About Us
An independent Kurdish women's information office connecting voices, sharing knowledge, and shaping social change across borders.
Lively, powerful, full of life
ZENDA e.V. is an independent Kurdish women's information office based in Cologne, with a network that reaches far beyond it. The name was chosen for a reason: in Kurdish, zenda means lively, powerful, full of life, and recalls Zenda from Mem û Zîn by Ehmedê Xanî, a figure who stands for dignity, courage, and self-determination.
Women, Life, Freedom
Our work is grounded in the philosophy of Jin, Jiyan, Azadî and the principles of women's liberation.
Jineolojî
The science of women, a framework for analysing, documenting, and reshaping social realities.
01.
Make Visible
We bring women's perspectives, stories, and contexts to light through articles, podcasts, and social media, and actively counter disinformation.
02.
Educate & Empower
Workshops, seminars, and cultural events strengthen political education, empowerment, and collective agency.
03.
Connect Across Borders
We build networks with feminist movements worldwide and bring Kurdish women's experiences in Europe into shared dialogue with local organisations.
OUR STORY
To Create Movement
ZENDA emerges from years of civil society, volunteer, and decolonial work. Watch how the Kurdish women's movement shapes everything we do, from self-defense and democratic organisation to peace work and everyday community life.
Our Vision and Mission
ZENDA's vision is a world where women's perspectives shape society, politically, socially, and culturally. Our mission is to share knowledge, create spaces for dialogue, and build networks across borders so women can act collectively for liberation, justice, and self-determination.
- INTERSECTIONAL we work in solidarity, recognising that liberation is interconnected across struggles.
- INDEPENDENT we are not tied to any party, state, or institutional agenda.
- ROOTED IN THE MOVEMENT our work grows from the Kurdish women's movement and its decades of practice.
- INTERNATIONAL IN SCOPE we connect women, organisations, and movements across borders.