To mark International Women’s Day 2026, we’re celebrating Swindon & Wiltshire’s most inspiring women.
Through our website and social media channels, we asked our readers which women in our community inspire them and created a list of 20. The list will be featured in our Spring magazine and every weekday throughout March we are profiling and championing each of these fantastic women online and via our social feeds.
Today we put the spotlight on Dr Charity Chenga.#
Tell us about you and your work…
I am a social scientist, Registered Mental Health Nurse, researcher and community development practitioner.
My academic journey, from Economics to Mental Health Nursing, to a PhD in Migration, Mental Health and Social Care reflects my lifelong interest in understanding how people navigate change and how systems can either support or marginalise them. Over the years, I have worked in senior NHS roles, corporate social responsibility research across Southern African mining communities, addictions services and higher education.
I have also led and collaborated on international research projects focused on resilience, sustainable livelihoods and participatory community development. Locally, I am a Director of The Wellbeing Hub Warminster, which offers a holistic approach to wellbeing combining healthcare training, cultural activities, research and international initiatives.
Internationally, I serve as a Trustee of Echoes of Humanity, where we implement community-driven projects in rural Zimbabwe, including women-led transport initiatives, health promotion programmes and education support schemes.
At the heart of everything I do is a belief in bottom-up development that communities already hold wisdom, strength, and solutions. My role is often to facilitate, connect and train, and create structures where that potential can flourish.
I love being part of a family and have a strong bond with both my nuclear family and extended family.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the projects that have created lasting change in communities with limited resources. For example, in rural Zimbabwe we supported local artisans to design and build a technologically appropriate ambulance, improving access to health services. We have increased school pass rates through literacy tournaments and provided computers and training to rural schools. Seeing children who once had limited access to opportunity now thriving is deeply fulfilling.
More recently, I am proud of the Machitenda Women Economic Riders project, which aimed to develop transport infrastructure for women through creating a solar-powered transport solution run by women, enabling them to safely market their produce and generate income using the abundant natural resources as fuel (the sun) in their environment. Despite significant challenges including infrastructure, delays and social resistance, the project demonstrated resilience, courage and the power of women stepping into spaces traditionally dominated by men.
I am also proud of building bridges between the UK and African communities through The Wellbeing Hub Warminster, creating spaces where culture, healthcare, research and community come together. But above all, I am proud of the women and communities themselves. My work is only meaningful because of their strength.
How does it feel to be recognised as one of Swindon & Wiltshire’s Most Inspiring Women?
It feels deeply humbling. Much of my work happens quietly in community halls, rural villages, research rooms and training spaces. To be recognised in Swindon & Wiltshire reminds me that local action and global vision can coexist. It affirms that community-centred, culturally respectful and socially conscious work matters.
I do not see this recognition as mine alone. It belongs to every woman who has trusted me, worked alongside me, challenged me and grown with me. Also my parents for saying ‘Yes you can’.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is both celebration and reflection. It is a celebration of the courage of women who step forward despite fear, resistance and structural barriers. It is also a reminder that empowerment is not a slogan. It requires systems, support, resources and solidarity.
Through my work in rural Zimbabwe and in the UK, I have seen how women carry families, communities and economies often without recognition. International Women’s Day reminds me that when women are supported, entire communities thrive.
For me, it is also about intergenerational dialogue, honouring the women who paved the way for us and ensuring that young girls see leadership, intellect and compassion reflected back at them.
This year’s IWD theme asks us to think about how giving benefits everyone. What’s an example from your work or community life where supporting another woman led to something meaningful in return?
One powerful example is the Machitenda Women Economic Riders project. The aim was not simply to provide transport, but to give women control over mobility and income in a male-dominated transport environment. Supporting women to train, obtain provisional licences and manage a solar-powered trike business required trust, patience and belief in their potential.
In return something beautiful happened: community cohesion strengthened. The arrival of the trikes was welcomed by the wider community, and the women began generating income within a 15-mile radius, marketing their products and carrying people to clinics. The income supports families, education and dignity.
Giving women access to opportunity did not just benefit them. It strengthened households, local trade and community confidence. I have seen repeatedly that when women rise, the ripple effect is transformational.
What piece of advice would you share with your younger self?
I would tell my younger self: Do not be afraid of changing direction. Your diverse path will become your strength. From banking to nursing, from research to entrepreneurship, each chapter has shaped the next.
At times, transitions felt uncertain, but looking back they created a unique blend of analytical thinking, compassion, cultural awareness and strategic vision.
I would also say: Trust your voice. Even when it challenges systems. Even when it feels uncomfortable. Especially when it feels uncomfortable.
And finally: Continue to love your crazy self because that is what makes you who you are. And rest. You do not have to carry the whole world at once.
This feature is sponsored by Goughs Solicitors. The team at Goughs believe in championing ambition, celebrating achievement and creating opportunities for women to connect, lead and thrive.
