Introducing Humans of Development: Margaret Brawley

A story of bold leaps, deep listening, and lasting impact in international development

When did you realize this work was your calling?

I am Margaret Brawley. When I was six, I told my mom I wanted to travel the world. I did. By twelve, I was on my first trip abroad to China, captivated by new cultures and fresh perspectives.

That curiosity shaped my path through college and my twenties. I worked on Capitol Hill, advocated for human rights in West Africa with Amnesty International, helped Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) improve patient care, and launched an event planning business.

Then one day, I read a Newsweek article on HIV/AIDS in Africa. It struck a chord. I couldn’t stop talking about moving there—despite never having been. After some tough rejections from MBA programs, I took a leap and joined a year-long volunteer program in Uganda.

At the airport, my mom said, “We’ll see you in a year.” I smiled and said, “I don’t think so.” One year became twelve.

My first role was with Johns Hopkins on a USAID-funded reproductive health project learning about public health challenges, learning local norms, collaborating with Ugandan colleagues, and witnessing real-time impact. I loved co-creating solutions with communities and learning from them in turn.

By year’s end, I knew I’d found what I was searching for. East Africa became my second home—and this work, my calling.

What is one experience that still lives vividly in your mind?

One of my most vivid experiences was managing Nze Nowange, a USAID-funded family planning roadshow in Uganda.

Imagine a huge truck rolling into rural villages, transforming into a stage for music, games, and health education–all broadcast live on radio stations across the country. We’d draw crowds of up to 1,500 people, with the whole community gathering to watch, laugh, and learn together.

At the heart of the show was a couples’ game inspired by the old Newlywed Game. Couples competed for prizes by answering questions about their relationship and, crucially, about family planning-questions like, “How many children do you want?” or “What kind of contraception do you use?”

The men would be driven out of earshot while their partners answered, then brought back to see if their answers matched. The energy was electric-full of laughter, surprises, and genuine connection.

The impact was immediate and far-reaching. Clinics saw a spike in couples seeking counseling and health services after each show. Condom use and uptake of other health commodities increased.

Most importantly, Nze Nowange helped spark open conversations about family planning-both in homes and in the broader community-at a time when the topic was still largely taboo. This experience was a powerful reminder of the change that’s possible when you meet people where they are, adapt quickly, and use creativity to turn even the most sensitive topics into something everyone can talk about.

What is a high-stakes challenge you faced as a leader?

When I was leading an international nonprofit focused on maternal and child health in 10 countries, I worked closely with Catholic Sisters-remarkable women who deliver frontline care in some of the world’s most remote and challenging environments. Their commitment was unwavering, but training them effectively proved to be a significant hurdle.

Traditional in-person sessions meant Sisters had to leave their communities for extended periods, sometimes risking their own safety and leaving critical health services understaffed. Virtual training was equally impractical due to unreliable internet, frequent power outages, and limited digital literacy.

Seeing these obstacles firsthand, I knew we needed a different approach. While battling skepticism at my organization, I spearheaded the development of a groundbreaking online learning platform tailored specifically for Catholic Sisters.

These 6 to 12-week curriculums offered flexible, on-demand access to resources, discussion forums, and webinars, all designed with their unique needs and realities in mind. The platform not only provided technical and management training but also fostered a global community where Sisters could share solutions and support one another.

My time invested in understanding the barriers, involving the Sisters in co-creating the platform, and building a sustainable business plan paid off. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

Sisters immediately applied what they learned through project-based initiatives in their work spaces, collaborated on solutions, and improved care in their communities. By uniting skeptical stakeholders, creating a long-term funding model, and centering the voices of those we serve, I turned a bold idea into lasting impact.

The platform was met with enthusiastic participation and praise, and it continues to drive real-world impact across multiple countries.

When did you see the impact of your work reflected directly in someone’s life?

In western Kenya, I had the privilege of facilitating a series of youth workshops while working with PATH on The Border, a comic book series designed to help young people navigate real-life challenges and access health education.

The workshops were all about listening-truly hearing what youth were facing, and then co-creating characters and storylines that reflected their realities.

One young man, Ben, left a lasting impression on me. Despite losing both parents to AIDS and shouldering the responsibilities of caring for his grandmother, Ben’s resilience and openness shone through. He walked miles to school, studied by kerosene lamp, and still found the strength to dream bigger for himself and his community.

Ben became a youth ambassador for the comic, trained in health information, and learned how to facilitate peer groups and connect others to resources. We’ve stayed in touch for over 20 twenty years. Ben went on to finish high school, pursue medical training, and now serves as a healthcare provider with a family of his own. I like to think that the skills and confidence he gained through our program helped him along his journey.

That experience with Ben is a powerful reminder of why I do this work: it’s about creating space for young people to see themselves as leaders and changemakers, and then watching them run with it-often farther than any of us could have imagined.

What is one misconception about your work?

When people hear about what I do, they often react with awe or say things like, “I could never do what you do,” or “What a sacrifice you’ve made.” There’s sometimes a “savior” narrative that gets projected onto my work and I’ve always been uncomfortable with that.

I don’t see myself as a hero or a martyr.

I feel incredibly fortunate to do work that I love, work that is aligned with my values-advancing reproductive health freedom, social justice, and equity for women and children. For me, it’s about fulfilling a responsibility we all share as global citizens: to serve, to create opportunities, and to make a difference where we can.

Yes, there are real challenges to living and working in low- and middle-income countries, but there are also immense rewards. The relationships, the lessons, the resilience, and the sense of purpose I found are gifts I carry with me every day.

Coming back to the U.S. after twelve years abroad, I was struck by how much privilege is taken for granted here, and how easy it is to remain insulated from the broader world.

I often wish everyone could spend time living in another country, especially in their formative years-to break out of the comfort zone, to see the world through a different lens, and to understand our shared humanity.

Ultimately, my work isn’t about accolades or sacrifice. It’s about impact, connection, and doing my part to contribute to something bigger than myself. That’s what keeps me going, and that’s what I hold close to my heart.

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