Alice Hemming was not only a suffragette but a visionary who helped shape a global movement for women’s rights. In 1925, she co-founded the British Commonwealth League—now known as the Commonwealth Countries League—with the goal of raising the status of women across the Commonwealth and promoting girls’ education. Inspired by a deep belief in equality and justice, Hemming led with action. In 1967, after visiting a girls’ orphanage in Sierra Leone, she began organising garden parties to raise funds for education—an initiative that eventually evolved into the Commonwealth Fair, a tradition that continues today. Hemming’s work transcended politics and borders, focusing on what mattered most: access to opportunity for girls and women. Her legacy lives on through the continued work of CCL and its affiliated programmes. As we mark 100 years since the organisation’s founding, we honour her courage, foresight, and unwavering commitment to a more equal and inclusive world.
