Today is the International Day of the Girl Child, with the theme "Girls' Vision for the Future," emphasizing the urgent need for action and the persistent hope inspired by girls' voices and visions.
Today's generation of girls are disproportionately affected by global crises such as climate change, conflict, poverty, and health, as well as setbacks in human rights and gender equality. Many girls are still denied their rights, which restricts their choices and limits their futures. However, recent analysis shows that girls are not only courageous in the face of crisis but also hopeful for the future. Every day, they take action to create a world in which all girls are protected, respected, and empowered. Girls cannot achieve this vision alone; they need allies who listen to and respond to their needs.
Y+ Global has collected stories through the support of the HER Voice Fund to amplify girls' voices, their stories of determination, and their rights. When girls lead, the impact is immediate and far-reaching: families, communities, and economies are all stronger and brighter because of them. These are their stories.
Tsaone Mosweu’s Story (Botswana)
Living with a disability has only made me more ambitious. My name is Tsaone Mosweu, a 27-year-old visually impaired woman from Botswana and a dedicated advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for women and young people with disabilities. My passion for providing SRHR information and opportunities for disabled women fuels me to do more. I hold a degree in Public Health and am pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Human Rights, specialising in Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Africa. As a Consultant with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Botswana, I develop disability-inclusive SRHR programs and promote the involvement of adolescents and young people with disabilities in SRHR policy discussions.
In a drive to create a more inclusive world for adolescent girls and young women living with disability, I founded Botswana's first network of young people with disabilities, mentoring them to be prominent advocates who influence policies and collaborate with decision-makers to challenge harmful norms around gender and disability. I am proud that my work has not gone unnoticed and has allowed me to serve as the Chairperson of the Women’s Committee for the Botswana Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted and as the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship alumna.
Beyond this, I have established the first-ever mentorship program for girls with disabilities in Botswana and actively mentor young women advocating for SRHR across Africa. My achievements demonstrate the incredible leadership potential that adolescent girls and young women possess when they are empowered and allowed to lead.
Stephanie’s Story (Cameroon)
My name is Stephanie, and for a long time, I believed my voice didn’t matter. Growing up in a small community where sexual and reproductive health (SRH) was rarely discussed, girls were blamed and stigmatised for even mentioning the word "sex" to adults. When I was younger, I was sexually assaulted by a family member, and my world shattered. No one believed me, and others accused me of being promiscuous and immoral. The trauma wasn’t just from the experience itself but also from the silence that followed. I was stigmatised, shamed, and isolated. People saw me as damaged, and I started to believe it, too. I felt powerless and alone, trapped in the shadows of my own pain, with no friends and no family.
One day, an organisation called Vision in Action Cameroon (VIAC), which focuses on SRH, came to our community. They held a session for young girls, and although not everyone showed up, that day marked the start of a new chapter in my life. The session touched me so much that I met with the facilitator afterwards and spoke about my story. They took me in, not as a victim, but as someone with potential. Through their mentorship, I learned that my story and voice were powerful. The staff at VIAC gave me the space to heal, but more than that, they empowered me to speak up and take control of my own narrative.
I joined their programs, first as a peer educator, where I met other girls who had faced similar challenges. For the first time, I wasn’t alone. The mentorship I received was life-changing. I learned about my rights, about consent, and the importance of comprehensive sexual education. I was equipped with the knowledge I wish I had had before, and I knew I had to make sure other girls had access to this information, too.
I am a strong advocate in my community, using my experience to fight against stigma and silence. I have participated in high-level events, sharing my story to highlight the importance of sexual and reproductive health rights for girls and young women. I work with young girls who, like me, have been silenced by trauma, and I mentor them, helping them to understand that they are not alone and that their voices matter.
When I started sharing my story as a tool to end gender-based violence (GBV) and promote discussions on sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), other girls in my community started opening up about similar cases, and parents began thinking about how to better protect their children. Today, I am a proud ambassador of change in the community where I was once seen as damaged.
VIAC gave me the tools I needed to heal, but they also gave me something even more important: purpose. As an AGYW, I’m no longer defined by what happened to me; I’m represented by the work I do, the change I’m making, and the voices I’m helping to uplift. Every day, I fight for a world where girls are empowered, where their health and their rights are protected, and where silence and stigma no longer have the final say.
This journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth every step. I’ve turned my pain into power, and now, I stand tall, not just for myself but for every girl who has ever felt voiceless. Together, we will rise because we deserve to live in a world where we are safe, respected, and heard.
Muh Yvonne Nchim’s Story (Cameroon)
Growing up in my village in Northwest Cameroon, I faced many difficulties in understanding my sexuality and sexual rights. Discussions on menstruation and other changes during adolescence were nonexistent in my household. When I had my first period at 14, I didn’t have access to pads and had to rely on cloth. One day, I stained my uniform at school and had to go home to change, missing lessons as a result. This pattern of missing classes during my period severely impacted my education, especially as I was in an exam class. Sadly, many girls in my community shared similar experiences.
Now, I am a young woman working with the Center for Advocacy in Gender Equality and Action for Development (CAGEAD). After joining CAGEAD, I realised that girls in other communities faced the same challenges, with limited knowledge of menstruation and sexual health, leading to poor academic performance. Many also lacked awareness of how to protect themselves against gender-based violence.
With support from the HER Voice Fund and CAGEAD, I’ve taken up the challenge of advocating for girls in my community. I’ve educated young girls on menstruation and SRHR and raised awareness among key stakeholders about the importance of SRHR education in schools.
I urge those in power to include menstrual hygiene management, SRHR, and GBV in school curricula and make pads freely available. This is my vision for the future—a future in which girls live free from the stigma of menstruation.
Peris Wachuka’s Story (Kenya)
My name is Peris Wachuka, and I am involved in the HER Voice Fund. I have been actively raising awareness among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Kaloleni Sub-county in Kenya, particularly in Mariakani Town. My focus has been on educating young people about safe sex, accessing healthcare services, and recognising the power and importance of their voices in shaping their own futures.
I actively engage adolescent girls and my peers, young women, in discussions about critical topics such as sexual and reproductive health, the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and the importance of accessing healthcare services. I also empower them to rise up and advocate against harmful practices and rights violations, with a central message that their voices matter.
To commemorate the International Day of the Girl, my vision is to inspire girls to imagine a future where they are informed, heard, and empowered to shape their destinies. I celebrate myself and AGYW worldwide, who are standing up and making their voices heard. I encourage AGYW to break the silence, advocate for themselves, and make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
Peris Wachuka, AGYW Champion, leading sensitisation and distribution of sanitary pads for menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls and young women in Kaloleni Sub-county.
Fanny Magombo Story (Malawi)
My name is Fanny Magombo, and I am from Malawi. My life took a transformative turn when I joined the HER Voice Fund program, which introduced me to advocacy, leadership, and mentorship.
Initially, I knew very little about advocacy and faced significant barriers in my education, as my community only allowed boys to attend school. However, through this program, I learned about my rights and gained the confidence to return to school. Now, I passionately encourage other young girls to pursue their education, fully understanding the life-changing power it holds.
Through my advocacy work, I have realised that girls have a vital role in shaping the future of their communities and that their voices matter in youth development. I have also become a strong advocate for the rights and support of my fellow young girls.
Thanks to the HER Voice Fund, I can now confidently speak at any event, fearlessly representing my community and sharing my ideas without hesitation.
Namulondo Debora’s Story (Uganda)
My name is Namulondo Debora. I am an 18-year-old woman with albinism from Kasokwe sub-county, Uganda. My journey has been one of resilience and transformation. Growing up, I faced stigma, exclusion, and discrimination because of my condition. But today, I stand as a proud paralegal, community advocate, and environmental defender.
The challenges were many, like societal discrimination and my community grappling with the harsh effects of climate change. Food scarcity and droughts were everyday realities. My turning point came in 2020 when I joined the Integrated Disabled Women Activities (IDIWA) through the HER Voice Fund.. There, I was trained in human rights and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention. With this knowledge, I became a paralegal, and nothing brings me more pride than defending the rights of vulnerable groups, especially women and girls living with disabilities.
As a trusted voice in my community, I mediate conflicts, educate people on human rights, and help GBV survivors access justice. The trust and respect I’ve earned have made me a beacon of hope for women and girls in my village. Beyond this, I am also passionate about environmental conservation. As an environmental defender, I lead efforts to restore ecosystems, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and raise awareness about climate change. I work with local leaders to increase understanding of how environmental degradation impacts our community, particularly women with disabilities.
But my journey doesn’t end there. I’ve also ventured into livestock farming and agriculture, which has provided food security for my family and a source of income. Seeing my farming efforts succeed has inspired other young women to pursue agriculture as a path to economic empowerment.
My story is one of resilience and empowerment. From being proud of my albinism to becoming a leader in my community, I want to show that even the most marginalised among us can drive meaningful change.
Hope Bwalya’s Story (Zambia)
I am Hope Bwalya, from the Northern Province of Zambia. My journey has been one of challenges, although the opportunities given to me have shaped me into who I am today. This is a story of how I transformed from a shy grade 10 student into a leader and advocate for young women in my community.
It all began when I joined a local HER Voice Fund project through Rural Focus Zambia (RUFOZ). Like many other AGYW in rural Zambia, I struggled with the everyday obstacles of growing up in a place where it felt like my voice didn’t matter. I was just another girl expected to follow a set path. But everything changed when I became a part of RUFOZ.
Through the HER Voice Fund, I had the incredible opportunity to attend high-level events where I could share my views and learn from other leaders and young women across the country. These experiences were life-changing. For the first time, I realised I wasn’t just a girl from a small village; I was someone with the power to contribute to important discussions and make a difference. Those events opened my eyes, and I realised I had the potential to create change.
As I participated in discussions, I found my voice. I began to deeply understand the challenges facing my community, such as gender inequality, early marriages, and the lack of education for girls. With the mentorship I received from RUFOZ, I grew more confident and began actively seeking ways to solve these issues.
“I’ve become more engaged than ever,” I tell my family. “Now, I see myself as someone who can inspire others and bring about real change.”
After completing my schooling, I had the honour of becoming the RUFOZ AGYW Representative, which allows me to give back in ways I never imagined. I now mentor young women, sharing my journey and helping them realise their potential. I envision a future where girls from Bwembya Village and beyond break free from societal limitations and pursue their dreams fearlessly.
I want every girl to know that no matter where you come from, you can rise up and make a difference. Looking back, I see how far I’ve come, from a quiet, uncertain girl to a leader passionate about helping others. This is my story but also the story of countless other young women. Together, we can rise, inspire, and create a better world for future generations.
Helga Mbulo Story (Zambia)
My name is Helga Mbulo, and I am from Zambia. I can understand the struggles many girls face, as I was once a young woman who became a teenage mother and had to navigate the challenges of parenting as an orphan. I had to drop out of school to provide for my child while enduring community stigma, and this fueled my determination to advocate for the sexual and reproductive health rights of girls. My passion found its true purpose when I joined Resilient Youth for Change (YOCA), where my voice was amplified and my story heard.
Being part of a community of stakeholders advocating for improved sexual and reproductive health services has allowed me to share my lived experiences and contribute to meaningful change. Participating in high-level discussions at the district level has helped drive result-oriented outcomes, thanks to including voices from those directly affected.
Through capacity-building workshops, trainings, and research, I’ve witnessed how meaningful engagement can lead to lasting impact. I was honoured to contribute to the development of our district’s first Adolescent Health Strategic Plan and participate in the first-ever Adolescent Health Indaba.