Girls and young women raise their voice for a more inclusive and equitable world

Catherine, Charity, Elisa, Inaki, Mary, Nasrin, Patricia, Teresa, Tlotlo, and Tsuringirai have a wealth of experience in advocacy. Below is their advice to other adolescent girls and young women who want to become changemakers:

• Believe in yourself: Never let your current situation dictate how your future is going to look and do not give power to your doubt. You do not have to wait for power to be given to you, or “the right time” to act.

• Have a vision: Identify an issue that is affecting most people and have a vision for what you want to achieve with your advocacy.

• Educate yourself: Research and learn as much as you can about the issue you want to advocate for. Understand its root causes, current challenges and potential solutions. Knowledge will help you form strong arguments and engage in informed discussions.
• Connect with like-minded individuals: Seek out others who share your passion and want to make a difference. Join local or online communities, participate in events, or attend workshops related to your cause. Engaging with others will provide support, new perspectives, and collaboration opportunities.
• Start small but start somewhere: Advocacy doesn’t have to be grand from the beginning. Begin by taking small steps in your community, such as volunteering or raising awareness in your school or neighborhood. Once you gain confidence and experience, you can expand your efforts to larger platforms.
• Use your voice: Use your voice to speak up about the issues that matter to you. Use various platforms like social media, blogs or public speaking engagements to amplify your message and reach a wider audience.
• Stay resilient and adaptable: Advocacy work can be challenging, and you may face setbacks. It’s essential to remain resilient, adaptable and open to learning from both successes and failures. Remember that change takes time, and perseverance is key.

 
For more information about UNICEF’s work with and for adolescent girls, please view our Adolescent Girls Programme Strategy.