“I dream of becoming a doctor so that I can save people and be independent.”
At AAH, Mercy’s dreams are nurtured. Her ambitions are resourced, and her curiosity is fed instead of silenced. She is respected, educated, and heard.
"I Feel Loved Here"
“I am accepted for who I am.”
Hulaymatou is a 17-year-old girl from She's the First partner Starfish International in The Gambia. Starfish teaches girls to know their worth, to use their voice for good, and to make money on their own terms.
My name is Hulaymatou, and I feel loved here.
I feel loved at Starfish because ever since I became a Starfish girl, my mentors have consistently shown up for me in every aspect of my life, from home to school, and everything in between. I remember a day when I was feeling really down and didn’t want to do anything. My mentors noticed and took action; they wrote several affirmations on the board for me and had my fellow students sing for me. That moment made me feel incredibly loved. I carry this experience with me every day and make it a point to do the same for my friends whenever they’re not feeling okay.
At home, I don’t feel entirely free to be myself compared to when I’m at Starfish. There are times when I have to do things to please my family, even when it doesn’t feel right for me. At Starfish, I am accepted for who I am and encouraged to express myself without judgment. The freedom and support I get from my mentors and peers at Starfish allow me to embrace my true self in ways I often can’t at home. This environment has taught me how important it is to surround myself with people who uplift and understand me.
I know I am a queen, and I act accordingly. I run a small business that allows me to stay financially independent and take care of my basic needs. And no matter how small my contributions may seem, I am consistently serving my community in any way I can, guided by the Starfish values I hold dear.
From one queen to another,
Hulaymatou
The Space to Dream Campaign is about ensuring that girls in every community have a safe place to go where they feel loved and empowered to change the world. She’s the First partners with grassroots organizations like Starfish International, training local women leaders on feminist mentorship, reproductive health education, and girls’ rights.
As a result, girls feel loved, respected, and worthy. You heard it from Hulaymatou best, no matter how small the contribution, our gifts are valuable and important for creating the world girls everywhere deserve.
Will you give a gift to support a future where all girls feel loved like Hulaymatou?
Girl Activist Fellows Talk Sex Ed Misinformation
We spoke with two of our Girl Activist Fellows about sex education, the spread of misinformation in their communities, and what changes they want to see. Sydney, 17, who lives in a conservative rural town in Massachusetts, U.S., pointed out that abstinence-only programs cause harm. Faith Boke, 21, from Kuria, Kenya, shared how her community faces shame and misinformation about menstruation and reproductive health. They talked about the need for thorough and inclusive sex education to clear up myths and reduce the stigma around reproductive health.
She's the First Girl Leaders Discuss The Power of Girls' Education and Leadership
"Education is our weapon to confront society."
Why Do You Need Feminism? She's the First Chapter Speaks Up
Hot Off the Presses: The Girl Gazette!
The Girl Gazette: Art, Poetry, and More from Girls Globally
At She’s the First, we create opportunities for girls to tell their own stories. The Girl Gazette is a newsletter created entirely by girls representing organizations from our Partner Coalition.
Girl Activist Fellows Launch Power of Poetry Campaign
A girl with an education is unstoppable—but barriers like gender discrimination, poverty, and exploitation prevent many girls from reaching graduation.
Our Youth Ambassadors created the Power of Poetry campaign to amplify girls' voices about this issue for National Poetry Month and the Global Week of Action for Education. Girls aged 11 to 22 from Afghanistan, India, Guatemala, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, South Sudan, the U.K., and the U.S. submitted their work.
The Girl Gazette: essays, interviews, and art from girls in the STF community
Q&A with the Girls on Our Board of Directors
At She’s the First, we believe in taking a girl-centered and anti-oppressive approach to all we do. Girls know their needs better than anyone, which is why we ethically include girls in our decision-making processes and in our program evaluation. To ensure that girls have a vote and a voice at the highest level within our organization, we reserve two seats on our Board of Directors for girls. Two girls are elected by their peers in the Girls Advisory Council to fill these roles.