Activism Programs, Advocacy, Girl Activist Fellowship, Girls' Voices
She's the First
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. 

Girl Activist Fellows Talk Sex Ed Misinformation
Advocacy
She's the First
Why Day of the Girl matters (I’ve seen them all)

Our Co-Founder and CEO, Tammy Tibbetts, reflects on the past 12 years since the first International Day of the Girl.

Why Day of the Girl matters (I’ve seen them all)
Advocacy
She's the First
Girls—and Malala!—Demonstrate to Let World ...

On September 21, 2024, in New York City, more than 50 young women from around the world—including the youngest Nobel Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai and representatives from four She’s the First programs!—gathered to take United Nations member states to task for failing to prioritize girls and young women in the planning and content of the Summit of the Future.

Girls—and Malala!—Demonstrate to Let World Leaders Know What Girls Want!
Girls' Voices, Partner Coalition
She's the First
"Education is our weapon to confront society."

The latest edition of The Girl Gazette is here! This edition highlights an incredible poem about girls’ leadership, a critical essay about a patriarchal community, and body-positive artwork encouraging girls to end period stigma.

"Education is our weapon to confront society."
CBO Training, Events, Girls First Institute, Girls First Summit
She's the First
Girls First Summit 2024 Debuts in Uganda and ...

After months of meticulous preparation, the 8th iteration of the Girls First Summit in Nairobi and the first-ever Summit in Uganda finally arrived! Girls First Summit, hosted by She’s the First,  brings together courageous women who work with underserved girls to strengthen their programs, learn practical ways to build girls' power in their communities, and network.

Girls First Summit 2024 Debuts in Uganda and Shines in Nairobi

Empowering West Africa's Girls: Reflections from the 2024 Adolescent Girls Summit in Liberia

Empowering West Africa's Girls: Reflections from the 2024 Adolescent Girls Summit in Liberia

Our staffer Florence Sidi reflects on a transformative week at The Adolescent Girls Summit in Liberia, which equipped over 150 girls from seven West African countries with tools and knowledge to navigate adolescence with grace and resilience. The event featured inspiring speeches, hands-on training with our What Would You Do? (WWYD?) card game, and workshops on critical topics like social media advocacy and reproductive health. Highlights included the introduction of our Period Diary toolkit and an empowering call to action shared with high-level dignitaries. The summit's legacy of empowerment and growth will inspire and uplift young women across West Africa, igniting a brighter future for generations to come.

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Why Do You Need Feminism? She's the First Chapter Speaks Up

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Why Do You Need Feminism? She's the First Chapter Speaks Up

Why do you need feminism? Challenging stereotypes about what it means to be feminist and connecting it to their personal lives, students at Clark High School’s She’s the First Chapter in Plano, Texas, crafted empowering posters answering this compelling question.

What Being Diagnosed With a Chronic Illness Taught Both My Mom and Me - A Note On The Power of Relationships and Advocating for Your Health

What Being Diagnosed With a Chronic Illness Taught Both My Mom and Me - A Note On The Power of Relationships and Advocating for Your Health

What if all daughters had someone in their corner? Someone who told them to believe in themselves, trust their gut, and keep going even when times got hard? 

Learning how to raise your voice and trust yourself is a major step towards choosing your own future, and demanding to be respected and heard. Rachel shares her story of overcoming medical gaslighting and chronic illness, with the help of her biggest ally, her mom.

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Tara Abrahams on Paving the Way for Our Daughters

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Tara Abrahams on Paving the Way for Our Daughters

"What kind of mother do I want to be? What kind of world do I want to help build for the next generation?" When our board chair, Tara Abrahams, learned she was pregnant with her first daughter, she reflected on the world she would raise her in.

"The idea that my child wouldn't have access to the same opportunities—depending on gender identity—just stuck in my gut and wouldn't let go. I've spent the past 15 years creating and supporting movements that advance girls' education, women's empowerment, and gender equality around the world."

Tara is an advocate for girls and women globally, a mom, a storyteller, and a life-long learner. Becoming a mother was the catalyst for her dedication to gender equality; read on for her thoughts on how we all can pave the road a bit smoother for the girls journeying after us.

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A Partner Closing the Distance for Girls’ Education

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A Partner Closing the Distance for Girls’ Education

The Small World is a not-for-profit charitable organization supporting locally-driven, sustainable community development projects. These projects provide not only education for children—especially young girls at risk from exploitation—but also remove traditional barriers to girls' education, create empowerment scenarios for local communities, and ultimately help to end deep-rooted cycles of poverty.

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Mercy Nandutu: A Trailblazer for Girls in Nuclear Engineering in Her Community

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Mercy Nandutu is a nuclear engineer earning her second master’s degree—in fact, she’s the first person from her village in Uganda ever to become a nuclear engineer. “If that young girl from my past could witness my journey to becoming a nuclear engineer, she would undoubtedly feel an overwhelming sense of empowerment and possibility,” reflected Mercy. “Seeing my achievements, she would believe that she is capable of overcoming any obstacle and achieving her dreams. She would feel a sense of representation and validation in seeing someone like herself excel in the field.”

FGM Must Remain Illegal in The Gambia - Girl-Centered Organizations Demand Better for Girls

We, the undersigned girl-centered organizations, vehemently oppose the ongoing efforts to repeal the ban against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia. FGM—the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons—is a profoundly harmful practice that violates the rights and dignity of girls. It is a form of violence that often results in long-term physical and psychological consequences.

The Women’s (Amendment) Act of 2015 is a crucial legislation, protecting the rights and well-being of girls in The Gambia. Reversing this significant step forward in ensuring girls' safety and health would constitute a grave injustice and a regression in the fight for gender equality and human rights.

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"To every Muslim woman; You are powerful": Meet Alum & Mentor Wuday Jaiteh!

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“I do the work because I grew up around a lot of suffering and injustice, and as the first girl child of my family, I want to show the rest of my community what is possible through education.” Wuday Jaiteh is a 22-year-old law student at the University of The Gambia, and a graduate of and mentor for our partner Starfish International. Get to know this powerhouse young woman through our Q&A!

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Bridging the Distance to Graduation for Girls: She's the First, Never the Last

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Bridging the Distance to Graduation for Girls: She's the First, Never the Last

From a remote Andean village to the graduation stage! Meet Yoselinda, a trailblazer in her family as she becomes the first to earn her high school diploma. In areas where high schools are sparse and resources are scarce, organizations like our Peruvian partner Sacred Valley Project bring solutions. We’re proud to support Yoselinda's journey through education and empowerment!

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5 Lessons for Girl-Led Activism

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5 Lessons for Girl-Led Activism

We kicked off the first day of the 68th UN Commission on the Status of Women with our first-ever side event: "Girl-Led Activism: How to Get it Right," based on the learnings of our Girl Activist Fellowship. How do we make sure we’re doing work that is TRULY girl-led and doing it well?

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She’s the First, MAIA Host FIRST-Ever Girl-Focused Conference in the Northern Triangle

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She’s the First, MAIA Host FIRST-Ever Girl-Focused Conference in the Northern Triangle

Ellas al Frente, a joint venture by She's the First and MAIA, hosted a transformative conference aimed at equipping grassroots leaders and girls with essential skills to champion girl-centered programs in the Northern Triangle region—the region's first girl-focused summit.

She's the First and Kotex Team Up for Girls’ Success!

She's the First and Kotex Team Up for Girls’ Success!

She's the First is proud to announce a transformative partnership with Kotex, a brand committed to breaking down barriers and championing girls’ progress. Kotex's dedication to breaking down period stigmas aligns perfectly with our vision to create a world where every girl can choose her own future. The generous grant from Kotex is a game-changer for She's the First.

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Hot Off the Presses: The Girl Gazette!

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Hot Off the Presses: The Girl Gazette!

Check out the newest issue of The Girl Gazette: Volume 5, Issue 1 for Winter 2024! The Girl Gazette amplifies the voices of girls globally and empowers them through art, poetry, and more. We highlight girls around the globe who are a part of our Partner Coalition organizations.

Increasing Girls’ Access to Power: STF Team Onboards Largest-Ever Girls Advisory Council

She’s the First champions for a world where every girl can choose her own future. For this reason, we team up with grassroots leaders to make sure girls everywhere are educated, respected, and heard. But how do we ensure that this mission truly reflects the voices and needs of girls globally? Enter the Girls Advisory Council (GAC), a dynamic group of girls whose insights inform our programs, campaigns, and policies.

JOINT STATEMENT: Girl-Centered Organizations Condemn Femicide in Kenya

We, the undersigned girl-centered organizations, express our deep concern and condemnation regarding the alarming rise in femicides in Kenya. We stand in solidarity with our fellow women leaders in Kenya who are demanding that the President of Kenya declare femicide and violence against women and girls a national disaster. The government must take swift and decisive measures to protect lives and ensure justice for the victims.