East Africa, Africa
She's the First
"Let Girls Lead"

Joan Kembabazi is a 25-year-old feminist activist who champions an end to child marriage and girls' education in Uganda. Joan is the Founder and Team leader of Gufasha Girls Foundation and is currently a fellow in She’s the First’s Girl-Centered Incubator.

Africa, Asia, East Africa, Latin America, South Asia, West Africa
She's the First
The Girl Gazette is Here!

The latest edition of The Girl Gazette is here! This edition features a powerful poem about girls' leadership, an important essay about a patriarchal community, and artwork that encourages girls to end period stigma and feel good about their bodies.

The Girl Gazette shares girls' voices from around the world who work with our Partner Coalition organizations. Girls from She’s the First’s Partner Coalition express themselves through art, poetry, and essays about their experiences.

Asia, South East Asia
She's the First
Safiya Speaks Up! Makes Waves in Southeast Asia

Safiya Speaks Up!, the impactful children's book developed by five She’s the First Girl Activist Fellows, is making significant strides in Southeast Asia through the efforts of two of its passionate authors and advocates, Anya Legarda and Allison Choong. It was created to educate young girls about combatting sexual violence and using their voices. Since its digital publication last fall, mentors and parents have shared Safiya’s story with more than 3,000 girls across the globe.

Safiya Speaks Up! Makes Waves in Southeast Asia
Africa, Asia, East Africa, Latin America, South Asia, West Africa
She's the First
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.

Hot Off the Presses: The Girl Gazette!
Africa, East Africa
She's the First
A Youth Ambassador’s Reflections on the Girls ...

Youth Ambassador Gladys Njeri shares her experience participating in the Girls First Summit, She’s the First’s annual event that brings together organizations for knowledge-sharing and targeted training, with local and global insights on best practices for supporting girls’ rights.

A Youth Ambassador’s Reflections on the Girls First Summit

Education! Education! Education!

By Hellen Kiden Angelo, South Sudan, a student with our partner Caring Hearts Initiative for Community Development

Education! Education! Education!
Education is the key to life
When people look at me,
They see I am different from others
My religion, my colour my blood
They think I am not educated
But I am proud of myself for not giving up
for loving my family
for wanting help my country
and for getting my education

My religion is peaceful, my colour is beautiful
My blood is Somali
My mother pushed me to get my education
Even through when I was young
I thought I was punishment
But now I cherish what I have learned
Knowing that without education I would be lifeless
Education is what make me to be a brave girl
Without education I am nothing

Hellen’s poem was also published in the September 2024 edition of The Girl Gazette, a biannual publication of artwork, poetry, and essays by girls in the She’s the First partner coalition.

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Girls Challenge Gender Stereotyping in Rural India

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By Preeti Yadav, 14, a student in India with our partner Sahas Foundation

Girls have right to education, and they should be allowed to study just as boys, so that they can achieve their dreams. And if somebody does anything wrong, then we can teach them a lesson. This happened when our school was closed for vacation; there was bhagwat (a religious gathering where a saint talks about gods and their teachings) going on.

I asked my grandmother, “Can I go and fill the kalash (a practice where a pot is filled with water from a nearby river.) She said that girls can’t go that far to fill the kalash. So, I can’t go to the river to fill the water because it is far away, (previously) I can’t be sent to the school because it is far away. If a boy would have asked, no one would have refused them. This is one of the cases where rights of girls are taken away.

Thanks to Sahas, I got to go back to school. I’m in 7th class.

Preeti
 

Preeti’s essay was also published in the September 2024 edition of The Girl Gazette, a biannual publication of artwork, poetry, and essays by girls in the She’s the First partner coalition.

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A Force Untamed

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By Sushila Giri, 18, Nepal, a student with our partner Shequal Foundation

In every girl, there's a leader inside,
She walks with strength, with grace as her guide.
In her heart, ambition ignites,
Guiding others through the darkest nights.
With wisdom's voice, she leads the way,
In her presence, doubts start to sway.
She doesn't falter, her flame burns bright,
Empowering others, she spreads her light.

In every girl, a force untamed,
In her leadership, the world is reclaimed.
Let's celebrate her strength and might,
She's the beacon shining in the night.
I am powerful, she proudly proclaims,
Leading with courage, she makes her name.
In every girl, this power resides,
With her leadership, the world abides.

 

Sushila’s poem was also published in the September 2024 edition of The Girl Gazette, a biannual publication of artwork, poetry, and essays by girls in the She’s the First partner coalition.

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I am Wonderfully Made

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By Lucy Mutheu, Kenya, Savana Kitui

I am wonderfully made,
I appreciate my body,
I love and respect my body,
Oh! my body my choice.

Seeking for guidance and counseling,
Whenever i am troubled,
Will always help to became a better person,
Oh! my body my choice.

Nobody should touch me,
Nobody should abuse me because of my body,
I will always accept my body
Oh! my body my choice.

Lucy’s poem was also published in the September 2024 edition of The Girl Gazette, a biannual publication of artwork, poetry, and essays by girls in the She’s the First partner coalition.

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My Body, My Choice

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By Yassin Jarju, 15, a student in The Gambia with our partner Starfish International

In a world where choices are made,
my body, my voice will never fade.
For I am a girl, strong and true,
menstruation is a part of me too.

It's a natural cycle, a sign of life,
bringing strength and power
I embrace it with love, for it's a gift,
a reminder of the beauty that my body uplifts,

So let's celebrate the freedom we possess,
to make choices that honor our happiness.
for my body is mine, and I have a voice,
to stand up, to be heard, to make my own choice.

To all the girls out there, remember, you have the power,
to embrace your body, to accept yourself and to love yourself.
Together, we stand, strong and true,
supporting each other, me and you.
With respect and love, we'll always rejoice,
for our bodies are ours, and we have a choice.

In this journey of life, you're in control,
with every decision, let your spirit unfold.

No one else can define who I am,
my body is mine, a precious gem,
I embrace my body, and make all the choices
choices about me, choices about who I am.

I stand tall, with confidence and pride,
in my body, my sanctuary, where I reside.
I make the choices that feel right for me.
for my body is mine, and I am free.

 

A quote from Yassin’s poem was also published in the September 2024 edition of The Girl Gazette, a biannual publication of artwork, poetry, and essays by girls in the She’s the First partner coalition.

My Experience as the Youngest Delegate at an Inter-American Convention for Eradicating Gender Violence

My Experience as the Youngest Delegate at an Inter-American Convention for Eradicating Gender Violence

“Two months ago, I had the amazing opportunity to be a delegate for the Chilean delegation for the IX Conference of States Parties for the Belém do Pará Convention the Interamerican Convention to Prevent, Sanction, and Eradicate Violence Against Women. This convention is the biggest women’s rights instrument that punishes forms of violence against women and girls.”

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Safiya Speaks Up! Makes Waves in Southeast Asia

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Safiya Speaks Up! Makes Waves in Southeast Asia

Safiya Speaks Up!, the impactful children's book developed by five She’s the First Girl Activist Fellows, is making significant strides in Southeast Asia through the efforts of two of its passionate authors and advocates, Anya Legarda and Allison Choong. It was created to educate young girls about combatting sexual violence and using their voices. Since its digital publication last fall, mentors and parents have shared Safiya’s story with more than 3,000 girls across the globe.

Graduating Made Me Feel Invincible: Yoselinda's Story

High up in the remote villages of the Andes in Peru, public schools are incredibly sparse. Children must walk several hours to the nearest elementary school and high schools are often only located in larger towns, too far from home for students to commute daily. Most high schools are located in city centers; for families experiencing poverty, the expense of sending their daughters to boarding school is out of reach.

But 18-year-old Yoselinda just graduated—she’s the first in her family to earn a high school diploma! She was supported by Sacred Valley Project, a dormitory, education center, and mentorship program, one of the 15 organizations in She’s the First's Partner Coalition. 

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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.