Celebrating empowered girls who stand up for themselves

By Mariama, age 16, Young Leader from Sierra Leone

I consider myself a child advocate who promotes the rights and welfare of my peers. For me, it is important to build safer spaces for children, especially to protect them from child marriage.

My own identity as a girl is my main motivation as I can a fully understand the issues around child marriage and how to help other girls not be married off. For example, as a girl I know the horrific effects of child marriage. With that knowledge, I tell my peers, including girls in my community, that girls have a passion to excel for their families and for our nation to be proud of us. 

I do believe in peer-to-peer discussion, community sensitisation and school awareness as tools for change. I have evidence that shows that girls are effective advocates working for all the children to support us take good care of ourselves. We know the “dos” and “don'ts” of children growing up, and the actions needed to reduce child marriage.  

However, we still face some of the community traditions that continue to dominate our community and which give us – the child advocates– a tough time. Parents and elderly people from our community still give more importance to boys’ education when compared to us, the girls. Many still believe that the girl child's education is not important. As a result, illiterate girls are easily dominated and their potential is smashed.  

Despites all these problems, I believe that people have started changing and we are sending the message that one of the pillars of a successful community is one where educated and empowered girls can stand up for themselves. Our work as child advocates has been possible thank to the efforts from our much beloved Kids Club.

My hope is to see more organisations strengthening girls and implementing projects on some key areas, like providing funding for our activism work and supporting girls to go to university. 

Happy International Girls Day!