This week’s SoroptiVoice comes from Dawn Marie Lemonds, International Programme Director.  Here she reveals just what we mean when we talk about finding SPACES for girls…

IKA- Indonesia- 15 year old- IKA’s friend
was sold into slavery by her father. Ika saw others in their community reject
her. She took the brave step to stand up for her friend “We have to be true
friends to each other. We need to encourage them to find resources, not make
instant decision, find other solutions, go to another school if they must”

ASHA-14 years old girl from USA. Asha acknowledged
the blessing that her family has given her through encouragement and structure  even in the midst of great confusion in her
community. She proclaimed boldly- “ I will not go the way of other black girls
lost in the contemporary issues that face me…..I must keep my dreams and hopes
alive. With great aspirations comes great responsibility”

KAYLEE-18
years old from Hong Kong- reveals her perception of the plight of a girl
trafficked to be a sex slave through a haunting song that she wrote….

“I
don’t know where to go now,  I am so far
away from home

I had a dream and its
farther away from me than it has ever been

We’ve got to stop this…Please help me"

Almost 2 months have passed since I had the
privilege to attend CSW 55 in New York City. Once again I was drawn to attend
sessions about girls and sessions about violence against women and girls-
particularly when spoken from the voices of young women. The unvarnished truth
is that violence against girls is real and worldwide. Further- girls often
don’t trust that adults will protect them, or believe them. The voices of the
many girls that I heard speak both haunt and exhilarate me.  Girls feel both trapped and empowered- often
depending on the influences and spaces they have been afforded them based on
their experiences.

A quick look at world wide studies reveal
these findings:

• 50 % of all children think that violence
  against children is their biggest issue when asked
• 50% of all children asked think that sexual
  abuse of children is the second priority
• 80% didn’t seek help- they didn’t think
  they had the right, that they would be believed they didn’t think that the
  authorities would believe them

The conclusions from these studies reveal
that no program or solution will work if children don’t trust the people
implementing the program.

As a “former young woman and current young
girl in my heart” I clutched some of the solutions that I heard from young
women as windows into the dark world that face too many girls.

Our young women friends from WAGGGS
revealed a wide array of projects they have implemented around the world
helping girls to build self confidence, reject stereotypes, be assertive, and
be change agents in their own lives. 
Girls from Salvation Army showed how they use the arts and media to be
venues for girls to express their voice. How exciting it also was to hear from
young women from many groups including YWCA and ISIS how technology can be used
as a vehicle of “good” as well as bad. One of the great anti bullying projects
that was shared was called the “I Don’t Forward Violence”. www.takebackthetech.net  – putting personal responsibility on each girl
to be part of the solution!

So many messages were revealed from these
girls- messages of challenge and opportunity for Soroptimists and society to
support and foster opportunities for girls to claim their space, find their
voice, be empowered to develop sustainable solutions for their lives.

Girls told us what they need:

• Positive role models
• An opportunity to develop high
  self esteem
•  Need to reject stereotypes in
  order to be resilient to negative pressures

Agencies working with girls said:

• We need to find ways to support
  initiatives of girls
• Make spaces that are girl
  friendly
• Help girls gain leadership
  skills and express their voices in new ways
• Be their consultant but let
  them do their own work and have their own spaces

The challenge that most spoke to me was from an amazing advocate for
girls from the Salvation Army: “You all
can be moved. You have a sphere of influence. If you go back to your homes and
don’t use your power and influence you are misusing your freedoms.”

This is a clarion call to all of us to build these partnerships with girls and programs supporting girls.  If we envision a future where red hat societies, mean girls, cyber bullying, girls viewed as shopping, breast enhancing airhead meant only for decoration and procreation are a thing of the past, we have to be part of the NEW definition of women in society.  Our new long term project theme of education and leadership leads us perfectly into this work and I am really excited to see the creative, innovate ways that Soroptimists worldwide develop for Girls to Make and Claim their Spaces!