“The power of self-realized young women is immense” – Lakshmi Puri 

Action by young people in their own communities is vital in ridding societies of deeply entrenched ideals, behaviours and perceptions that lead to gender violence. “The cliché is true – young people are our future. We have to listen and reflect on their opinions. They have their own, original thoughts and that is very powerful.” Immediate Past International President, Ann Garvie.
 
Caught between childhood and adulthood, young people are often forgotten when looking at ways to achieve social change. With innovative ideas, enthusiasm and drive, it is a lack of inclusion which stops young people from being heard. Involving youth in community development both helps young people to be empowered, and equips them with skills and knowledge which will be critical for them personally. By putting youth at the centre of change, they can take steps to create the world they want to live in, and feel valued.

  

 

Photo: R4WR – Riding 14,000km for Women’s Rights 

It’s been one year and one month since we first heard from a group
of young women travelling on tandem bicycles from Jakarta to Amsterdam.
Ride for Women’s Rights (R4WR), were cycling 14,000km, crossing 30
countries and now, they are home. These four young graduates, Carlijn
Bettink, Lidewij Ponjee, Sophie van Hoof and Monique van der Veeken,
collectively known as R4WR, have now completed their incredible journey,
and it seemed fitting to ask them to be a part of our 16 days of
Activism, on Day Ten: The Role of Youth.  

We hear from Carlijn Bettink, President of R4WR. Click HERE to read her blog

 

At the height of the troubles in Northern Ireland, SI of Northern Ireland and SI of the Republic of Ireland worked together to create a public speaking competition that crossed borders and united people. The competition continues to this day, and is extrememly effective, giving the opportunity for young people to meet and exchange their views.
 
In August 2013, Immediate Past International President Ann Garvie, made the value of public speaking a global issue for Soroptimist International, when she announced that an international competition should be held. With a range of topics to pick from including ‘Cyber: Friend or Foe?’ and ‘Human Rights and Gender Equality’, participants were able to explore themes in a way that was relevant to them. Their speeches revealed considered perspectives and experiences which often go unheard.
 
“The topic of cyber violence seemed particularly popular,” explains Ann, “many spoke about bullying on the internet and how it’s impossible to escape from it. It’s not like bullying at school where you can go home and forget – it is 24/7. Listening to their experiences really exposed the challenges of being a young person today. One young lady even spoke about violence against women, and brought tears to the audience’s eyes when talking about what she witnessed at home and how disempowered she was. Others talked about how important it was to have the opportunity to speak out and that the competitions helped them to boost the confidence and feel like their opinions mattered.”
 
Giving young people, especially girls and disadvantaged youth, the opportunity to raise their voice is a very powerful thing to do. It shows them they are important, that people will listen and helps them build confidence. These qualities will empower youth for years to come.
 
 

Photo: Alana Hughes, Northern Ireland, Ciara Maguire, Republic of Ireland, Tan Yan Ru, Singapore, Flora Garner, England and Rose Lakoro Pitoi, Papua New Guinea.

At the 20th Soroptimist International Convention, Sunday July 12 began with ‘Public Speaking Lectures and Awards’. Fresh Ideas, Empowering Women was a theme effortlessly demonstrated by five young, vibrant and highly capable women, setting out on their own paths, from different countries across the world.

Invited to speak at the 20th Soroptimist International Convention, this highly inspiring Special Programme, introduced by Maureen Maguire, Chair SI Governance Committee, Northern Ireland, focused on the winners of local public speaking competitions: Flora Garner, England, Ciara Maguire, Republic of Ireland, Tan Yan Ru, Singapore, Rose Lakoro Pitoi, Papua New Guinea and Alana Hughes, Northern Ireland. Speaking passionately on the topic of empowering women and gender equality,  each of the women inspired their audience with their ambition, conviction, knowledge and vision for their own lives and those of women and girls.

Eighteen year old Alana Hughes asked: “How high can a woman fly?” before saying that we should reach for the skies and if we don’t have a runway? Grab a shovel and build one.

Tan Yan Ru suggested that “we shouldn’t be afraid of our voice” and Ciara said women and girls should “be as fearless as the women in the stories you have admired”.

Flora talked of her passion for He For She, and as an aspiring actress, she made it clear that UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson, was a highly influential role model in her life.

 

Photo: Rose Lakora Pitoi

Rose Lakoro Pitoi talked of the stories that inspired her and her dreams and direction, mentioning the importance of advocates for education and Bring Back Our Girls. Rose has since said: "I believe young people can rally their peers and encourage them to break the trend of being ignorant and to start talking openly about issues affecting women and girls in their respective communities. I would tell my fellow peers or maybe just to anyone who is willing to lsiten, to not be afraid of speaking out and to use their voices to help make a difference, in permanently putting an end to violence against women and girls".

 Following the publication of its ‘Hear Our Voices’ report in 2014, Plan International’s thinking began to focus on the clear need to examine adolescent girls’ suggestions for improvements to their lives and how girls themselves would deal with barriers to equality, including the issues of gender violence and early pregnancy.

As part of the research, at total of 4,218 interviews were conducted with girls aged 15-19 across Ecuador (1,000), Nicaragua (1,000), Pakistan (1,018) and Zimbabwe (1,200). A quota approach was adopted, with 15-minute face-to-face interviews being conducted between 23 February and 3 April 2015. View the ‘Girls Speak Out’ report HERE.