International Day of the Girl: Get to Know Three of the Emerging Leaders Transforming Girls’ Futures Across East Africa
Today, on International Day of the Girl Child, we’re celebrating the power and potential of adolescent girls everywhere. Around the world, adolescent girls are pushing boundaries, challenging the status quo, and leading the charge for a more just and equitable future.
That’s why we’re excited to offer a sneak peak of our Emerging Leaders for Change Program first cohort launch. At the end of October, we’ll be unveiling the full 30-person East Africa cohort. But today, we’re thrilled to introduce you to three of these remarkable young activists: Clara Benjamin (she/her), 24, from Tanzania; Eden Alem (she/her), 28, from the Tigray Region in Ethiopia; and Miriam Mwau (she/her), 15, from Kenya. These young leaders are working to address some of the most pressing challenges facing adolescent girls today, from the impacts of conflict and climate change on girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) to breaking down barriers to education.
In this Q&A, they reflect on what fuels their activism, the barriers they’ve overcome, and their vision for a world where adolescent girls’ voices are heard — and listened to — and their rights are protected. Each of them has a unique story, but they are united by a common goal: ensuring every girl has the freedom to make decisions about her own body and future and to exercise her rights without fear or discrimination.
Their journeys remind us that adolescence is a critical window of opportunity. When girls have the right tools and resources, they can fully harness their power and drive lasting progress on gender equality. Keep reading to learn how these emerging leaders are shaping a future where every girl is seen, heard, and able to lead the change they envision for themselves and their communities.
Question: Can you share a little about your background and what led you to apply for the Emerging Leaders Program? How do you hope your advocacy work will influence your community?
Clara: I am a passionate climate and gender equality advocate from Tanzania, deeply committed to advancing SRHR and gender equality within the context of climate action. I leverage my academic background in Environmental Science and Management to drive my advocacy efforts, addressing both environmental and gender-related challenges. While implementing various environmental projects at the local, national, and global levels, I realized how climate change, while global in its effects, disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, especially adolescent girls and women. This underscores the need for resilience through the protection of bodily autonomy and access to climate-resilient health systems. Through my work, I have engaged directly with adolescent girls to understand their challenges and have trained them to become agents of change.
I applied for the Emerging Leaders Program to further amplify my advocacy, gain knowledge from global changemakers, and contribute to meaningful policy changes that can positively impact my community and beyond. I aim to raise awareness and push for policy changes that ensure girls and women have access to SRHR, climate-resilient health systems, and the resources they need to thrive and to inspire more girls to raise their voices for issues affecting them and their communities.
Eden: I am from Tigray, a region that has been at the epicenter of a devastating conflict, disproportionately affecting women and girls through rampant conflict-related sexual violence and the destruction of health systems that left them unable to access sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. While I am a medical doctor by profession, this experience shifted my focus from clinical practice to public health, illuminating the profound suffering that girls and women endure and the power dynamics that exacerbate their situations.
The magnitude of these challenges compelled me to take action. Along with a group of friends, I began volunteering at camps for internally displaced persons, which led us to establish a local NGO called Maedot Aid, specializing in health services. Soon after, I began working with UNFPA, where my focus has been on providing SRH services and addressing gender-based violence (GBV).
I was excited to learn about the Emerging Leaders Program and applied because I see it as an excellent opportunity for personal and professional growth. I hope my advocacy work will empower the girls and women in my community to recover, reintegrate, and pursue a healthy and fulfilling future.
Miriam: I’m Miriam Mwau, a high school student at Starehe Girls Centre. I’m fifteen years old and a member of the Presidential Awards scheme. I also serve on the students’ council as a school prefect. During my school holidays, I mentor young girls at my former primary school, guiding them on menstrual health, leadership, self-awareness, confidence, and effective study techniques. I’m also a talented singer, part of the school choir, and I enjoy hiking.
My advocacy work aims to inspire girls to value education by sharing my experiences of pursuing an education and now having the opportunity to be part of the Emerging Leaders Program at Women Deliver. I hope to encourage parents to send their daughters to school.
“I’ll use this opportunity to speak to parents during primary school meetings and advocate for girls’ education, as they’ll be able to hear directly from me — a girl from their community who is pursuing her education and wants to see other girls succeed.”
Question: In the face of rising anti-rights movements, the climate crisis, ongoing conflicts, and increasing restrictions on girls’, women’s, and gender-diverse people’s SRHR, why is it more important than ever for young people to unite and advocate for their needs?
Clara: As a strong believer in unity and collective efforts, in the face of today’s global challenges, I believe that it is more important than ever for young people to unite and advocate for their needs. Young people are highly, directly affected by these global challenges, especially in vulnerable communities where access to health, basic human rights, and education is often restricted.
For instance, the climate crisis intensifies inequalities, and disproportionately affects marginalized groups — particularly adolescent girls and women — by worsening food security, water, and access to essential health services, which directly affect their well-being. At the same time, increasing restrictions on SRHR further undermine young people’s autonomy and access to basic healthcare, leaving many without the support they need. This threatens their health and future.
These challenges also threaten progress made towards equality. Young people must unite to advocate for inclusive solutions that protect their rights and address the challenges.
“By uniting, young people can form a powerful collective voice and influence policy change, promoting global solidarity.”
It is crucial that young people are at the forefront advocating for inclusive solutions to tackle pressing global challenges, their leadership and collaboration are vital to building a more just and sustainable future for all.
Eden: As the saying goes, “most injustice is not caused by the evil of a few but by the silence of many.” This highlights the crucial role of youth voices in driving change and holding those in power accountable.
Young people bring a fresh perspective and energy that can challenge the status quo. When they come together, they can amplify their voices, raise awareness, and demand action on issues that affect their lives and futures. Silence in the face of injustice allows harmful practices to continue, often sidelining the most vulnerable. We also see youth mobilized for negative causes, drawn into hate and division.
Advocacy is about more than just speaking out; it’s about building a united movement that prioritizes justice, equality, and sustainability. When young people unite, they can challenge the priorities of those in power and assert that their rights and well-being matter. Now is the time for youth to channel their passion and commitment into advocating for a better world where their needs and aspirations are recognized and addressed.
Miriam: It is important for young people to unite because when we raise our voices and share our challenges collectively, it is easier to influence and have other people listen to us and take action. It is also important to unite because we will be able to change the stories for other children and the future generations. By uniting, we can easily influence other young people and the people in authority towards making change. By coming together, we can also be leaders and say no to oppression collectively.
Question: As the Emerging Leaders Program begins, what excites you most about being part of the inaugural cohort? What are you most looking forward to as you embark on this unique opportunity to shape the program’s future and create lasting impact?
Clara: As someone who is passionate about driving solutions, I am incredibly excited to join the Emerging Leaders Program’s inaugural cohort, where I can contribute to creating positive impacts. It’s a great opportunity to be one among many trailblazers who are eager to make a difference in their communities and beyond. I believe that through collaboration, we will amplify our efforts and make a significant impact which will set the stage for program’s future cohorts and inspire long-term, impactful change.
What excites me most is the potential for lasting impact; engaging with global experts and advocates will allow me to improve my advocacy skills and knowledge and develop more effective approaches to tackling pressing issues in my community. The knowledge, skills, and insights gained will enable me to amplify my work on addressing the intersection of climate change, gender equality, and SRHR.
I am also enthusiastic about the opportunity to build a lasting network of peers and mentors who share a commitment to driving social justice. I look forward to collaborating with fellow participants to develop strategies that address the pressing challenges faced by our communities.
Eden: As I embark on the Emerging Leaders Program as part of its inaugural cohort, I am most excited about the opportunity to connect with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and experiences. This exchange will be invaluable in expanding my understanding of SRHR.
I also look forward to networking and building partnerships that can help mobilize resources for initiatives aimed at addressing the needs of girls, women, and youth, amplifying their voices in the process.
In particular, I am eager to raise awareness about the struggles faced by women in conflict situations and to advocate for their protection while working to end impunity. Collaborating with like-minded peers excites me, as together we can create a broader global impact, learn from each other’s experiences, and develop joint and innovative initiatives.
Lastly, I am enthusiastic about the guidance and expertise that the experienced teams at Women Deliver will provide. Their support will be instrumental in shaping our paths and interactions throughout this journey.
Miriam: What excites me most is the opportunity to meet other young leaders, learn about their leadership journeys and the advocacy they are involved in within their communities, and experience new cultures since this is an East African community program. I am looking forward to gaining more confidence, being able to articulate clearly the work I want to do with girls in my community, and, as part of the pioneer cohort, becoming a benchmark for future leaders by advocating passionately to create a lasting impact.
