Through my advocacy for young women to be involved in politics, I realised the issues young girls and young women face are not mutually exclusive; they are interwoven and linked at every turn. For example, a lack of access to quality education or gender-based violence impacts young women’s involvement and leadership in climate change, politics, business and other critical sectors of national development. It also enhances how these young women are seen in international and national development efforts, and whether or not they will be recognised as a critical and powerful force for change.
It is inspiring to witness the increasing number of women entering various fields, such as technology, business, entertainment, and politics. However, it is disheartening to acknowledge that despite this progress, the younger generation of women often faces double discrimination – not only due to their gender but also due to their age. Through my journey, I have engaged powerful young women as co-creators and advocates in eradicating gender-based violence in their university communities; witnessing their passion, dedication, and innovative ideas has shown me their immense capacity to drive long-term, sustainable, and inclusive change.