was founded in by the UN Foundation in 2010 to support United Nations programs that help give adolescent girls the opportunity to educated, healthy, safe and positioned to become the next generation of leaders. In the last ten years, Girl Up has impacted over 250,000 girls. It now has over 4,000 clubs in 125 countries and all 50 US states, which focus on these key areas:
- Fighting for Gender Equality.
- Educating Girls, Advancing a Nation
- Working to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence
- Inspiring a Generation of STEMinists
- Leveling the Playing Field in Sports
African Girls Can participated in the Girl Up Virtual Leadership Summit, “We Need to Talk,” July 13-15, 2020. There were 30,000 people registered for the online event from 152 countries and there was a line-up of superstar speakers. Here are some of our main learnings from Day 1.
The event opened with a video recorded by Michelle Obama. She spoke of the COVID-19 crisis as it relates to girls being left behind. According to the Malala Foundation, an additional 10 million girls could remain out of school due to the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic is actually an opportunity to “build back better.”
Session: Telling (Her)story
Exposure to female role models can reap so many rewards and benefits. Girls have been trying to make a more equitable world for everyone for generations. Listen to young voices of the past (African American, Native, Asian) – their long histories have made changes on American history, take lessons from how they organized.
Session: This is (Not) a Man’s World
Melissa Kilby, Executive Director, Girl Up
A leader is someone who can grow, evolve, and adapt. Be your own authentic self. Encourage sisterhood and lift up other girls. Once you see yourself as a leader, no one can take that away from you.
Session: Girls with Dreams Become Women with Vision
Dr. Tererai Trent, author and humanitarian, Zimbabwe (Oprah Winfrey has been a big supporter of her foundation)
Your dreams will have more meaning when they are connected to giving back to your community. Surround yourself with those who believe in you and your dreams and who see the champion in you. Never let victimhood define you. You are a part of the solution. When you rise, you allow others to rise. Leave the world a better place than you found it. As women, we have the power to change the world.
Session: Mental Health is Public Health
You only need empathy in order to make a contribution. Language plays a big role in the stigma of mental health around the world. There are no actual words for “mental health” in many languages, there is only a word for “crazy.” Unfortunately, schools worldwide do not teach well-being, healthy relationships, finances, or entrepreneurship.
Jameela Jamil, actress and activist
Every minute spent thinking about your appearance is a minute not spent on self-growth. We must defend ourselves the way you defend a friend. Be kind to yourself – be your own best friend. Unfollow, mute, delete!
