A group of 60 girls from KwaZulu Natal Province in South Africa are learning new leadership skills and how to amplify their voices through a program led by Rise Up and local partner SAfAIDS, an organization focused on expanding access to sexual and reproductive health care for adolescents and young people in Southern Africa.
The program began last November and has been dubbed “Phakama Ukhulume,” a Zulu word which means “Rise and Speak,” encouraging the girl leaders to speak out in their communities.
Through Rise Up’s Girls’ Voices Curriculum, the girl leaders have been trained on youth-led advocacy, media advocacy, storytelling, and how to effectively engage local decision-makers. The girl leaders identified social issues and challenges in their communities that they aim to involve policymakers on.
Next, the girls leaders will apply their training to work on the following issues: advocating for youth-friendly health care services, ending period poverty by increasing access to menstrual products and sanitation facilities, creating awareness on substance abuse, and advocating for actions to prevent teenage pregnancy.
We’ll share updates as these South Africa girl leaders progress in their advocacy journeys.