Sarita, 15, is a Plan International Youth Advocate devoted to doing all she can to end child trafficking in Nepal. “Children are not only the future of our country but they are the present too. When they are trafficked, I fear my country may never be able to develop or flourish.”
After participating in anti-trafficking and child rights training, Sarita began sharing her knowledge with peers in her adolescent girls’ group. But she didn’t stop there. Sarita and her fellow advocates began to lead workshops and awareness-raising events for parents and children in their community, helping them understand the dangers of trafficking and what to do if they are ever targeted.
“Child trafficking is a denial of their rights. That’s why I would like to ask everyone to come together to help stop child tracking,” Sarita explained. “Our country can only develop and flourish to the fullest if child trafficking is stopped.”
Thanks to your support, girls like Novi, 14, are taking charge of their futures! Through Plan International’s Better Life Options and Opportunities Model (BLOOM), girls are learning about their rights, reproductive health, and how to protect themselves against trackers. Young women are also working with community mentors who challenge them to think critically about education, goal setting, and career planning, as well as how to complete job applications and interview professionally.
Novi and her friends plan to finish school and pursue careers before they get married – and their families and communities are solidly behind them. “BLOOM is an important opportunity for us girls,” says Novi. “We get to apply what we’re learning in school to real life… and plan for the future.”
Young women like Seema, 14, are joining together to challenge harmful gender norms, tackle unequal power relations, and create safer cities where girls are able to learn and thrive without fear.
“I got involved with Safer Cities program more than a year ago and have learned a lot about dealing with many of the challenges that I and other girls like me face with regard to safety on a daily basis. I have learned that suffering in silence only makes the suffering worse. I have learned to speak up and have seen that when girls come together they can be stronger and have a more powerful voice”, says Seema.
Outdated books and a lack of resources meant many school libraries in rural China were barely used, and kids rarely read for fun. But thanks to you, Plan International’s Library Information Management Program is breathing new life into libraries by updating materials and recruiting student volunteers.
Youth are learning how to catalog and check out books with kid-friendly software, and making library cards for fellow students to encourage them to read. Teachers are joining in by incorporating reading activities and contests into their lessons.
Fang, a library volunteer, is hooked. She’s discovered a deep love of reading and an exciting new career path too.
“When I grow up,” Fang says, “I want to be a college librarian and develop a great software to help people read more!”
Veasna, 17, is using the dramatic arts to demand change. Along with her fellow Plan International Youth Advocates, Veasna performs plays at community centers and festivals, tackling very serious topics such as the dangers of child trafficking.
Veasna also participates in monthly council meetings, where she raises issues she finds concerning, including girls’ rights and gender equality.
“Together women and men can do so much more,” Veasna says. “I’m convinced that they can lead a village equally well.”
Mosamat, 17, is a Plan International Youth Advocate supporting girls’ rights in Bangladesh. She works with other teens to educate parents, peers, and their greater community on the importance of keeping girls in school.
“We’re helping girls learn instead of being forced to marry by their parents,” says Mosamat. “This way girls in our village can contribute to our community.”
Lan* faces immense pressure from her family to be more “like a girl.” She’s constantly told she should grow out her hair and wear more dresses. She doesn’t think she should have to change who she is. And, she doesn’t think that’s what it should mean to be a girl. “I keep hearing, ‘a girl should act like this’ or ‘a girl should act like that,’” Lan says. “But I am a girl, and I’m different. I like to be outside and play sports, and people always tell me I’m a boy.”
Lan is one of 700 Youth Team Leaders in her school, who raise awareness about bullying and discrimination. The youth club is a part of a Plan International program that works to address the root causes of gender inequality and ensure schools are safe. “Now, in the club, I feel more encouraged to be myself,” Lan says. “I want to become the strongest version of myself.”
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the individual
Jessa, 16, believes all citizens, young and old, deserve to be heard and respected. This is why she is proud to be a member of Plan International’s child-led Social Protection and Monitoring Team.
Along with her peers, Jessa is empowered to not only claim her own rights, but to advocate for the rights of marginalized groups in her community. With guidance from Plan International, the team designed questionnaires to evaluate the effectiveness of social protection programs for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
They learn how to facilitate focus group discussions and to analyze the data they collected. Bringing fresh insights for policy and program improvements to the table, the team presents its findings and recommendations to local government officials.
“As young citizens, it is important that we are involved,” Jessa explains. “Because we too have opinions to express, and we know about the issues.”
