Leadership Institute for Girls

Dear Petunia, It’s been a little over 15 years since you celebrated your 15 th birthday. You may not remember much of your teen years as you made a vow to block most of that out. You always felt left behind and never wanted to be part of anything.   You had serious issues with your body and as result had a very low self-esteem.   You covered well your low self-esteem with your loud squeaky voice, always seeking attention.   You were most of the time misunderstood and a laughing stock of your peers.   You never talked about your emotions to anyone.   You never cried at  least not in public.   You never complained.   You will not even tell anyone if you were sick. You had inquisitive mind and always asking questions.   You always said the wrong things at wrong time.   You never wanted to upset anyone but you were always in trouble with the ‘law’. You got easily lost in a good story book. Reading for long hours made you the hap...

As I journey into and through this dream of reaching out to girls in my community – I realize it’s a huge dream.   This dream involves real issues, real people and real life – it’s that big. Some days I am more than ready to dive in and reach out in every possible ways.   And, some days I am really petrified – the kind that leaves you paralysed. Today, I had an honour and privilege to meet with one of the girls am intending to mentor.  Her name is Alinah and she is the sweetest girl.  We laughed and talked like we’ve known each other for a very long time. The next thing I know, she starts crying, right in the middle of our conversation.  Prior to our meeting I expected anything to happen but I did not expect her to get emotionally overwhelmed.  It was our first meeting and we had ice cream and talked about school. Without going into details of Alinah’s emotional reaction, once again, I’m convinced that we can be the change we wish to see in the world....

The more I think about my dream of reaching out and making a difference – the more I realise every single step counts.  A journey of thousands miles begins with a single step.  On my own I won’t change the world but I can do one thing to make it better for me and for you. It is indeed true – we cannot change everything but each one of us can change something.  What if we all did one thing that burns deep into our hearts. I’m convinced that each and every one of us has a dream. When I worked for my local newspaper as a photojournalist – one winter morning I sit outside few blocks from my office.  I was outside in the cold for few hours having a chat with two street kids. These two boys shared with me their dreams; chances of them achieving those dreams are very slim.  Regardless of their circumstances they still had dreams to become medical doctors.  I walked away that day and to this day I still believe each and every one of us has a dre...

By Adriana Alvarenga At the Rio+20 Conference on sustainable development, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake asked the world to consider what equity can do for development and children. RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, 25 June 2012 – Throughout Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development held last week in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake argued that a development model that leaves behind millions of the poorest children is both wrong in principle and unsustainable in practice.  “A recent IMF staff discussion note shows that as societies become more equitable, economic growth is more sustainable over time,” said Mr. Lake, speaking on Wednesday at the ‘Sustainable Development in an Unequal World’ side event. “If we can increase vaccinations so that fewer children die of diseases we know how to prevent, if we can provide more micronutrients so that young brains and young bodies grow strong,...

  [What is on my heart right now for the girl child programme - song by Nicole Brit ]  Set The World On Fire I wanna set the world on fire Until it's burning bright for You It's everything that I desire Can I be the one You use? I, I am small but You, You are big enough I, I am weak but You, You are strong enough to Take my dreams Come and give them wings Lord with You Nothing I can not do Nothing I cannot do I wanna feed the hungry children And reach across the farthest land And tell the broken there is healing And mercy in the Father's hands Take my dreams Come and give them wings Lord with You Nothing I cannot do Nothing I cannot do My hands my feet My everything My life, my love Lord, use me I wanna set the world on fire I wanna set the world on fire, yeah Take my dreams Come and give them wings Lord with You Nothing I cannot do Take my dreams Come and give them wings Lord with You There's nothing I can't d...

The more I think about what Mahatma Gandhi  once said " Be the change you wish to see in the world" the more excited I become. It excites me immensely that beyond my wish and dream I can BE the change in my world. My wish list is long. And at the same time my only wish is to BE the change. I recently had the privilege to interact via the cyberspace with three remarkable individuals. This encounter led me to wish even more and strive to see the change. I cannot wait a day longer to REACH out to the girls and let them KNOW they are VALUED. My dream with this project is to mentor young girls and let them DREAM beyond their villages. Until then I'll never stop wishing to BE the change in my world. Source

I’ve been looking forward to reading Half the Sky ever since I read the reviews . A year later am having a chat with one of my lecturers when she quickly scan through her bookshelf; and handed me the book “ Half the Sky ”. I was so thrilled to finally hold the book in my hands. It took me over three months to read [there were long pauses in between].   A very slow and intense read – I must have cried and cringed with every story.   So many touching, heartbreaking stories and yet filled with pure hope.   Half the Sky for me it’s about hope and the power we have to change the world for better. Like Mahatma Gandhi rightly said “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”   It goes without saying, after reading this book I feel even more compelled to be the change I wish to see in my world. I wish to see women be empowered in every possible way.   I wish to see girls go to school and receive the best education. I wish to s...