I became a Youth Advisory Panel member to share my knowledge and experiences with others. Girl Effect's emphasis on empowering women and girls resonates deeply with me. Through my participation, I’ve witnessed firsthand how the organization creates opportunities for young girls to excel. Inspired by these experiences, I aspire to become a leader who champions health, education, and economic development within my community.

As a youth advisor, I actively participated in workshops and tested the Champions app. I also attended monthly mentorship meetings, where I engaged with fellow youth advisors. These sessions helped me to deepen my understanding of issues affecting women and girls, discover new skills, nurture my leadership skills, and gain a deeper understanding of the importance of education. The training and mentorship I received inspired me to guide young people away from wasting time on unproductive activities and negative influences. Through open dialogue and interaction with others, I learned to navigate challenges and obstacles.

One of the most important things I learned is how to believe in myself and build confidence. I now know that I can achieve things on my own if I believe in myself. I’ve learned that mothers and girls can avoid the HPV virus by getting vaccinated. This protection also helps children from related disabilities. My participation as a youth advisor has not only shaped my understanding of societal dynamics but also instilled in me a strong desire to contribute to the betterment of my community.

My goal is to support and empower future generations of leaders, while also creating opportunities that benefit society as a whole. I envision a future where I can lead with integrity, placing the needs of the people first and overcoming challenges with unwavering determination.

I joined the youth group to become a voice for young girls and to represent the youth. My participation as a Youth Advisory Panel member helped me to learn new things that impacted my life positively and gain practical life skills that I can use in my day-to-day life. From the new knowledge, I gained communication skills and habits, which helped me to be confident in my presentation skills and develop habits that led me to success.

I am a social work graduate with a strong passion for advocacy and community empowerment. Through my involvement with Girl Effect, I have contributed to content creation, script feedback, episode reviews, social media content evaluation, and assessments of products and services. I have actively participated in events, shared insights from a youth perspective, and collaborated with staff on translations and other impactful initiatives.

My journey with Girl Effect has been transformative, enhancing my self-confidence and helping me develop essential skills in communication, report writing, giving presentations, team building, and leadership that enable me to excel in my career and advocate for change. My experiences have sharpened my ability to identify and address pressing societal issues, allowing me to advocate for disability inclusion, meaningful youth participation, climate action, and youth empowerment on various platforms. As a result, I’ve become a champion for the rights of marginalized youth, led a youth-led initiative focused on climate action, and become a volunteer for the Network of Active Youth.

This experience has deepened my understanding of ethics and values, refining my professionalism and shaping my career aspirations. The mentorship, training, and engagement I have received have fueled my passion for driving social change. It has encouraged me to explore my talents in creative writing and project implementation, further solidifying my commitment to making a meaningful impact.

Girl Effect has not only transformed my personal growth and confidence but has also empowered me to inspire my community. It demonstrates that young people and persons with disabilities can lead, advocate, and create meaningful change. My journey is a testament to the power of youth-driven impact, and I am committed to continuing this work to build a more inclusive and empowered society.

I joined the youth panel because I want to initiate and empower youth, especially women. Additionally, I also want to make changes on issues like gender-based violence, early marriage, and employment exploitation. My experience with Girl Effect helped me to understand and overcome gender barriers in society. It also made me stand up for my rights and inspired me to encourage other young women to achieve their aspirations.

What I loved most about my engagement as a youth advisory panel member was how everyone could contribute their ideas, and each idea was valued and appreciated. Among the many projects I was involved in, I particularly enjoyed the human-centered design workshop. It makes me feel that our problems are being solved by our means. I also learned that teamwork is invaluable for problem-solving and decision-making. Participating in Girl Effect has helped me improve my communication skills, teamwork, and professionalism. In addition to the skills I gained, it helps me cover my university expenses, allowing me to pursue a career in dental medicine.

My future ambition is to become a dentist. I want to work on oral health care, which is not given much attention in our country. I believe that my experience from Girl Effect will enable me to serve my community in my profession by educating people about oral health. Through this experience, I’ve learned that I can go beyond myself to serve the community and inspire other young people to achieve their dreams.