In Kalangba, a rural community in Sierra Leone, many adolescent girls face limited opportunities after completing secondary school. Isha S. Kanu, an 18-year old girl, had completed her West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), but like many of her peers, she found herself at home with no access to further education, skills training or employment. With few prospects and no structured …
In the quiet, remote village of Makwie an outreach community to Gbendembu in Sierra Leone 18-year-old Yapo Kanu lived in silence and shame because she had never gone to school. For Yapo, the world of education was foreign and intimidating. She often avoided conversations with her peers who were enrolled in school, feeling inadequate and …
Asha grew up in a community where a girl’s destiny was often predetermined, marriage and motherhood took precedence over education and personal ambition. She, like many others, had big dreams; she aspired to be a nurse, to heal the sick and serve her community. But fate had different plans. I believed that education was my …
Representatives of Member States, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society from all regions of the world will convene in New York for the Commission on the Status of Women and Beijing+30 from 10-21 March 2025. They must commit to funding young people, youth organisations, and movements championing gender equality. The main …
Empowering Young Mothers to Build Sustainable Livelihoods In many communities, teenage pregnancy remains a significant barrier to economic independence and education for young women. Without financial stability or access to resources, many young mothers find themselves trapped in cycles of dependency and poverty. Limited educational opportunities, lack of financial support and societal stigma often make …
“Empowerment comes when we break free from gender stereotypes and support others as equals. Together, we can make a difference.” Prishtina is a 23-year-old Young Leader from Pulchowk, Lalitpur in Nepal. She has worked with Restless Development for over a year on our Youth Take the Lead project. a three-hub country exchange program funded by …