Country of Residence
Nigeria
Age
18
Project title
Girls Voice Initiative
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
Girls Voice Initiative empowers girls and young women through mentorship, education, menstrual health awareness, gender-based violence prevention, confidence building, and leadership development, helping them find their voices and become confident leaders in their communities.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
Project Category
My project is a brand new / emerging idea
Project Stage
Idea (We’re hoping to get started in the future)
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
The inspiration behind Girls Voice Initiative comes from my personal experiences as a girl, both in secondary school and now as a university student. I have witnessed girls being teased, embarrassed and harassed by boys simply because they are menstruating. I have experienced this shame myself. There was a time I stained my clothes during my period, and I felt deeply embarrassed, almost as if menstruation were a punishment. I lacked someone to talk to, guide me, mentor me and help me build confidence. My defining “aha” moment came when I saw another female classmate experience the same humiliation as boys laughed at her. I realised that something needed to change. Girls should never be ashamed of menstruation, and boys must understand that it is a natural process deserving of respect. Beyond this, I have also recognised how girls are sometimes denied leadership opportunities and discouraged from taking up positions of responsibility simply because they are female. Many girls grow up without understanding their rights or having the confidence to stand up for them. These experiences inspired me to establish Girls Voice Initiative: a platform where girls can access mentorship, menstrual health education,confidence building, knowledge of their rights, safety awareness and leadership opportunities. I want every girl to know that her voice matters, her gender does not limit her.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
Girls and young women in our communities face challenges that affect their confidence, dignity, safety and opportunities. Menstruation, which is a natural biological process, is still surrounded by stigma and shame. Many girls experience teasing, embarrassment and harassment during their periods, sometimes causing them to lose confidence and feel isolated. Many also lack access to proper menstrual health education, mentorship and supportive spaces where they can ask questions without fear of judgment. Another major problem is gender discrimination. Girls are sometimes discouraged from expressing themselves, taking up leadership positions or participating in decision-making simply because they are female. Many grow up without adequate knowledge of their rights, personal safety and the confidence to speak up when those rights are violated. These challenges do not affect girls alone; they affect families and communities by limiting the potential, participation and contributions of half of the population. When girls are silenced, excluded or made to feel inferior, communities lose future leaders, innovators and change-makers. Girls Voice Initiative seeks to address these challenges by creating opportunities for mentorship, menstrual health awareness, confidence building, rights education, safety awareness and leadership development
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
Girls Voice Initiative will address these challenges through practical, community-based programmes that educate, empower and support girls and young women in Abia State, Nigeria. First, we will organise menstrual health education and awareness sessions for girls and boys to help them understand menstruation as a natural biological process, challenge harmful myths and discourage period-related teasing, stigma and harassment. We want girls to feel confident and unashamed of their bodies. Second, we will create supportive spaces where girls can openly discuss their experiences, ask questions and receive guidance through mentorship from positive female role models. These sessions will also focus on self-esteem, communication, personal development and confidence building. Third, we will provide age-appropriate education on girls' rights, personal safety, gender equality and how to recognise and speak up against discrimination, harassment and abuse. Where necessary, we will help connect girls to appropriate trusted support services. Finally, we will organise leadership and empowerment activities, including workshops, group discussions and speaking opportunities, to encourage girls to express their ideas, participate in decision-making and take up leadership positions without feeling limited by their gender. Through school and community outreach, mentorship and partnerships, Girls Voice Initiative aims to build an environment where girls are informed, confident, protected and empowered to use their voices, understand their rights and shape their futures.
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
Girls Voice Initiative is currently at the idea and development stage, so we have not yet recorded formal programme outcomes. However, the impact we hope to create is meaningful and long-lasting, particularly among girls and young women in Abia State, Nigeria.We envision a future where girls no longer feel ashamed of menstruation, are not mocked or harassed because of their bodies, and have access to the knowledge and support they need to grow with confidence. Through menstrual health education, we hope to challenge harmful beliefs, reduce period-related stigma and encourage boys to treat girls with dignity and respect.We also hope to empower girls to understand their rights, recognise discrimination, speak up against harassment and make informed decisions about their lives. Through mentorship and confidence-building activities, we want girls to discover their abilities, believe in themselves and realise that their gender should never prevent them from becoming leaders. Our intended impact extends beyond individual girls to families, schools and communities. We want to encourage healthier attitudes towards menstruation, gender equality and women's participation in leadership and decision-making. As the initiative grows, we hope to measure our progress through the number of girls and young women reached, mentorship sessions conducted and awareness programmes organised.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
What makes Girls Voice Initiative different is its holistic approach to empowering girls and young women. Rather than focusing on only one challenge, we bring together menstrual health education, confidence building, mentorship, rights awareness, personal safety and leadership development under one initiative. Our approach is rooted in lived experience. Having personally experienced the shame and embarrassment associated with menstruation and witnessed how gender stereotypes limit girls, I understand the importance of creating spaces where girls feel heard, respected and supported. We also believe that empowering girls requires engaging boys and the wider community. Through menstrual health awareness, we aim to educate boys about menstruation, challenge harmful beliefs and promote respect rather than ridicule. We want to move beyond simply telling girls to be confident by equipping them with knowledge, mentorship and practical opportunities to develop that confidence. Another important part of our approach is helping girls understand their rights, recognise discrimination and develop the courage to speak up and participate in leadership and decision-making. By connecting personal development, education, community awareness and leadership, Girls Voice Initiative aims to nurture girls who are not only confident but also informed, empowered and prepared to become agents of positive change.
How many people are on your team?
5
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
I have 5 team members that are behind this idea. The first member - Johnson Rebecca (Me) . The second member- a science teacher that would be responsible for health talks. The third member- a social media manager who would capture each session. The fourth individual - a mentor who would be responsible for mentorship and guidance of the young girls The fifth individual - A researcher
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
Over the next three months, my goal is to move Girls Voice Initiative from an idea into an organised initiative ready to begin making a difference in Abia State, Nigeria. In the first month, I plan to establish the foundation of the initiative by developing its identity, mission, vision and programme structure. I will also work on creating awareness through social media and developing a network of people who believe in empowering girls and young women. In the second month, I hope to connect with schools, community leaders, female professionals, mentors, volunteers and organisations that share our vision. I will seek partnerships and support to help us organise our first awareness and mentorship activities. I also plan to develop age-appropriate educational materials on menstrual health, girls' rights, personal safety, confidence and leadership. In the third month, I aim to begin our first community outreach or awareness programme, create opportunities for girls to interact with mentors and introduce activities that encourage confidence, participation and leadership. I will also seek feedback from participants to understand their needs and improve future programmes. Throughout this process, I will work towards building a committed volunteer network and identifying resources and partnerships that can help Girls Voice Initiative grow sustainably.
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
Girls Voice Initiative is still an idea I am developing, so I have not yet engaged people formally. In the future, I will encourage others to join by starting where girls already are in Abia State. I will visit schools, churches, and community centres to speak directly with girls aged 8-19, parents, teachers, and community leaders about confidence, menstrual health and hygiene, safety from harassment, and leadership. I will use simple, relatable stories, safe conversations, and small group discussions, not lectures, so girls feel heard, comfortable, and free to ask questions and share their experiences openly and safely. I will also recruit and train 10-15 young female volunteers as peer ambassadors to share the message in their schools and neighbourhoods. I will use WhatsApp, Instagram, and community meetings to share flyers, short videos, and testimonies, and to invite people to learn more. I will hold monthly open sessions where new girls can listen, share, and bring a friend along with them. Through trusted teachers, parents, and local leaders, I will build trust and grow a very supportive community together. My goal in the first six months is to engage at least 200 girls, 30 parents and teachers, and 15 volunteers, and to help girls feel confident to speak up, support each other, and lead lasting change in Abia State, Nigeria.
