From beneficiaries to decision-makers: the power of young girls on the move

Every year on October 11, International Day of the Girl Child, we are reminded that the promises made to girls often remain suspended between ambition and reality. In a world where equality policies abound but struggle to transform daily life, two organizations supported by the Voix EssentiELLEs initiative, the Réseau des Jeunes pour la Promotion de l’Abandon des Mutilations Génitales Féminines et des Mariages d’Enfants (RJPA-MGF-ME) in Senegal and the Groupe de Jeunes Filles et Femmes Autonomes (GJFA-ONG) in Benin offer an inspiring counter-narrative: that of local empowerment, led by girls, for girls.

When girls stop being beneficiaries

In Sédhiou, the facts speak for themselves: a girl is twice as likely to drop out of secondary school as a boy. Behind these statistics lie faces, stories and unfulfilled dreams. In addition to education, there are also the heartbreaking testimonies received by the Youth Network, highlighting in their stories the obstacles they face, especially in terms of female circumcision and early marriage. The Youth Network was born of this urgency, of this desire to no longer leave girls on the sidelines of decisions that concern them.

The main problem that the Youth Network is trying to solve is the fight against excision and child marriage, which constitutes a violation of their fundamental rights. Its members have not only decided to « raise awareness »: they have chosen to transfer power. Girls are encouraged to become ambassadors for the fight against GBV in their schools and communities. They co-facilitate workshops, take part in digital campaigns and design local actions as part of the organization’s advocacy work.

From words to influence

This reversal of approach changed everything. Indeed, with the involvement of young girls, the project is more relevant and anchored in reality. Thanks to their ideas and feedback, the Youth Network has been able to adapt its activities to the real needs of its targets. In addition, the girls’ involvement has led to greater buy-in and mobilization, indirectly reaching potential beneficiaries.

The network has seen the emergence of a generation of young women who are more confident, more vocal, able to dialogue with local authorities and influence the establishment of community listening spaces to prevent harassment. This evolution represents a real transformation in the relationship to power.

A 24-year-old beneficiary, who was raped at the age of 16, recounts how she became « the ambassador for all the girls in her community ».

At the time, she was completely unaware of what to do in the event of rape, or of any referral structures. By taking part in the activities organized by the Youth Network, she was able to acquire valuable knowledge about care and support for survivors. Today, she uses her voice to prevent, support and empower young girls in her community. 

This individual shift, from silent victim to agent of change, illustrates the power of locally-rooted, human-rights-based approaches that value young girls’ own appropriation of challenges and formulation of solutions. Young girls are transformed from mere beneficiaries into agents of change and advocates in defense of their rights. 

Autonomy as an act of influence

On the other side of the continent, in Benin, the Groupe de Jeunes Filles et Femmes Autonomes (GJFA-ONG) demonstrates that economic emancipation and leadership are deeply connected. The organization places young girls at the heart of all its actions, not as beneficiaries, but as co-creators and agents of community change.

They take part in project design, formulate their own priorities for action and decide on the strategies to be adopted on issues as crucial as gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health and local accountability. These participatory spaces have transformed the posture of these girls, who are now able to engage in dialogue with decision-makers.

In the communes of Bopa and Houéyogbé, girls’ advocacy has led to the inclusion of budget lines dedicated to the fight against GBV and the promotion of girls’ health and rights. This is a major step forward, demonstrating that their voice no longer stops at awareness-raising workshops, but is echoed in local public policies.

Young beneficiaries taking part in an advocacy message workshop

The story of Dorcas Megbehou embodies this evolution. Initially a participant in GJFA activities, she was mentored into entrepreneurship in market gardening and animal husbandry to generate income to pursue her studies. Today, she is an independent entrepreneur, mentor and spokesperson for other girls in her commune. Her story sums up the organization’s philosophy: the achievement of financial autonomy as a springboard to political empowerment and legitimacy.

Today, these young girls are no longer content to simply demand their rights, they are negotiating, influencing and redefining the rules of the game within their communities. Their presence at communal meetings, their involvement in GBV/SSRD consultation frameworks, and their local advocacy campaigns bear witness to one thing: female leadership is no longer an abstract concept, but a tangible political reality, being built from the ground up.

Local voices, global debate

What these two organizations show is that lasting transformations come not from global declarations, but from the ability to localize the ambition of women’s leadership to meet the challenges of improving their condition. Global debates on gender equality speak of participation, resilience and economic empowerment. Their application on the ground comes to life when a girl dares to denounce a forced marriage, or when another obtains a microcredit to finance her business.

By integrating girls into design, implementation and advocacy, these initiatives illustrate a change of scale: from an approach « for girls » to one « by girls ». This change, although local, is part of a global reflection on the relocation of power in development. It responds to repeated calls for international aid to be more feminist, more rooted in community dynamics, where local knowledge and priorities dictate solutions.

As we celebrate International Day of the Girl, we must not only remember their rights, but listen to their voices, understand their strategies, and above all, give them a lasting place in the governance of change. Because Africa’s future will not be built for girls, but with them.