The 2024 International Day of the Girl campaign once again gives a call for activism on the theme of “Girls’ Vision for the Future.”

I think every little girl in this world aspires to raise her hand saying, “I want to become a doctor so that I can bring a change to society.”

More than anything, “I want to inspire people with my stories when I become a writer one day” – dreaming about herself, which a young girl whose hobbies include writing does.

“People change this world for the better, and I want to be the one who changes and fights for the light. And equality.” – A social activist comment from a quite mature young girl.

The essence of this post is to encourage girls to follow their visions and dreams and strive to make them a reality.

Slightly more complicated, some of the girls’ dreams of a fleeting present denote analogy in nurturing their identity and ambitions as well as subjugating hindrances. These are not mere words to waste in a good way, they have definite paths in the course of her development ration and satisfaction.

If a girl can picture herself as a physician, an intellectual, or an important person in the future, there’s a good possibility that she’s going to one day be that person. The denial and internal conflict over their situation and environment seeped into their pursuits and their why. It allows her to rise above the present situation or circumstance, to aspire for more than what currently is, and pursue a higher standard.

Visions hold power behind them and are equally good sources of inspiration. Irrespective of the problems that may come their way, girls who believe in their visions can be so resilient in trying to overcome those trials. This makes them brave, ready to take risks, challenge themselves, start something new, and refuse to give up on what they wish to have.

Since our visions can give fuel to girls where there are boundaries and boxes, they have the potential to break down decades-old biological roles ascribed to females and propel us forward toward equality. The more girls can envision an enormous encouraging future that will improve the world in a greater sense, the more time they will prove their capacity and effectiveness. As such, it would be difficult to argue that visions are not significant for a girl. Sizes come strapped into the girl anyway and what we cannot resist is the appeal. By encouraging and supporting girls and their visions, we can help them grow up to be the leaders, changers, and creators of tomorrow’s world.

Examples of Girls with Big Visions

1. Malala Yousafzai: A Pakistani activist who defied all odds to advocate for girls’ education. Despite being shot by the Taliban for attending school, Malala continued her fight for equality and became the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

2. Greta Thunberg: A Swedish environmental activist who has inspired millions of young people around the world to take action against climate change. At just 16 years old, Greta became a global figure, leading protests and addressing world leaders about the urgent need to address the climate crisis.

3. Wangari Maathai: A Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who founded the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots initiative that has planted millions of trees across Africa. Wangari Maathai’s work has empowered women and communities to combat deforestation, promote environmental sustainability, and improve livelihoods.

4. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: A Nigerian novelist and feminist writer whose work has explored themes of gender, culture, and identity. Chimamanda Adichie has inspired countless young women to pursue their dreams and challenge societal expectations.

5. Megan Rapinoe: An American soccer player who has broken barriers in sports and advocated for gender equality. Megan Rapinoe has led the U.S. women’s national soccer team to victory in multiple World Cups and has used her platform to speak out against discrimination and inequality.

Empowering Girls for the Future

Education is the basis of girls’ empowerment, which in turn provides them with the knowledge, skills, and self-esteem to be the architects of their future. When we are investing in girls’ education, we are providing them with the means to challenge society’s norms and stereotypes, and to follow their ambitions.

The importance of a mentor or a support group in the way of the girl child’s success is undeniable. Through the help of other people, such as mentors, girls can confidently tackle obstacles and learn about themselves, their talents, and what they want to be. The source of mental and physical support that women, friends, family, and society at large give girls is in overcoming the barriers and becoming successful.

To tackle what obstructs a girl’s lived freedom and imagination like discrimination and negative stereotypes, the energy must be directed onto the obstacles. Hence, if discrimination such as gender superiority and even masculinity among others are fought against inequality – then gender justice prevails together. The social values supporting girls’ rights are contributing to solving the problem of poverty in the world today.

All of us at Her Nexx Chapter wish you a happy International Day of the Girl Child, and we hope you continue to pursue your visions no matter how daring or challenging they may appear.

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