https://www.girlsglobe.org Gender equality, human rights and social justice. Mon, 23 Jun 2025 08:03:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://i0.wp.com/www.girlsglobe.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/girlsglobe_icon_green2-1.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 https://www.girlsglobe.org 32 32 128553070 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/23/yunah-buvmbwe-zimbabwe/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/23/yunah-buvmbwe-zimbabwe/#respond Mon, 23 Jun 2025 08:03:01 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66618 Yunah Buvmbwe is a blogger and a community activist for women's rights. She is also a volunteer for local organizations. 

In this episode, Yunah discusses:

- experiences and observations that motivated her to begin writing poems about girls' rights when she was 12 years old…
- realizing that she could be a voice for girls and women who did not feel that they could speak out…
- what motivates her to continue writing about the challenges women and girls face…
- in college, learning about blogging, attending workshops, and creating her own personal blog, Today’s Truths—My Voice is My Purpose, What’s Yours?…
- writing for the Girls’ Globe platform…
- how reading about other women’s work in their communities helps keep her motivated…
- the importance of working to ensure that government policies are implemented, like the Education Amendment Act in her country…
- how writing helped her overcome shyness and build self-confidence…
- her connection with the women in her community, how their experiences inspire her writing, and the project she initiated to support women in addressing the real issues they face…
- her mother’s role in helping women in the community, too…
- how social media has helped her interact with other woman and see what they are doing in communities globally to advance women’s rights…
- the importance of creating safe spaces for women to share their ideas and their experiences…
- and why we all need to raise critical issues and challenge stereotypes that women face in our own communities.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/23/yunah-buvmbwe-zimbabwe/feed/ 0 66618 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/19/amelia-hruby-social-media-big-tech-and-feminist-organizing/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/19/amelia-hruby-social-media-big-tech-and-feminist-organizing/#respond Thu, 19 Jun 2025 08:07:47 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66614 Amelia Hruby is a feminist writer, podcaster and producer with a PhD in philosophy.

Amelia is the founder of Softer Sounds, a feminist podcast studio for entrepreneurs and creatives. And she’s the host of Off the Grid, a podcast about leaving social media without losing all your clients.

Amelia’s work and podcast has been a help and an inspiration for Julia, who made her own decision to leave social media earlier this year.

In this episode, Amelia Hruby shares her own story of wanting to drive change, challenging structures of power and why she took the decision to leave social media. Julia and Amelia discuss big tech, surveillance capitalism and how to navigate the digital world as a changemaker, who cares deeply about people and planet. They talk about shadowbans and persecution of human rights defenders, and how to organize off of social media.

Amelia Hruby leaves us with great advice and encourages us to make conscious decisions about how we use digital tools.

]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/19/amelia-hruby-social-media-big-tech-and-feminist-organizing/feed/ 0 66614 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/13/dr-blessing-timidi-digha-canada/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/13/dr-blessing-timidi-digha-canada/#respond Fri, 13 Jun 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66592 Dr. Blessing Timidi Digha is a Black woman who identifies as a Feminist and who is also an Advocate, Storyteller and Community-Based Researcher. She brings all of her intersections and ideologies to the work she does on Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights.

Blessing likes to kickstart uncomfortable conversations on issues that concern, affect, and impact girls and women. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in social justice education.

In this episode, Blessing discusses

- the ways people encouraged her to pursue a Masters degree and then a Doctorate, after having first studied engineering in Nigeria because her parents considered it a prestigious profession…
- her choice to study social justice education as her field of study for advanced degrees that complimented her fieldwork experiences…
- the level of openness of knowledgeable professors in Canada who value the diverse field experiences of their students…
- her advice to us all to incorporate what we love into things that we are required to do…
- the importance of honoring the season we are in and of knowing when it is time to let a season go…
- and these words of encouragement: “You can evolve at any time. The only constant is you. As long as you want it, go for it!”]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/13/dr-blessing-timidi-digha-canada/feed/ 0 66592 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/12/francisca-sequeira-surf-therapy-and-girls-mental-wellbeing/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/12/francisca-sequeira-surf-therapy-and-girls-mental-wellbeing/#respond Thu, 12 Jun 2025 06:54:21 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66605 Francisca Sequeira is the founder and president of SOMA (Sufers Proud of African Women), the first surf therapy organization in Africa dedicated exclusively to girls.

Francisca, from Portugal, embarked on a new journey in 2020 during the pandemic. She was experiencing anxiety and panic attacks after losing her job as a flight attendant, and discovered surf therapy—a combination of surfing, mental well-being, and empowerment.

What started as a solo trip of self-discovery turned into a larger movement to support women and girls in the islands of São Tomé and Principe.

The organization’s vision is to create the next generation of independent and self-sustainable women, surfing infinite waves of well-being, opportunities, and equity across Africa.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/12/francisca-sequeira-surf-therapy-and-girls-mental-wellbeing/feed/ 0 66605 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/11/greta-gaza-and-genocide-how-silence-shouts-racism-and-complicity/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/11/greta-gaza-and-genocide-how-silence-shouts-racism-and-complicity/#respond Wed, 11 Jun 2025 17:27:16 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66598 Swedish activist, Greta Thunberg made headlines upon her return to Sweden yesterday after being forcibly detained on international waters by Israel. She was a part of the crew of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla's boat Madleen, which attempted to break Israel's illegal blockade on the occupied Gaza Strip to supply humanitarian aid.

Since the ceasefire collapsed in Gaza, Israeli forces have escalated their attack, killing and injuring tens of thousands of civilians. The UN estimates that over 640,000 have been forcibly displaced, with people confined to an ever-shrinking space.

Israel has previously attacked boats part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and intercepted the Madleen on international waters and detained its crew earlier this week.

Greta explained that she's most worried about the continued development of the crisis in Gaza, the crimes against humanity that we're witnessing and the war crimes that Israel is guilty of. ]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/11/greta-gaza-and-genocide-how-silence-shouts-racism-and-complicity/feed/ 0 66598 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/06/alison-arngrim-usa/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/06/alison-arngrim-usa/#respond Fri, 06 Jun 2025 08:30:37 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66578 Alison Arngrim is an American actress, author, philanthropist, and advocate for the protection of children from abuse, exploitation, and neglect.

At five years old, Alison began her television career and is best known for her portrayal of Nellie Olsen on the NBC television series, "Little House on the Prairie."  

In this episode, Alison discusses

- her experiences of being a child actor and growing up in a family where working in show business was the norm,
- having a slow-down in bookings at eleven years old, prompting her father to tell her that her acting career might be over,
- at twelve years old, being cast as Nellie Olsen in "Little House on the Prairie",
- after years of being famous, doing shows and personal appearances, finding ways to schedule downtime and relax,
- how stardom affects people’s expectations of her in social gatherings,
- beginning her comedy career at fifteen years old, at the height of her popularity on Little House on the Prairie, by writing a comedy act with a group called The Village Idiots and performing in Los Angeles clubs and coffee houses four nights a week,
- beginning to her philanthropic work at twelve years old then, in the 1980s, when the actor Steve Trace went public with his AIDS diagnosis, volunteering to support the AIDS Project Los Angeles,
- in the early 2000s, becoming involved with a newly formed The National Association to Protect Children (protect.org), working with Congress and many States to enact legislation to rescue children, combat child exploitation and human trafficking, support cutting-edge technology, and increase government accountability and transparency,
- going public with her own abuse as a child,
- now serving as President of The Board of Directors of The National Association to Protect Children,
- and encouraging us all to use our strengths and our weaknesses.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/06/alison-arngrim-usa/feed/ 0 66578 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/05/jacqueline-dunkley-bent-midwifery-maternal-health-and-inequality/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/05/jacqueline-dunkley-bent-midwifery-maternal-health-and-inequality/#respond Thu, 05 Jun 2025 08:37:02 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66588 Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE is the Chief Midwife of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). 

Jacqueline has a tremendous career in midwifery clinical practice and leadership. Prior to joining ICM, Jacqueline served as the first Chief Midwifery Officer for the NHS in England and was one of two National Maternity Safety Champions appointed by the Department for Health and Social Care. She is a registered nurse and midwife and holds honorary doctorates from Worcester and Winchester Universities in the UK and a visiting Professorship in Midwifery at Kings College London and London South Bank University.

In this episode, Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent shares some incredible stories from her career in midwifery, including leading national midwifery initiatives during COVID.

Julia and Jacqueline talk about the needs of midwives and the status of maternal health worldwide. They discuss inequality and inequity of care and outcomes for women and mothers between regions and within countries - and the need for data in combination with the stories of women’s lived realities. Jacqueline speaks about her work with ICM and the importance of midwifery leadership through the crises we are witnessing in the world today.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/06/05/jacqueline-dunkley-bent-midwifery-maternal-health-and-inequality/feed/ 0 66588 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/23/danielle-mullings-jamaica/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/23/danielle-mullings-jamaica/#respond Fri, 23 May 2025 11:41:50 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66557 Danielle Mullings is a dynamic young leader and technology enthusiast from Jamaica.

She does a fun mix of tech, youth empowerment, and media, hosting a youth TV show, moderating global science events, and serving on Jamaica’s AI Task Force. Danielle is currently juggling these responsibilities while part-time pursuing her Masters of Science in Translational Health Sciences at Oxford University while also working with regional and international entities. 

In this episode, Danielle discusses

- her commitment to bringing young people together, listening to their experiences and ensuring that their voices are heard.
- leadership roles early in her school and university years.
- incorporating the viewpoints of others in the youth leadership and advocacy space.
- working to increase the number of young people  involved in decision-making forums.
- growing up in a loving and supportive family, and the important life lessons her family taught her.
- being encouraged to pursue roles of increasing scope and responsibilities as a university student, including running for Guild President, leading thousands of students and being the official representative to the university administration, as well as the regional university administration, representing 50,000 students across the Caribbean.
- the role of technology in effectively gathering and using data to understand and communicate the needs of students.
- how her experiences led her to become the host of a youth TV show in Jamaica, showcasing young people, their stories, and their accomplishments.
- the importance of individualized approaches to self-care.
- ways to deal with our own self-criticise.
- the importance of volunteerism and how it can lead to unexpected career opportunities.
- having the courage to apply for roles that may seem out of reach.
- how introducing herself to a Government Minister led to being invited to join Jamaica’s AI Task Force and another government committee.
- the power of a simple compliment in encouraging others, and the reminder to be more positive as we speak with people day-to-day.
- and her advice to young women (and us all) to “shoot for the stars” as we find our voice.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/23/danielle-mullings-jamaica/feed/ 0 66557 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/23/neha-mankani-midwifery-and-the-climate-crisis/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/23/neha-mankani-midwifery-and-the-climate-crisis/#respond Fri, 23 May 2025 11:35:50 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66577 Neha Mankani is a community midwife and global health practitioner from Pakistan with a strong focus on reproductive health and rights in crisis situations, emergency response and climate-affected communities. 

Neha is the Humanitarian and Climate Engagement Advisor at the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and the founder of the Mama Baby Fund; a financial emergency fund for maternal and neonatal healthcare in Pakistan. She has extensive experience in SRHR and maternal and neonatal health clinical practice, programming, and midwifery advocacy both at the local and global levels.

In this episode, Neha shares stories from her work with the coastal communities outside of Karachi, Pakistan and why she stared Mama Baby Fund. As a midwife with the ICM, Julia and Neha talk about how to build resilience in communities affected by the climate crisis and the critical role that midwives have.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/23/neha-mankani-midwifery-and-the-climate-crisis/feed/ 0 66577 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/12/nisha-pahuja-to-kill-a-tiger-the-standwithher-campaign/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/12/nisha-pahuja-to-kill-a-tiger-the-standwithher-campaign/#respond Mon, 12 May 2025 12:08:07 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66556 Nisha Pahuja is the Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind the film To Kill a Tiger.

To Kill a Tiger had its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the Amplify Voices Award for Best Canadian Feature Film. Since then, it’s garnered 29 awards including the Best Documentary Feature, Palm Springs International Film Festival, three Canadian Screen awards and the DGC Allan King Award for Best Documentary Feature, 2023.

"To Kill a Tiger” is a story about Ranjit, a farmer in Jharkhand, who takes on the fight of his life when he demands justice for his 13-year-old daughter, Kiran, the survivor of sexual assault. It is a story of resilience, hope, bravery and a father’s unwavering love for his daughter. The film is available for streaming on Netflix.

In this episode, Julia speaks with Nisha about To Kill a Tiger and the global #StandWithHer campaign. Nisha shares her own story and journey of determination and resilience as a filmmaker and gives us insight into the process of making this film. She also shares what's come next for Kiran and Ranjit.  ]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/12/nisha-pahuja-to-kill-a-tiger-the-standwithher-campaign/feed/ 0 66556