https://www.girlsglobe.org Gender equality, human rights and social justice. Thu, 12 Jun 2025 07:04:53 +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/2025/06/12/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/2025/06/05/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/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/2025/05/05/protecting-woman-centred-care-in-a-world-of-crises-why-midwives-must-be-at-the-centre/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/05/protecting-woman-centred-care-in-a-world-of-crises-why-midwives-must-be-at-the-centre/#respond Mon, 05 May 2025 09:15:42 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66531 After the initial shock of a crisis — whether caused by conflict, climate change or natural disasters — daily life continues to unfold. Yet even as communities face devastation, life goes on. Pregnancies continue, and women and gender diverse people go into labour and give birth. A moment that should be joyful and safe turns frightening and uncertain, as giving birth becomes far more dangerous and unpredictable. More than half of maternal deaths worldwide occur in fragile and crisis-affected settings, making clear just how deadly these situations can be. 

At the same time, needs rise sharply. The demand for contraception, comprehensive abortion care and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) increases, while access to these services often becomes limited or disappears entirely. Menstrual hygiene becomes harder to manage as products and safe facilities, including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, become scarce. Unintended pregnancies and STIs increase due to the lack of barrier methods and heightened risk of sexual violence.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/05/05/protecting-woman-centred-care-in-a-world-of-crises-why-midwives-must-be-at-the-centre/feed/ 0 66531 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/04/02/from-streets-to-classrooms-in-afghanistan-alis-story/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/04/02/from-streets-to-classrooms-in-afghanistan-alis-story/#respond Wed, 02 Apr 2025 07:47:22 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66472 Ali was only 4 years old when his drug-addicted father left the family. His mother took his sister and disappeared shortly after. Ali was left with his grandmother who washes clothes at peoples homes in order to pay the bills, and his aunt, who begs for bread next to a bakery every day. When we found Ali, he had been selling chewing gum on the streets to earn 30 AFS ($0.34) a day to contribute to family food. 

"Since Ali doesn't have parents anymore," shared his grandmother, "I worried about his future and thought he would become like his father. Now that he is going to school, I am relieved and have much hope for him."]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/04/02/from-streets-to-classrooms-in-afghanistan-alis-story/feed/ 0 66472 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/18/asad-dhunna-diversity-equity-inclusion-in-2025/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/18/asad-dhunna-diversity-equity-inclusion-in-2025/#respond Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:00:45 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66452 What are the impacts of the Trump administration's attack on DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion)? And can consumers really make a difference through boycotts? Is DEI the new woke? Is solidarity political? These are just some of the questions that are discussed in this episode of the Hey Changemaker! Podcast. 

Asad Dhunna is the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of The Unmistakables, an award-winning and B Corp certified consultancy that builds cultural confidence and relevance for some of the world’s most well known brands and businesses.

Asad and Julia speak about diversity, equity and inclusion and its status and role in 2025. They discuss what Trump's attack on DEI means for organizations, companies and individuals - not only in the US, but also in Europe and the rest of the world. Asad shares how The Unmistakables do their work and how their Inside Out Inclusion model works. Asad shares his insights and opinions on the boycott and on citizens ability to keep pushing for policies that are grounded in diversity, equity and inclusion.

This episode also digs into the language we use when talking about diversity, equity and inclusion. Asad and Julia discuss things like “economic growth” as an indicator for success, and about the connotations of the word "solidarity". 

Asad Dhunna shares his own story that brought him to working with DEI and founding The Unmistakables.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/18/asad-dhunna-diversity-equity-inclusion-in-2025/feed/ 0 66452 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/06/1-in-4-countries-worldwide-face-backlash-on-womens-rights-new-un-women-report-shows/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/06/1-in-4-countries-worldwide-face-backlash-on-womens-rights-new-un-women-report-shows/#respond Thu, 06 Mar 2025 12:20:57 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66392 Ahead of the 50th official UN International Women's Day this year, UN Women reports that one in four countries face backlash on women's rights. Gender equality and the rights of women and girls are facing growing threats at unprecedented levels.

In a world where we're seeing the rise of authoritarianism, the power of big tech and AI, we're also witnessing the simultaneous rise of threats against women's and girls' rights.

These threats include higher levels of discrimination, weaker legal protections, less funding for programs and institutions that support and protect women. Global crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate emergency, conflicts and soaring prices, make the urgency to respond to these threats even greater.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/06/1-in-4-countries-worldwide-face-backlash-on-womens-rights-new-un-women-report-shows/feed/ 0 66392 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/05/christine-sayo-kenya/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/05/christine-sayo-kenya/#respond Wed, 05 Mar 2025 11:05:21 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66385 Christine Sayo is a passionate communications specialist and environmentalist from Kenya.

She is a lover of human rights and advocates for the rights of women and girls. Christine has been working in the NGO space for over fifteen years and has a dream to write and produce a TV show about non-profit organizations.  

In this episode, Christine Sayo discusses:

- why she began calling herself an environmentalist when working on her Master’s Degree and working for a non-governmental organization producing a show on environmental issues…
- facing the challenge of breaking down jargon so people can better understand environmental issues…
- for her Master's thesis, focusing on how the media can best communicate about environment issues…
- having her thesis published and being recruited by the environmental movement, Let's Do It! World, to be a representative in Kenya…
- in 2016, launching the non-profit Let's Do It! Kenya …
- hosting the first “cleanup” day in Kenya and having 20,000 people participate…
- the importance of engaging young people to drive change…
- traveling to different countries to discuss environmental challenges and solutions…
- the reminder that “every small step counts”…
- with her colleagues working in other countries, championing the successful effort to have the United Nations declare September 20 as World Cleanup Day…
- discovering that many of the grassroots efforts to conserve the environment were being led by women and young girls…
- working to have these women and girls included in decision-making spaces…
- the importance of mentorship and coaching.]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/05/christine-sayo-kenya/feed/ 0 66385 https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/02/18/for-the-dignity-of-all-supporting-usaid/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/02/18/for-the-dignity-of-all-supporting-usaid/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:13:08 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66354 The image is still vivid: girls, between eleven and fourteen years old, sitting in a circle, waiting. Not for treats, but for notebooks and pens. These girls had been in school, but their families could no longer afford the basic supplies. These materials came from a box stamped with the words, “from the American people.” […]]]> https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/02/18/for-the-dignity-of-all-supporting-usaid/feed/ 0 66354