Wellness – Girls' Globe 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 Wellness – Girls' Globe https://www.girlsglobe.org 32 32 128553070 Francisca Sequeira: Surf Therapy and Girls’ Mental Wellbeing 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.]]>
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Danielle Mullings, Jamaica 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 The Power of Stories Podcast by SayItForward.orgDanielle 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.]]>
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Dr (h.c.) Jen Blackwell BEM and Sue Blackwell, United Kingdom https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/21/dr-h-c-jen-blackwell-bem-and-sue-blackwell-united-kingdom/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/03/21/dr-h-c-jen-blackwell-bem-and-sue-blackwell-united-kingdom/#respond Fri, 21 Mar 2025 07:52:03 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66449 The Power of Stories Podcast by SayItForward.orgAfter 10 years of searching for the right support to enable Jen to follow her dreams, Jen and Sue Blackwell (Daughter and Mum) co-created DanceSyndrome in 2009, where everyone matters and all are encouraged to lead happy, healthy and purposeful lives.

DanceSyndrome is for people with and without Down’s syndrome and other learning disabilities, using inclusive dance as a vehicle in a unique, ground-breaking way which doesn’t exist anywhere else. 

Jen, Sue, and DanceSyndrome are international multi-award-winning leaders of change, disrupting the status quo and challenging perceptions and systems where necessary. They show everyone the art of the possible, whatever label or perceived ability we attach to ourselves or others, by taking one step at a time. Jen was born with Down’s syndrome and says, “With the right support at the right time we can go further and further”

In this special episode you will hear the voices of three women: Jen Blackwell, Sue Blackwell, and Tracey-Jane Hughes, who restated some questions for Jen. Jen and Sue discuss:

- creating DanceSyndrome and their experiences showcasing the performances of this dance company…

- facing and overcoming the bureaucracy and systems that saw Jen as a learning disability instead of as a person…

- the importance of true inclusion rather than tokenistic inclusion to enable everyone to be a leader in their own life…

- Jen’s love of dance throughout her life…

- being honored at Buckingham Palace….

- Jen being appointed Lead Ambassador for Innovation and Entrepreneurship by the High Sheriff of Manchester for her year of tenure in 2018.…

- encouraging all women and girls to speak out and speak up…

- and the importance of creating opportunities for all!]]>
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When confidence takes a hit https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/02/07/when-confidence-takes-a-hit/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2025/02/07/when-confidence-takes-a-hit/#respond Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:46:30 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66340 Episode 66. What do we do when confidence takes a hit? How do we handle feeling like we're not enough in light of all that's going on in the world? How do we get back up and maintain a sustainable level of activism?

With global setbacks in gender equality, human rights, and activism, many changemakers feel drained and question their impact.

In this episode of the Hey Changemaker! Podcast, Julia Wiklander tries to give some answers. She shares her own stories and dives into the struggle of maintaining confidence in uncertain times. 

Julia shares her personal experiences and practical ways to bounce back when self-doubt creeps in. Prioritize yourself. Build community, celebrate small wins, and do what fuels you.

Confidence will take hits, so getting back up and building resilience is necessary if we want to build a better world.]]>
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Margaret Akullo – Uganda, United Kingdom, Austria https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/09/27/margaret-akullo-uganda-united-kingdom-austria/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/09/27/margaret-akullo-uganda-united-kingdom-austria/#respond Fri, 27 Sep 2024 12:21:06 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=66149&preview=true&preview_id=66149 The Power of Stories Podcast by SayItForward.orgMargaret Akullo is a Ugandan born British citizen, a Criminologist and a visionary with ethical leadership qualities.

In her extensive career of three decades in international development she has led diverse teams delivering programmatic change and social impact in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. In 2022, at the age of 55 and after more than three decades of work in various organizations, Margaret retired early from her job in the United Nations to embark on a journey of purpose and self-discovery and to craft her soul-led future career. 

In this episode, Margaret discusses her path to becoming a criminologist and her interest in behavior from a very young age…

- wanting to study law at university but encouraged by her parents to pursue a business degree and continuing on to do marketing…

- starting a job with the Metropolitan Police in London and working there for about 15 years, first in a department dealing with finance…

- how her deep interest in studying behavior eventually led to a position working as a criminal intelligence analyst…

- pursuing a Master's Degree in criminology…

- working as a criminologist in various organizations and in five different roles in the United Nations, and being exposed to many diverse experiences and cultures around the world...

- traveling extensively and living in Thailand, Austria, and Ethiopia…

- the process of deciding to retire early after having an ongoing inner dialogue with herself about her unexpressed potential, and then coaching herself out of the United Nations…

- discussing her article, “Quitting Is Leading, Too” and her empowering leadership decision that led her to “deconstruct” the person she was and beginning a journey of transformation…

- asking herself who she was without her career and aligning with the core of who she truly was…

- taking the bold and courageous decision to quit her job at 55 years old…

- grieving the loss of her career but knowing this was part of her journey to reach her personal transformational goal…

- and this beautiful advice for us all about introspection, “I think it's important to shine the torch inwards as it leads to self-growth.”]]>
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A Pleasure-Based Approach to Activism and Coping With Suffering https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/05/14/a-pleasure-based-approach-to-activism-and-coping-with-suffering/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/05/14/a-pleasure-based-approach-to-activism-and-coping-with-suffering/#respond Tue, 14 May 2024 10:01:31 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=65783&preview=true&preview_id=65783 Everywhere we look, we see reminders of the many tragedies happening in our world. Wars, human rights violations, environmental catastrophes, discrimination, and so much more. In the midst of all of this collective trauma, it can be easy to feel hopeless and helpless. Especially as activists. 

I don’t know about you, but I don’t immediately think about the word “pleasure” when I think about activism. I have experienced a lot of compassion fatigue and burnout in my activism-related work and research over the years. An experience that is all too common in this line of work. It makes sense that pleasure has never felt like a priority, or that it even belonged in my work at all.

Today I see it more clearly: working myself to the point of burnout and hopelessness does nothing to support the causes and people I care about.]]>
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Elisa Gambino, USA https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/05/10/elisa-gambino-usa/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/05/10/elisa-gambino-usa/#respond Fri, 10 May 2024 08:24:09 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=65791&preview=true&preview_id=65791 The Power of Stories Podcast by SayItForward.orgElisa Gambino began her career as a producer in the CNN Rome bureau.  After 15 years of covering conflict and upheavals  for CNN, she together with her partner and husband founded their own production company, One Production Place Films, where they devote their time, energy and talents to sharing stories about how we live in community with each other. 

One of Elisa’s recent projects was the catalyst for the largest environmental justice grant in the state of New York when the governor provided 150 million dollars for the city of Mount Vernon to repair their sewage systems.

In this episode, Elisa discusses:
- her early work as a journalist and how it still shapes her filmmaking…
- her work in the CNN Rome bureau…
- being sent with the team covering the fall of the Berlin Wall and facing the challenges and opportunities of handling new responsibilities as history unfolded…
- continuing to win new assignments in various regions of the world…
- “growing” into being a producer at CNN…
- meeting her husband, who was a cameraman at CNN…
- her experiences seeing communities destroyed because of conflicts that were oftentimes out of their control…
- the important role that the legendary Ingrid Formanek has played in her career, giving her increasing responsibilities and encouragement when they worked together, and encouragement that continues today…
- leaving CNN and deciding to pursue something totally new by opening a successful fresh pasta shop that eventually closed as a result of the economic crisis of 2008…
- with her partner and husband, founding a production company that focuses on community and how we live together…
- approaching documentary filmmaking from the vantage point of being observers rather than being part of the story they are sharing…
- being in a constant state of learning as she covers a wide range of issues in her filmmaking…
- still needed to remind herself to be her own best friend…
- the importance of asking ourselves how we can do better, and then working in community to change what needs to be changed…
- recognizing that we have the power to drive change…
- empowering others by letting them know that their voices matter and that people are listening.  (USA)]]>
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Sharon Kathryn D’Agostino: The Magic of Women’s Circles https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/05/09/sharon-kathryn-dagostino-the-magic-of-womens-circles/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/05/09/sharon-kathryn-dagostino-the-magic-of-womens-circles/#respond Thu, 09 May 2024 08:04:00 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=65787&preview=true&preview_id=65787 Podcast cover image with portrait photo of Sharon Kathryn D'AgostinoSharon Kathryn D’Agostino is a passionate advocate for the empowerment of women and girls, and for the human rights of all.

Sharon founded the story-sharing platform, SayItForward.org, and she hosts monthly Women’s Circles online. She believes in the power of stories to spark our compassion for ourselves and for others, and to recognize that we are all connected.

In this episode, Julia and Sharon discuss the virtual Women's Circles that Sharon hosts and the importance of self-exploration and community. Julia shares her experiences of participating in the circles and Sharon speaks about unfiltered writing and her choice of writing prompts. She also provides a background to the Women's Circles and what they mean to her as well.  

"The number of women who have reached out to me after women's circle, it's just so many women who will say, 'I realized something today that I never would have come up with in journaling.'"
- Sharon Kathryn D'Agostino

This conversation is an invitation for any woman to join the monthly Women's Circles that Sharon hosts. ]]>
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Solidarity Studio: Lucy Mulombi on the rights of women with disabilities https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/04/22/solidarity-studio-lucy-mulombi-on-the-rights-of-women-with-disabilities/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/04/22/solidarity-studio-lucy-mulombi-on-the-rights-of-women-with-disabilities/#respond Mon, 22 Apr 2024 12:51:00 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=65747&preview=true&preview_id=65747 Lucy Mulombi smiling and wearing a yellow and blue dress, the background is black with a pink neon text with the words Solidarity Studio.

"Women's rights organizations should collectively come up to speak about the issues of all women with disabilities. The fact that we are women with disabilities does not make us lesser women."

Lucy Mulombi shares her call to action in the Girls' Globe Solidarity Studio.

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Young People on Breaking the Stigma Around Mental Health https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/02/05/young-people-on-breaking-the-stigma-around-mental-health/ https://www.girlsglobe.org/2024/02/05/young-people-on-breaking-the-stigma-around-mental-health/#respond Mon, 05 Feb 2024 10:59:40 +0000 https://www.girlsglobe.org/?p=65325

One in six young people globally faces mental health challenges, according to the World Health Organization.

And the stigma around mental health limits opportunities for necessary support and treatment.

That's why young people are breaking the stigma around mental health through advocacy, activism and storytelling.

Through the Rising Minds podcast, young people shape conversations on the issues that impact their lives and wellbeing.

"Sometimes merely giving an empathic listening ear to someone experiencing suicidal thoughts can save their lives," says Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie, PhD, Senior Lecturer of Psychology at the University of Ghana.

In a series of deep dive blog posts, Fondation Botnar and Girls' Globe summarise key messages from the speakers of the podcasts.

This post reviews what young people have to say about breaking the stigma around mental health.
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