Dakar, Bamako, N’Djamena — August 7, 2025. Three young women. Three countries. One shared determination. On this day, the Together for Her campaign brought together audiences on the SWEDD Facebook page for “One Voice, One Force” — a youth-led Facebook Live, held in French, and hosted by Mariamar Conon, a dedicated young activist and rising voice in women’s movements across the Sahel, currently serving as a UN Volunteer at the UNFPA Benin office.

For 30 minutes, the session featured open, unfiltered dialogue between Epiphanie Diorang, poet and activist from Chad; Kadidiatou Ba, member of the Young Girls Leaders’ Club in Kolda, Senegal; and Zeinaba Maïga, activist from Mali. The exchange shed light on the challenges of girls’ empowerment, the persistent stereotypes they face, and—most importantly—their victories, won through courage, solidarity, and resilience.

When girls’ voices disrupt traditions

Epiphanie Diorang, President of the Chadian League for Women’s Rights, set the tone by describing the barriers confronting girls in her country:

“The biggest challenge in Chad remains limited access to education, made worse by child marriage and gender-based violence. Too often, a girl is seen as a future wife rather than a student or a professional.”

For her, activism is a natural calling:

“We lead awareness and advocacy campaigns, but most importantly, we create safe spaces for survivors, so they know they are not alone and that they have a voice.”

In Senegal, Girls’ Clubs Are Changing the Game

In Kolda, Senegal, Kadidiatou Ba shared how girls’ clubs are transforming mentalities and fostering resilience:

“Today, the real challenge is not only getting girls into school, but keeping them there. Many drop out because of distance, a lack of adequate toilets, or the burden of early marriage.”

She explained how local initiatives provide new opportunities for girls to thrive:

“With the New Deal pact, we help young girls avoid early pregnancies and stay in school. These small successes — like seeing girls from Kolda represent Senegal internationally — motivate us to keep going every day.”

In Mali, Breaking the Silence on Health and Rights

From Mali, Zeinaba Maïga highlighted the urgency of protecting and informing young girls:

“Child marriage remains very high in Mali. Many girls are married off before 18 and forced to assume adult responsibilities. On top of this come early pregnancies and a lack of reliable information on sexual and reproductive health.”

Despite obstacles, she remains determined:

“Yes, there are moments of discouragement, but I always remind myself why I began: so that tomorrow’s girls will have more choices and freedom than we do today.”

A Generation That Refuses the Status Quo

Moderator Mariamar Conon emphasized the purpose of the Together for Her campaign:

“We launched this campaign to bring women’s and girls’ rights back to the center of our priorities, our conversations, and our policies.”

She concluded with a note of encouragement:

“Bravo for the awareness, the advocacy, and the spaces of support you provide for girls in your communities. You are changing the game.”

With their words, anecdotes, and contagious energy, Epiphanie, Kadidiatou, and Zeinaba proved that activism does not wait for years of experience. Their voices amplify those of thousands of young girls across the Sahel who, every day, choose to learn, to dream, and to fight for a better future.

Because they live these realities themselves, they are best placed to tell their communities and leaders what they want, alongside other young women like them. It is for them — and thanks to them — that SWEDD+ exists.

With this event, SWEDD+ — financed by the World Bank and implemented with UNFPA’s technical assistance — reaffirms its commitment to providing a regional platform for young girls’ voices and to making intergenerational solidarity a driving force for transforming social norms.