The story of a girl activist - Fiji
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Version 0 of 1. Being a young woman growing up in a rural community in Fiji has always been a challenge. How I view this challenge has changed since I became a part of Roshika Deo – Be the Change, a campaign for equal representation, equal rights and treatment, equal access to basic necessities. Since we women, youth and children represent more than half of the country's population, we believe we have the right to be heard and have a say in everything that concerns us. That is what I am fighting for. In my community girls are seen as fragile and we do not have a say in village meetings. When we speak, we are growled at for speaking up and told to be a "girl" and to sit quietly and listen to elders. Also when a teenage girl is pregnant she is pointed at and not the other party – she is driven out of school while the guy walks about freely. The main challenges faced by girls in my community is that they don't have options or second chances. Once they fail school they have no other option but to stay home and help out with the household chores. Also they are not motivated by their parents. I want to change the mindset of young girls to help them see that they can achieve so much, even after they drop out of school. Their lives do not always have to revolve around their home and domestic duties. I want them to realise that their voice is as important as their elders. <strong>Biggest challenge:</strong> The lack of co-operation from the girls themselves because they adhere more to what they are told rather than what they want. <strong>Proudest moment:</strong> Seeing young men join our group to fight for equality. <strong>This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To get more articles like this direct to your inbox, sign up free to become a member of the Global Development Professionals Network</strong> Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |