Celebrating the Girl Child Through She Creates Change
Honoring 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration
As the world marked the International Day of the Girl Child, it also celebrated 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This global milestone renewed conversations on the rights and opportunities of girls everywhere.
In Kenya, Polycom Girls partnered with Room to Read to honor the power, voice, and potential of every girl. This year’s theme, The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead, encouraged renewed action to help girls become changemakers and leaders in their communities.
Celebrating the Girl Child Through She Creates Change
Storytelling as a Tool for Change
The celebration, held at the Salvation Army in Kibera, highlighted Room to Read’s global project, She Creates Change. The initiative uses storytelling to share the real-life journeys of girls who have faced and overcome immense challenges.
In Kenya, Polycom Girls has localized the project in Kibera and Homa Bay County. Through storytelling, mentorship, and creativity, the organization helps girls find their voices and grow into confident leaders.
Giving Girls a Voice
During the event, Brenda Kalekye, a Board Member at Polycom Girls, said the day celebrates girls’ achievements despite the barriers they face.
“Accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights remains a challenge for many girls in informal settlements. Yet through our programs, we’ve kept hundreds of girls in school by addressing issues around menstruation, education, and dignity,” she explained.
The event included film screenings, sharing circles, and a Siri Ya Mwezi comic session on menstrual health. According to Lavenda Odhiambo, a mentor at Polycom Girls, the initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5 on education and gender equality.
“Through storytelling, we help girls relate, reflect, and rise. They begin to see themselves as leaders and decision-makers,” she said.
Empowering Through Access and Dignity
Esther Musavi, who leads Polycom Girls’s menstrual health program, spoke about the ongoing struggle to access hygiene products. Many girls in informal and rural areas still face significant challenges.
“We work with women who locally make disposable pads for girls. Many of those we support have faced FGM, teenage pregnancy, or early marriage. Through small grants and mentorship, we help them return to school,” she noted.
Mentorship and Leadership Development
Mentorship plays a key role in shaping girls into confident leaders. Lydia Achieng, an adolescent mentor and member of the UNFPA Youth Advisory Panel, said the impact of mentorship is already visible.
“For too long, girls have shied away from leadership. But through mentorship and multimedia programs like She Creates Change, we are seeing transformation. Girls are now taking initiative in schools, communities, and even national forums,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kelvin Ouma, a male champion with Polycom Girls, stressed that gender equality thrives through collaboration.
“This is not a gender fight. Men and boys must work alongside girls to create safe, equitable spaces for everyone,” he said.
In addition, Chris Musonya, a school patron with Polycom Girls, spoke about the Talking Boxes initiative, which allows girls to confidentially report issues affecting them.
“Our quick response teams ensure they receive emotional and practical support so they can stay in school,” he explained.
Celebrating the Girl Child Through She Creates Change
Why This Work Matters
According to UNICEF, over 129 million girls globally are out of school. In Kenya, challenges such as poverty, teenage pregnancy, and lack of menstrual products continue to threaten girls’ education.
In Homa Bay County, about 33 percent of girls aged 15 to 19 are either mothers or expectant. This figure is nearly twice the national average. The teenage fertility rate stands at 178 births per 1,000 girls.
In Kibera, girls in informal settlements are more likely to drop out of school due to poverty and social pressures. Therefore, empowering them through education and mentorship is not optional—it is essential.
Programs like She Creates Change bridge gender and education gaps, nurture leadership, and ensure that no girl is left behind.
Connecting Education and Equality
As the world reflects on three decades since the Beijing Declaration, the link between education and gender equality remains undeniable. Educated girls gain confidence, independence, and decision-making power.
Moreover, when girls are empowered, they uplift their families and communities. Breaking the cycle of poverty and inequality begins with ensuring that every girl has access to education.
The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead
This International Day of the Girl Child, Polycom Girls and Room to Read reaffirmed their commitment to empowering girls as changemakers. By investing in education, leadership, and equality, they are shaping not only the lives of individual girls but also the future of society.
The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead is more than a theme. It is a movement that begins with a story, grows with mentorship, and blossoms into leadership.
Celebrating the Girl Child Through She Creates Change
