Arlo Parks Instagram – I met Samesther in June in Freetown, Sierra Leone. She’s truly one of the most fiercely entrepreneurial people I’ve ever met – super driven, confident and kind. Samesther told me that it has taken a lot to get to where she is. She faced complex challenges surrounding bullying but recognised her own strength and was able to change her own narrative through advocacy – she is now a UNICEF Sierra Leone Youth Advocate.
Samesther took me to the safe space she now runs for girls – the Girls Advocacy Development Network in Freetown – and introduced me to the young women. We sang, laughed, played games and they told me about their individual journeys and their dreams for the future. The girls share this really special, supportive sisterhood and this network drives real change at a grassroots level. I attended one of Samesther’s workshops, where she is teaching girls to make reusable menstrual pads. The agency and comfort this gives the girls enables them to stay in school and work, opening up their futures and possibilities.
Today is International Day of the Girl, and Samesther encapsulates the spirit of this day in everything she does. Read more about my time in Sierra Leone with @unicef_uk on @service95 today. | Posted on 11/Oct/2024 22:04:40
