Adolescents: Collaborating for Change

For the longest time, I have reflected on the best way to engage adolescents and support them in leading the change that we collectively desire (they and everyone else who advocates for adolescents’ issues and gender equality).

The West Africa Adolescent Girls Summit was the perfect opportunity to see the power of adolescent voices in action. The Summit, which held from the 26th to the 29th of March, brought together adolescent girls and boys between the ages of 11 and 18, young people and adults from nine West African countries [1]; as well as young people and adults working with adolescents from a further four African countries [2], the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Reflections from the Summit

From the day of arrival, the Summit was a beehive of activity. For the many adolescent attendees who have lived in closed communities for almost all their lives, this was an opportunity to visit a new country. They took pictures, made videos, and explored the hotel, some boldly making their presence felt, others sat quietly, observing. All in all, the excitement was unmistakable.

Much to my delight, the energy only grew day by day as this group of adolescents led each day’s agenda on ending discriminatory practices towards girls.

5 things I learned

1. Adolescents are fearless

Yes, they are fearless. As someone in the development sector, leading conversations on gender equality in a traditional, conservative African country and across communities, I have come to learn that to remain in this sector, one must understand and use context-specific language. This includes finding alternatives to language that might get ‘us’ as advocates thrown out of the room. For instance, while working to address child marriage in one of the very traditional communities, we couldn’t use the direct term, ‘ending child marriage’, and had to talk about other things, including access to and completion of education; and empowerment for girls instead.

On the contrary, these adolescents at the WA AGS said it as it was, sharing experiences and boldly speaking about the issues that they and other adolescents in the region face. They talked openly about Female Genital Mutilation, Child Marriage, as well as the roles community and political leaders have played in perpetrating these harmful practices. One adolescent asked,

In Liberia, there is the customary law which promotes child marriage and then the national law which prohibits child marriage, why has the government not done anything to harmonise these laws?

Adolescent at WA AGS 2024

2. Adolescents are Changemakers

They have the best ideas on what works to address discriminatory practices that affect them. As I sat and listened to ideas from adolescent girls and boys, I reflected on why donors and international organisations are not providing grants to adolescents to lead community-based actions to address discriminatory practices. They can reach their peers so they understand each other better.

‘...we know the issues that other adolescents like us face, and so we are best placed to advocate on these issues to the relevant stakeholders.’

Adolescent at WA AGS 2024

Therefore it is recommended that there should be greater interest (by donors and international organisations) in flexible funding for adolescents and young people to lead community based action to address discriminatory practices.

3. Adolescents are Excellent Collaborators

Although the Summit was tagged the ‘Adolescent Girls Summit’, the Summit had a few adolescent boys in attendance. And the support from the boys, ‘opor’ [3]. This support resonated from one session to the other, from one group discussion to the other. One adolescent boy, popularly called Professor, Ambassador, Doctor... said,

‘Boys need to stop contributing to the discrimination that girls face, instead we need to work with them to address these issues’.

Adolescent at WA AGS 2024

4. AGS and Mental Health

One of the key sessions of the Summit was a mental health conversation. These conversations centred around self-awareness for adolescents as well as the mental pressure that they often face with advocating for and resisting discriminatory practices towards themselves and their peers. Adolescents openly shared how often because of economic pressures on their families, they are tasked with taking up menial jobs, engaging in trade, or taking up the responsibilities to provide for themselves and their other siblings, often without emotional and mental support. So, the question is, as we recognise the power, opportunity, and courage of adolescents to lead change, how are we ensuring that they are safe, mentally and emotionally?

5. Adolescents have the energy to sustain momentum.

As the Summit went from Day 1 to Day 4, the energy and commitment only grew. We, the adults in the room, were no match. Their voices were as loud on Day 4 as they were on Day 1, their passion as visible, their enthusiasm unquenchable. Everyone wanted to speak, everyone had a great idea, and each one knew that they had the power within, and the power to address and end discriminatory practices towards girls and women.

Recommendations:

As the Summit ended, these bold, courageous, fearless adolescents and young people had several recommendations for the different stakeholders, with whom they have the power to change the tide of social practices.