Introducing the 2025 Movement Makers

Across communities around the world, activists and grassroots leaders are working tirelessly to end child marriage. During this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (November 25 - December 10), we celebrated these inspiring Movement Makers who envision a world where girls are free to decide, if, when, and whom to marry.

Each year, 12 million girls are married before their 18th birthday. Child marriage puts girls and women at increased risk of sexual, physical and psychological violence throughout their lives. Ending child marriage is essential to eliminating violence against women and girls, and to ensuring that every girl is free to shape her own future.

Grassroots leaders are challenging harmful norms, supporting girls, advocating for meaningful change, and building national movements to end child marriage. Through our 2025 Movement Building and Advocacy Leadership Programme, we work with grassroots leaders from our national member collectives across Eastern and Southern Africa and South East Asia to support their advocacy to lead change in their communities and countries. Twelve of them shared their journeys in the #MovementMakers video series, and together, they show us that change is possible.

Meet the 2025 cohort of Movement Makers

When the time came for Oluchi to go to university, she challenged norms in her community that said she should get married instead. With her mother’s encouragement, she convinced her father to support her education. Now she’s helping other girls do the same.

She founded Child Shield Initiative, which supports girls to say no to child marriage and to shape their own futures.

After losing his mother, Brian grew up with his grandmother in rural Uganda, where she tried her best to support his education. But when secondary school fees became too high, he nearly dropped out, until a bursary gave him the chance to continue.

Now, Brian is paying that opportunity forward. Through Education and Development Opportunity Uganda, he has established a scholarship fund that has already supported 78 young people — including girls who might otherwise face child marriage.

Suchitra grew up facing menstrual taboos that put girls at greater risk of dropping out of school. She began working with civil society organisations to show that menstruation is natural.  Their advocacy has brought sanitary facilities to many schools, but she knows there’s still more to do.

N️ow, she’s calling on everyone to support comprehensive sexuality education and girls’ education so more girls can participate fully in communities and societies.

For years, Janat’s education was not prioritised, and she didn’t start school until she was eight years old, when a charity offered support. Along the way, she saw countless girls unable to continue school, with families placing little value on girls’ education.

Determined to break this cycle, she became the first girl in her family to graduate and inspired her relatives to recognise the importance of girls’ education. Now she has found her purpose: encouraging girls to break barriers and changing the story for girls in Uganda.

While working as a journalist, Bayano covered stories such as child trafficking and later became involved in gender work. He slowly realised that the role of men was missing from the conversations around gender inequality. Together with Rede HOPEM, and the Girls Not Brides Partnership in Mozambique, he is working with men and boys to challenge toxic masculinity and to be allies in the fight to end child marriage.

After finishing university, Patricia joined a charity in rural Kenya. There, she came face to face with the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), where girls, still children, were treated as adults ready for marriage. She saw how this robbed them of their childhood, their education, and the chance to imagine their futures as teachers, doctors, or leaders.

Patricia committed herself to protect children and end child marriage. She believes meaningful change comes through collaboration and is calling on more organisations to come together to build a world where girls are free to choose if, when, and whom to marry.

As Abigail studied, she noticed how many girls in her community were not attending school. Determined to change this, she pursued a course in social work to speak up for girls and help them realise their full potential.

Today, Abigail works with the Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana, empowering girls and fighting to end child marriage. She believes girls deserve an equal platform to achieve their potential and to shine.

Nelson grew up in Ghana with two sisters in a community where girls’ education was not prioritised. At times, he would go to school while his sisters stayed home because they lacked access to sanitary pads.

Guided by his mother’s words to always carry his sisters along, Nelson founded the Renel Ghana Foundation. Working with the Girls Not Brides national partnership, he is advocating for the removal of the sanitary pad tax, so no girl is left behind.

Zahra’s mother championed her education. For a time, she thought that was the story for all girls, until she felt the absence of her classmates because of marriage. Determined to change this, Zahra challenged stereotypes to show the incredible things girls can achieve when given the opportunity. She founded ICCAO Tanzania, creating a platform and safe space for young people to become voices for change.

Growing up, Elawati felt the weight of gender stereotypes. Girls were expected to take care of the home and were steered away from thinking about ambitious careers. Meanwhile, boys were excused from chores and were encouraged to dream big: to become doctors, engineers, or leaders.

Elawati asked herself: “Why couldn’t girls dream big too?” But she saw women who proved that girls could choose their own paths; women working, climbing mountains, and breaking barriers. They inspired her to take her future into her own hands.

Today, Elawati works with the Girls Not Brides national partnership in Nepal to challenge harmful norms and stereotypes.

In Malawi, Phillip invites us to imagine a world where a girl is eager to learn but unable to go to school because her family cannot afford the fees. For many girls, this is not imagination, but their reality as families often lack the money to pay for education or choose to educate only boys.

He believes educating girls can break the cycle of poverty and dismantle barriers that hold communities back.

Since this interview was filmed, the government of Malawi has announced plans for free secondary school education in public schools for girls and boys. Movement makers like Phillip remind us that together, change is possible.

Growing up, Lilian witnessed young women in her community not being heard and knew something had to change. Her father encouraged her to work hard to achieve her dreams and give back to her community.

Today, Lilian continues to champion girls’ education and leadership, believing that ending child marriage will inspire young women to pursue their dreams and shape their futures.