Witnessing the passion, creativity and resilience that girls bring to the conversation of education policy

"When we step into our power, we become unstoppable, and I'm forever grateful to have walked this path with such incredible women by my side." (Photo courtesy of Meti)

Meti writes about how co-designing Girls’ Vision for Education helped her realise the definition of collective power and reaffirmed her belief that girls’ voices must be at the forefront of global education policy.

Tomorrow is International Day of the Girl, a day recognising the power of girls’ collective voice on issues that matter most to them. Education is one of the most pressing issues for girls today.

Have you ever wondered when the decision-makers in the education sector were last in a classroom? Let alone in one of our schools? Or have you ever wondered how many of these decision-makers come from the places we live, look like us or are even women? How many understand the unique contexts of girls and young women aside from seeing us as statistics? I think all the answers to these questions are answered in the education systems we see in all of our countries.

My name is Meti T. Gemechu, one of the co-leads — along with Dr. Ayesha Kareem and Tamilore Omojola for the Girls’ Vision for Education. This initiative is not just a project; it's part of a movement to place the voices of girls and young women at the forefront of global education reform.

“I’ve seen firsthand the passion, creativity and resilience that girls bring to the table when they’re engaged in a way that is meaningful and thought out.”

— Meti

Girls' Vision for Education is about imagining a world where girls and young women are not faced with barriers to education; a world focused on solutions tailored to their unique circumstances. Too often, girls are sidelined in conversations about their future, despite being the ones most directly affected by the decisions made. We firmly believe that girls are the experts in their own lives. They know best what they need to thrive, and it’s time we all listened.

We asked nearly 800 girls from 30 different countries to share their insights, dreams and realities with us. We heard their voices, their stories and their visions for what education should be. This was a chance to truly understand what it would mean for girls if education reflected their specific needs.

I remember how nervous we all were during our first official meeting, the gravity of what we were about to take up was finally setting in. The wins and disappointments were always present.

But I wouldn’t change a thing, my co-leads are the definition of sisterhood forged by shared purpose, resilience and an unwavering belief in our collective power.

This journey taught me that when we step into our power, we become unstoppable, and I'm forever grateful to have walked this path with such incredible women by my side. For me, working on this has been an incredibly humbling experience. I’ve seen firsthand the passion, creativity and resilience that girls bring to the table when they’re engaged in a way that is meaningful and thought out. This project has reaffirmed my belief that when we learn to meet girls where they are and empower them meaningfully, we empower entire communities.

Together, we can create education systems that truly reflect the needs and aspirations of every girl no matter where she is, her education should not depend on a system that constantly fails to ensure that she has all the resources to complete her education successfully and make informed decisions for herself.  

This is more than just a call to action; it’s a call to leadership. Let’s build the future of education together, one that is considerate of every girl, and it starts with YOU.

Co-led by young women leaders and Malala Fund, the Girls’ Vision project seeks to reimagine secondary education to better meet the needs, wants and ambitions of girls. The consultation has now concluded and we expect to share the findings and recommendations early next year.