By Tatenda Gabi.
In a landmark virtual meeting, Tag a Life International, the convener of Adolescent Girls and Young Women Africa (AGYW Africa), brought together young women from seven African countries Kenya, Eswatini, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to shape the future and amplify their voices. The online conference, themed “Young Women’s Voices in Shaping the Future,” took place on August 20 aimed to increase awareness and understanding of the Summit of the Future (SOTF) and its outcome document, the Pact of the Future (POTF).
The virtual gathering saw passionate discussions and key takeaways, including the crucial role of young women’s participation in decision-making processes for achieving gender equality, inclusivity, and sustainable development. The meeting highlighted the unique challenges faced by African girls and young women, such as Gender-Based Violence, climate change, and limited access to resources.
The attendees emphasized the need for increased investment in education, leadership skills development, access to information, economic empowerment, digital literacy, and social protection. They also stressed the importance of outlining practical measures in the POTF to address these issues and commit resources.
The online conference culminated in a call to action, with plans to develop a collective position paper on pressing issues for African girls and young women to be presented at the Summit of the Future. Tag a Life International will also organize regional and national-level meetings to mobilize young women, amplify their voices, and push for their participation in decision-making processes.
This powerful online connection marked a significant step towards advancing young women’s rights and interests in Africa, and Tag a Life International remains committed to strengthening platforms like AGYW Africa for collective action and solidarity.