Ei-iE

"I empower my girl students by advocating for their right to education and fighting against the exploitation of girls by their parents or other adults in the community. Child labour is prevalent in my region, which means that many girls don't have access to education from the right age or drop out of school. We show them that without school there can be no better life. We also show them that a child who is exploited for child labour and who doesn't study becomes weak physically, mentally, morally and financially, and will have poor prospects for the future.”

“Speaking about my Indigenous girl students is speaking about dreams, resistance, and literally breaking down the terrible barriers that surround my people. Even without saying it, Indigenous children know the imminent risk they face day after day. As teachers, we must be strong and convey that they can, indeed, stay away from violence, report abuse, and often, abandonment. As educators, we need to listen to these young girls. It is us they look up to. I always try to hold a discussion circle so the girls can talk about what troubles them. I share life experiences so they can understand and recognise that they, too, can succeed.”

“In my classroom, girls argue, debate, emphasise, ‘struggle’, disagree, agree and laugh. The teaching of citizenship is a space creator for students to understand the political world around them. It is women and girls who are the keepers of the future. Without their empowerment our society won’t realise its possibilities. As a teacher, my responsibility is to be a role model, to advocate for their potential and to build the tools they need for their current and future. Girls need their power and my classroom is the space for them to be seen, be heard and to be believed.”

“As a girls’ school graduate, providing an inclusive environment that values and listens to girl’s voices is natural. It is important to encourage the sharing of ideas and ambitions, while providing the guidance to achieve alignment with life goals. Grounding conversations in the authentic experiences of trailblazing women helps girls envision their futures with confidence. I encourage girls to pursue and assume leadership roles by first leading in their own lives. Engagement and mentoring comes through involvement in student governance roles and co-curricular activities leadership. They are given agency to amplify their perspectives collaboratively and respectfully, inspiring the power to reach for wildly impossible dreams.”

“As educators, we empower our female students by encouraging critical reflection on the systems that perpetuate gender inequality. We create safe spaces where they can share their experiences and aspirations, acknowledging their unique challenges while helping them build on their strengths. By teaching the history of women's rights movements in the Philippines and around the world, we inspire them to envision and work toward a future free from gender-based discrimination. We stand with them in their struggles, amplify their voices in our communities, and work together to dismantle the barriers that prevent women from realizing their full potential.”

“As a refugee teacher, I understand the challenges that refugee girls face and which have a long term impact that is social, emotional, psychological, and also economical. The challenges are a result of barriers that limit girls’ participation in decision making about important issues that affect them because they are not empowered through education. Instead, they are subjected to forced early marriage and become a source of wealth and labour for the family. The humiliation brings down their self-worth and self-esteem.

As a teacher I have created a ‘chat room’ where I meet with adolescent girls. They are so passionate about this session because it gives them the opportunity to open up about things that affect them. Alongside other female and male teachers, we bring back hope by sharing testimonies and life experiences to let them know their future holds so much more than what they went through. We invite girls and young women who have broken cultural barriers to come and speak to our students. This has provided a safe space and encouragement for our girls to face life with confidence.”