Celebrating the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child: “The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis”

In this month’s AJANews Newsletter, we pause to honour girls and their vital role in shaping a better future. The International Day of the Girl Child, celebrated on 11 October, offers a moment to recognize their courage, amplify their voices, and reaffirm the global commitment to protecting their rights and dignity.

This year’s theme, “The girl I am, the change I lead – Girls on the frontlines of crisis,” highlights the resilience of girls who continue to drive positive change in their families and communities, even amid poverty, conflict, and social inequality. It calls on everyone to listen to their stories, support their dreams, and create environments where girls can thrive.

Across Africa, many girls still face significant barriers to education, healthcare, and safety due to the combined impact of poverty and gender inequality. According to UNESCO (2025), more than 32 million girls in sub-Saharan Africa remain out of school, often because of economic hardship, early marriage, or displacement caused by conflict and climate change. Poverty not only limits learning opportunities but also increases girls’ vulnerability to exploitation and abuse.

Access to healthcare also remains a challenge. In some regions, limited health education and services heighten the risk of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. The World Health Organization (2024) reports that pregnancy-related complications remain one of the leading causes of death among adolescent girls in Africa. Despite these realities, education continues to be the most powerful tool for transformation—equipping girls with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to shape their futures and uplift their communities.

At AJAN, we remain committed to supporting girls who have left school or face barriers to education, helping them rebuild hope and pursue meaningful livelihoods. Through the Building Resilience in Women and Girls in Africa (BRWGA) programme, AJAN is reaching more than 500 girls, both directly and indirectly, across eight AJAN Centres in four countries; Burkina Faso, Togo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zimbabwe. The initiative equips young women and girls with practical skills and knowledge to become self-reliant, informed, and active contributors to their societies.

Investing in girls’ empowerment is not only an act of justice, it is a pathway to holistic and integral human development that benefits everyone. Together, let us continue building a future where every girl can dream boldly, realise her potential, and take her rightful place as a leader in her community.

Inside this issue, AJAN proudly celebrates the outstanding young voices who emerged as winners of the AHAPPY Storytelling Youth Contest 2025, also read about the inspiring visit of Mr. Chris Lowney, Board Director of CommonSpirit Health and author of Heroic Leadership, to the AJAN Secretariat in Nairobi. The encounter opened new pathways for collaboration and strengthened AJAN’s commitment to Ignatian-inspired leadership across its network.

Discover how the Jesuit Urumuri Centre (JUC) continues to address the intertwined challenges of poverty, environmental degradation, and malnutrition through its school environmental conservation programme, which includes planting fruit trees. Learn more about the Youth Empowerment for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship Programme, a transformative initiative that equips young people not only with technical and business skills but also with the moral and social values needed to build sustainable livelihoods.

In a month dedicated to celebrating the girl child, Saint Joseph Development Programmes in Kangemi, Kenya, created space for boys’ holistic development. Saint Joseph Technical Senior School came alive with an atmosphere of reflection, honesty, and brotherhood during its inspiring Boys’ Forum under the theme “Own Your Story.”

By, Dennis Owuoche,

AJAN Communications Officer.