Putting young people in the foreground is not just symbolic, it changes the way decisions are made. At the recent intergenerational dialogues around ‘Budgeting for the Future’, adolescent girl advocate Elijoy Wanjiru from Kenya stood at the heart of the Graça Machel Trust’s work, speaking as a girl who lives with the consequences of public budgets every day.
While the Trust’ team Juliet Kimotho, Advocy Manager and Dalree de Lange, Senior Programme Officer for the Pan African Adolescent Girls’ Movement helped create space in the room and linked the conversations to broader advocacy, it was Elijoy who carried the message from girls on the ground. She spoke about what it means when schools, clinics and protection services are underfunded, and reminded leaders that budgeting is about “the safety, dignity and chances each child has in life,” not only about numbers on a page.
Juliet used her speaking slot at the 46th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) to reinforce this message.
“In my remarks, I reminded leaders that children shouldn’t just be talked about in reports – they should be in the room, sharing their views and shaping decisions that affect them,” Juliet said. “If we want budgets and policies that work, we must make space for children, including adolescent girls, to speak for themselves.”
Elijoy then presented the 4th Annual Jubilee Outcome Statement, written entirely by adolescent girls from across the continent. Her words helped shift the conversation from talking about young people to listening with them, showing what true intergenerational partnership can look like when adults stand alongside girls rather than in front of them.
Another key highlight of the Lesotho convening was watching Elijoy share what the ACRWC has meant in her own life during the 27th CSO Forum and the African Union Children’s Symposium. She spoke about being a beneficiary of Kenya’s free primary education policy and named it as one of the most meaningful achievements for children’s rights in her country. She concluded with a clear call to AU leaders, governments, CSOs, parents and duty bearers: provide safety, mentorship and a real seat at the table for children across Africa.
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