Out of 75% of girls who start school in Africa, only 8% complete their studies. At any one time, around 28 million girls are out of school in Sub-Saharan Africa. Such limited educational opportunities keep girls from securing safe, reliable and rewarding forms of employment, thereby perpetuating chronic poverty across generations. In addition, adolescent girls who experience early and forced marriage, are subjected to gender-based violence, abuse and other social ills.

This year, the Graça Machel Trust will catalyze the unleashing of adolescents’ strength so they can exercise full agency over their lives. This indigenous African movement, led and designed mainly by adolescent girls, will address the societal barriers that impede their holistic development. These adolescent girls, grounded in their African identity and mindful of their inherent capabilities and dignity, will be the drivers of Africa’s social transformation. The Adolescent Girls Movement aims at nurturing adolescent girls between the ages of 15 to 17 years by equipping them with skills, confidence and the agency to affirm their rights and dignity.

“The aim of this campaign is to work with adolescent girls to have them reimagine a better world that is inspired by their own hopes and ambitions.” Mrs Graça Machel.

Watch Graça Machel Call to Action Video

Graça Machel Adolescent Girl’s Movement Call to Action video.