Raising Her Voice: How Young Voices of Africa Celebrated Women's Power Across the Continent

YVA ambassador from Togo was a guest speaker at a women’s event.

There are few things more powerful than a woman who knows her worth. And even more powerful still—a community that sees it too. From March 1st to March 8th, 2023, Young Voices of Africa (YVA) brought together voices, visions, and victories in a week-long celebration of International Women’s Day across the African continent.

This wasn’t just a celebration; it was a movement. It was a loud, beautiful declaration that African women and girls are not just participants in the story; they are authors of their own future.

From the bustling schools of Sierra Leone and Togo to the hopeful communities of South Sudan, our youth-led teams took to classrooms and community spaces, igniting conversations around gender equality, justice, and empowerment. Educational school tours raised awareness of the struggles women face and the remarkable courage they carry every day.

Throughout the week, our platforms pulsed with energy as we shared powerful video messages from girls and women, and supportive men's voices spoke of challenge, strength, and change. And on March 8th, the streets of Panlap Town, Makeni, came alive with joy, unity, and colour during our Women’s Parade, followed by vibrant cultural activities, thoughtful consultations, quizzes, gift-giving, and music. It was Africa in celebration of her daughters.

But perhaps one of the most powerful moments was the debut of "Mires of an African Woman," a youth-created audio drama produced by our YVA Sierra Leone Ambassadors under the “Talent into Action” project. Supported by Creativity & Change and funded by Irish Aid, the drama honoured the legacy of Madam Ella Koblo-Gulama, a fearless leader, the first female cabinet minister in sub-Saharan Africa, and a trailblazer for women’s rights. Her story, voiced by the youth, was not just history; it was a mirror of what’s possible.

This year’s celebration reminded us that empowerment is not a gift; it is a right. And when we invest in the voices of African women and girls, we don’t just create strong individuals—we build stronger nations.

Thanks to our partners like KAMM Artistic Europe and the tireless work of our ambassadors and community leaders, the 2023 International Women’s Day event was more than successful—it was transformational.

At Young Voices of Africa, we believe in a continent where no girl is silenced, no woman is invisible, and every voice, especially hers, matters. This is not just a dream. With each project, each story shared, and each hand held in sisterhood, we are making it real.

Africa is rich—not only in land and culture but also in the boundless spirit of its women.

And their time? Is now.