Youth Advocate; Harriet's Inspiring story
My name is Harriet, and I today speak as a proud member of the VoiceMore youth group supported by Similar Ground.
But before VoiceMore, I lived most of my life in silence.
I wasn’t the kind of girl who spoke in public.
I wasn’t the one who raised her hand, even when I knew the answer.
And I wasn’t the girl who stood up when something unfair happened to me or to someone around me.
I stayed quiet because I thought my voice didn’t matter.
I thought speaking up was for other people older people, confident people, people who were “better” than me.
I watched bullying, discrimination, and hurtful behaviour around me, and even when my heart knew it was wrong, my mouth stayed closed.
Not because I didn’t care, but because I didn’t think my voice carried any power.
Everything changed when I joined VoiceMore.
VoiceMore didn’t just give me a platform it gave me courage.
It showed me that girls and boys can challenge harmful norms.
It taught me that silence can allow violence to continue, but speaking up can protect, heal, and inspire.
In every session, I grew.
I learned how to express myself.
I learned how to listen.
And I learned how to stand for what is right not just for me, but for other girls who feel invisible or unheard.
For the first time in my life, I understood that my voice is not small. It is powerful.
And once I found that voice, I refused to lose it again.
Today, I speak up with confidence.
I speak for myself, for my friends, and for every girl who has ever been told to keep quiet.
Through VoiceMore, I have become a leader not because I shout the loudest, but because I am no longer afraid to speak the truth.
As we launch the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, my message is simple:
When girls find their voices, communities find their strength.
When young people speak out, violence loses its power.
And when we stand together, we create a future where everyone is safe, respected, and heard.