Nafkot Aschenaki, 24 -- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Millions of girls around the world are unable to go to school. Fortunately for Nafkot Aschenaki, this was not the case. At the age of 24, Nafkot graduated from her local university in Ethiopia with a law degree. Through her amazing achievements, Nafkot paves the way for other girls to follow in her footsteps. She believes that girls not only have the right to education, but they also have the right to live a life free of violence, discrimination and forced marriage. Nafkot is a mentor to Ethiopian girls and calls on all of us to take action to empower girls to become leaders. Nafkot envisions a world where all girls have the opportunity to go to school, become leaders, and achieve their dreams, just as she has done.
Nafkot's Story:
Hello everyone, my name is Nafkot Aschenaki. I am 24 years old and am from Ethiopia. I have been fortunate enough to have my educational rights fulfilled. I graduated from a university with a law degree, and I want all the girls to have the chance that I had. We girls can do it. We girls can lead and make a change for ourselves. Let's start by saying no to early marriages, to discrimination on the grounds of gender. Let's say no to domestic and sexual violence. Let's make sure no girl dies while giving birth. We girls can do it, and we can start by helping one girl, and then we can move to change the world. We can make the world a better place, just girls. Let's empower girls. Let them speak. Let them speak out for themselves. Let us give them the choice to decide what they want to do with their life. Let's not discriminate and Let Girls Lead! Thank you.
Let Girls Lead is building a global movement to empower girls and their allies to lead social change through advocacy, education, economic empowerment, storytelling and strategic partnerships. Let Girls Lead's vision is that girls have the power to transform their own lives, families, communities and the world. Let Girls Lead has improved the education, health, and livelihoods of over teo million girls globally.
Let Girls Lead's Global Girls' Conversation video contest highlights girls' power to create change by sharing their own solutions through short videos. The video contest is an exciting opportunity for girls, organizations working with girls and girls' allies to submit one to two-minute videos capturing girls' solutions and successes. In partnership with The Huffington Post, Let Girls Lead will feature these compelling videos on the Global Girls' Conversation interactive platform and on Huffington Post's Global Motherhood column, sharing girls' power to lead change with a global audience. Contest winners will receive $10,000 in cash, equipment, and training to create their own short films. For more information, please visit here.