Hey Changemaker‪!‬ Girls’ Globe

Students across Western nations are taking to the streets and to their universities to demand them to end their complicity in the crimes of Israel and the ongoing genocide. Students are making noise and making waves of change. The student protests that started in the US, have spread across the country and across Europe.
These students have been called anti-semites in the media. They have been called terrorists. The peaceful protests and encampments have been threatened by governments and police. Students are risking their degrees, their scholarships, their privileges, their safety and futures for all the students in Gaza that have nowhere to go.
The student movement is an important one. It is showing us the truth of the reality we live in - and the complicity of governments and institutions that are meant to uphold free speech, education and human rights.
So, I asked students to share their stories and their perspectives. Why are they joining encampments? What are they demanding? What do they hope for?
 

Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury. It leaves a woman incontinent, humiliated, and—all too often—shunned by her community. Surgery is the only cure.
Habiba C. Mohamed, Regional Director of Programs in Africa at Fistula Foundation.
Bwalya Magawa Chomba is the Program Director for Zambia at Fistula Foundation. 
In this episode they each share a story of a girl and woman with fistula that has affected their lives and careers. They also share an important call to action for us all to get engaged to end obstetric fistula. 
Fistula Foundation is a member of Girls' Globe, you can read their stories here.
Learn more about the Girls' Globe memberships and apply here.
 
 
 

Emmanuel Achiri is the Policy and Advocacy Officer at the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) - an expert on migration, policing and security. He holds a doctorate in International Relations with a focus on international law and forced migration.
"Europe fails to acknowledge its history. Europe fails to acknowledge that one of the reasons why we have a lot of instability in the global majority...is because of Europe." - Emmanuel Achiri
This conversation with Emmanuel Achiri focuses on the EU Migration Pact and Europe’s identity crisis.
Emmanuel discusses the contradictions within the Migration Pact, which claims to address structural racism while legitimizing racial profiling and criminalization of migrants. He highlights the crisis of European identity and the failure to acknowledge Europe's historical role in creating instability in other parts of the world.
Emmanuel emphasizes the need for a transformational approach to justice that integrates reparatory justice and addresses issues such as migration and climate change.
The conversation explores the need for a transformational approach to social justice and migration in Europe. It highlights the shortcomings of the EU elections in addressing these issues and the importance of voting for human rights.
The discussion also touches on the erosion of fundamental rights and the rise of anti-rights movements in Europe. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of struggles and the need for global mobilization and hope.
"When Europeans ignore the destruction of fundamental human rights principles, eventually this would move from just migrants to the rest of Europe."
➡️ The European Network Against Racism is asking MEPs to sign the manifesto: A Europe for All.
➡️ Ask your candidates for the European Parliament to pledge here: #EuropeForAll: Dear EU Election Candidates, pledge to support racial justice! - European Network Against Racism (enar-eu.org)
 
In The Deep End
This episode is a part of a new series of the Hey Changemaker! Podcast called In The Deep End.
In this series, Julia Wiklander speaks with experts who will help us understand the world, its systemic issues, and unveil the truth about what equality, rights and justice REALLY mean.
2024 is the year when half of the world’s population will elect their future. More voters than ever have this opportunity. Countries like India, Syria and South Africa - as well as the UK, US and EU - will be going to the polls. Some countries have fair and equal elections, others are postponed because of war and other countries’ outcomes can probably be guessed in advance. This is a major election year and results can have an impact on the world’s future for many years to come. 
Free, fair and democratic elections are an important way for us to create change in our communities in the world. 
The global minority, also known as the global north, has witnessed a surge of right-wing, anti-rights politics during the past decade. It also holds the majority of the world’s financial wealth, while continuing to exploit other countries in the world through capitalist and colonial systems that let them do so with impunity. The global north are also some of the greatest polluters in the world.
In The Deep End episodes will focus on the change and RECKONING that is necessary in the EU, UK and the US - all of which have elections this year. 

Sharon Kathryn D’Agostino is a passionate advocate for the empowerment of women and girls, and for the human rights of all. Sharon founded the story-sharing platform, SayItForward.org, and she hosts monthly Women’s Circles online. She believes in the power of stories to spark our compassion for ourselves and for others, and to recognize that we are all connected.
In this episode, Julia and Sharon discuss the virtual Women's Circles that Sharon hosts and the importance of self-exploration and community. Julia shares her experiences of participating in the circles and Sharon speaks about unfiltered writing and her choice of writing prompts. She also provides a background to the Women's Circles and what they mean to her as well.  
This conversation is an invitation for any woman to join the monthly Women's Circles that Sharon hosts. 
Find out more and connect with Sharon at: 
AwakeningYourTrueSelf.com
SayItForward.org
@SharonDAgostino, @SayItForwardNow and @AwakeningTrue on Twitter

"I strongly feel that the world is like a puzzle. One piece of the puzzle is not important than another."
Mwanahamisi “Mishy” Singano talks about WEDO, the Women's Environment and Development Organization, and what feminist solidarity means to her.
Mishy is the Senior Global Policy Lead at WEDO and an African feminist passionate about fighting structural and intersecting inequalities while contributing to a fairer, more just, equal and sustainable world. Over the last 15 years, she has worked with women’s rights organizations, civil societies and governments in developing strategies, building partnerships, managing programs, and engaging communities towards the promotion and protection of women’s rights and the health of the planet.
This video was recorded in the Girls' Globe Solidarity Studio.
➡️ Join the feminist media movement here: girlsglobe.org/membership
➡️ Listen to more voices of changemakers, hear their personal stories and learn about the issues they care about on the Hey Changemaker! Podcast: girlsglobe.org/changemaker
 

"Women's rights organizations should collectively come up to speak about the issues of all women with disabilities. The fact that we are women with disabilities does not make us lesser women."
Lucy Mulombi shares her call to action in the Girls' Globe Solidarity Studio - a space where activists, advocates, experts and changemakers are invited to share parts of their stories, their calls to action and reminders of what true solidarity is. 
Lucy Mulombi is a grassroots advocate for the rights of women and girls with disabilities. Lucy Mulombi is the chair of one of few organisations of people with disabilities run by women, and chair of Kakamega County Disability Caucus in rural Kenya. Lucy took part in a programme run by the Sightsavers-led coalition Inclusive Futures. She was a part of the Sightsavers delegation at the Women Deliver conference in Kigali from 17-20 July 2023.
➡️ Hear more from Lucy Mulombi here: https://www.girlsglobe.org/2023/07/18...
➡️ Read more about the rights of women and girls with disabilities on Sightsavers member profile on Girls' Globe here: https://www.girlsglobe.org/author/sig...