Tearing down barriers and building up girls in Guatemala
Seven years ago, Emelin began raising her voice for girls’ education. Today, she sees real progress for girls in her community.
Emelin was just a 10 year-old when she decided that something needed to be done about the fact that only 13% of girls finished secondary school in her rural Guatemalan community. Through Let Girls Lead — Rise Up, she helped to launch a girls’ advocacy and leadership programme in her town to support girls’ access to education and healthcare. Let Girls Lead empowers girl leaders and local organizations to guarantee girls’ rights through girl-centered advocacy.
Since then, Emelin’s voice has been heard across Guatemala, on television and at the UN in New York. Now as she prepares for university, Emelin reflects on the improvements in her town since she began her girls’ education advocacy.
Tell us about the girls’ network you’ve helped to launch in your town.
Emelin: Over seven years ago, I helped launch a girls’ advocacy and leadership project in my town that successfully advocates for policies to improve girls’ health and access to education.
In 2015, the government of Xela — the second biggest city in Guatemala — heard about our work and decided to form a network of girl leaders. These 35 young advocates meet twice a month. They receive local and national recognition for being girl-led and are now invited to decision making spaces as expert consultants. They also created a “School for Parents” training programme to help their parents understand and support the needs of girls. It’s exciting to see that from something that started small, big changes have grown.
What barriers have you personally faced to go to school?
E: In my town, only about 13% of girls finish secondary school and I’ve faced many similar challenges. My family didn’t have the funds to support my studies and didn’t understand why I didn’t just drop out of school and get married.
What changes have you seen in your town since you started speaking out for girls’ education and health?
E: There is more awareness now about girls’ rights and direct support to girls in bad circumstances. The government has also started to involve girls in their projects that impact young people and has authorised the teaching of sexual and reproductive health in local schools.
When you’re not advocating for girls’ education, what do you like to do for fun?
E: I love reading stories and watching videos about other girls who have overcome difficult circumstances. I also like spending time with my family and friends at home.
What are your plans for the future?
E: I want to complete my university studies and have a good career. Right now I’m deciding between studying social work and becoming a journalist. I will continue to advocate for girls no matter which career I choose.
What advice would you give to other girls who are looking to create change in their communities?
E: I would ask girls to focus their leadership on ending violence against girls, fighting early pregnancy and forced marriage, and to empower other girls to make positive change.
If you could ask anyone in the world to join your campaign and help advocate for girls’ education, who would you choose?
E: I wouldn’t actually ask a famous person. Instead, I would find a young girl from my community who doesn’t have the opportunity to continue her studies but who is passionate about finishing school. That way she can share her experience with others to change their perspective.
Like Emelin, Malala Fund believes that girls’ voices are the strongest weapon in the fight for girls’ education. That is why Malala launched her global #GirlPowerTrip to meet with girls around the world and amplify their voices in the fight for girls’ education.
Sign up for updates from Malala Fund to learn more about Malala’s journey and get exclusive updates on where she’s headed next.
Thank you to our partners at Rise Up for facilitating our conversation with Emelin.
