Giving a Voice to the Girls of the Future

This after-school girls’ club, made up of primary school students from grades 1 through 7, gives girls a powerful platform to express themselves through singing and dancing. But these aren’t just performances—they’re bold, original creations that tackle the issues these young voices care most about: environmental conservation, equality, child marriage, women’s rights and empowerment. In a community where music and storytelling are woven into daily life, these songs have become a meaningful and culturally accepted way for girls to publicly share their concerns and hopes.

Girls’ clubs like this one were purposefully developed over the past decade, as part of the broader restoration efforts in Gorongosa National Park and with a focus on human development. Back then, the statistics were sobering: While 94% of girls enrolled in primary school, only 11% made it to high school, and nearly 40% were married before turning 18. Today, thanks to the creation of over 50 clubs across the region supporting more than 2,000 girls, early marriage rates have dropped to nearly zero—a powerful testament to what happens when girls are given space, support and a voice.