By Nursema Aydn | Fundraising Officer
We organize “Empowering Girls” sessions with your donations. Meet Berivan* who is a participant of these workshops we organize with girls that work or under risk of working as child labor and that have difficulties accessing basic rights and services. Berivan is 15 years old.
What do you discuss at Empowering Girls Program?
We attended for two days a week for two months. Everybody was very respectful towards each other. And nobody was saying the ‘you are wrong’ to another. On the second day we initially felt at somewhere safe; then we drew the places we were living and determined the safe areas and persons in this place. I was not aware that there were that many places I could apply at when there was something. But now I know and I tell my friends.
Afterwards we talked about our feelings. Until then nobody asked me ‘how do you feel?’
What did Empowering Girls Program change in your life?
I started to feel stronger after this program. These activities made me discover myself. Now I am a strong girl who knows what she wants. Also, I know whom should I request support from.
Now whatever I am curious about I tell someone I trust, for example my mother. In the beginning my mother was shy but now we chat.
Sometimes I may disagree with my mother. I discuss information I learn with my mother. I try to make her think and change her opinions. And sometimes she tells my father the things we discuss. This program had such a nice impact on my life.
Would you like to give a message to girls and grown-ups from here?
I would like to tell girls and all women in the World this: We have the power to do anything we want. There might be obstacles but they are there to be overcame. We must sound braver and more confident. If we combine our forces as girls, we can be heard and change things. If girls are empowered they can empower their mothers, sisters, and the other women in their lives. Women can change men. If women are empowered, the society is empowered.
*The beneficiary’s name is changed to protect her personal rights.
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