Voices of Change: Addressing girls' issues on International Day of the Girl Child

In honour of International Day of the Girl Child, the New Heritage Foundation hosted a dialogue at LEAP Maths and Science School in Langa.

The event brought together young voices, gender and social justice advocates, and civil society organisations to shine a spotlight on the pressing issues affecting girls in South Africa and across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

Held in collaboration with Gender Links and several other non-governmental organisations, the dialogue served as a platform for discussion, empowerment, and action under the theme, “Voices of the Girl Child: Reimagining Her Future.”

The conversations centred on sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, period poverty, and the need to include boys in the wider conversation surrounding gender equality.

Chantelle Goliath, CEO of the New Heritage Foundation and a leading advocate against period poverty, explained the significance of the day.

“Girl children face numerous challenges daily, gender-based violence, period poverty, food insecurity, and societal silencing of their dreams and aspirations. Today, we created a safe space where girls could speak for themselves and share the barriers that prevent them from being heard,” she said.

Ms Goliath, who founded the New Heritage Foundation in 2012, emphasised the importance of education on reproductive health for both girls and boys. Her organisation works in schools to destigmatise menstruation and educate youth on bodily autonomy and health.

The event featured young women speakers from the community who shared their stories and called for urgent change. One participant, Mivuyo Nzwane, said being part of the programme empowered her to make a difference.

"Since joining, I’ve become more aware of the challenges girls face, like puberty and menstruation. I now provide sanitary pads to girls in Langa and the Eastern Cape,” she said

Another speaker, Indiphile Mtwazi said: “Girls should empower girls. Society imposes insecurities on us, but confidence begins within. We must stand together and uplift one another."

Bridgetown Imbokodo member, Ahluma Nondinyana, highlighted the violence and inequality many girls still endure.

“We are constantly facing gender-based violence, crime, human trafficking, and inequality. These are not distant issues; they are urgent and must be addressed,” she said.

Importantly, the event also raised concerns about the lack of inclusion of boys in conversations around gender justice. Onikayo Ngwantweni from the Justice Desk Africa’s Youth Ambassador Programme said that boys are often left out of the dialogue.

“In our efforts to empower girls, we sometimes overlook boys. When we talk about teenage pregnancy or gender-based violence, we focus on the girl child alone. But we also need to engage boys and challenge the harmful role models they look up to. We can't address gender-based violence without tackling patriarchy,” she said.

The event's panel featured influential speakers, including Chantelle Goliath, Soraya Mentoor from the Alternative Information and Development Centre, and professional accountant and mentor Lauren King. The session was moderated by Dr Alicia English, a social entrepreneur, journalist, and children’s book author, who guided the powerful discussions with empathy and insight.

Participants called for similar dialogues in other communities, including the active involvement of boys, to create a more inclusive and just society where all children, regardless of gender, can thrive and reimagine a better future.