I am Powerful

By Saraswoti Puri, Anita Thapa, Jamuna Karki, Pasang Sherpa, Dolma Sherpa, Salina Basnet, Furwa Sherpa, Muna Tamang at our partner The Small World in Nepal

In every breath, a spark ignites,
within my soul, where power alights.
Through trials faced and battles won,
I stand resilient, a force begun.

In every word, a thunderous roar,
Echoes of strength, forevermore
with courage, coursing through my veins,
I conquer fears, break free from chains.

In every step, a quake beneath.
As mountains move with my belief.
I am the architect of destiny’s flight,
Guiding my path with unwavering might

In every heartbeat, a symphony, 
of resilience, of possibility.
For in my being power resides,
A force unstoppable, where dreams collide. 

I am powerful, a force untamed,
infinite potential, never to be tamed.
With every breath, every pulse, every stride,
I am powerful, I shall never hide.

I am Powerful

By Abigael Mutheu, a student at She’s the First’s partner Savana Kitui

I am powerful, so powerful indeed

I can make choices in my own

I am powerful, so powerful indeed

I can chose what is right and 

wrong I am so powerful

I say No to early marriages,

I am powerful, so powerful indeed

I am powerful because I am made

fearfully and wonderfully made

I can say no to female genital

Mutilation (FGM)

I am powerful, so powerful indeed

Nobody should make choices

for me.

I am powerful, I can make my choices

alone 

I am powerful, so powerful indeed

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Abigael and Mary Mutheu are girls in She’s the First’s partner program Savana Kitui in Kenya. Abby wrote the poem above as a Girl Gazette advocacy activity, and the two of them made this activism poster together.

Education! Education! Education!

By Hellen Kiden Angelo, South Sudan, a student with our partner Caring Hearts Initiative for Community Development

Education! Education! Education!
Education is the key to life
When people look at me,
They see I am different from others
My religion, my colour my blood
They think I am not educated
But I am proud of myself for not giving up
for loving my family
for wanting help my country
and for getting my education

My religion is peaceful, my colour is beautiful
My blood is Somali
My mother pushed me to get my education
Even through when I was young
I thought I was punishment
But now I cherish what I have learned
Knowing that without education I would be lifeless
Education is what make me to be a brave girl
Without education I am nothing

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Hellen’s poem was also published in the September 2024 edition of The Girl Gazette, a biannual publication of artwork, poetry, and essays by girls in the She’s the First partner coalition.

A Force Untamed

By Sushila Giri, 18, Nepal, a student with our partner Shequal Foundation

In every girl, there's a leader inside,
She walks with strength, with grace as her guide.
In her heart, ambition ignites,
Guiding others through the darkest nights.
With wisdom's voice, she leads the way,
In her presence, doubts start to sway.
She doesn't falter, her flame burns bright,
Empowering others, she spreads her light.

In every girl, a force untamed,
In her leadership, the world is reclaimed.
Let's celebrate her strength and might,
She's the beacon shining in the night.
I am powerful, she proudly proclaims,
Leading with courage, she makes her name.
In every girl, this power resides,
With her leadership, the world abides.

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Sushila’s poem was also published in the September 2024 edition of The Girl Gazette, a biannual publication of artwork, poetry, and essays by girls in the She’s the First partner coalition.

I am Wonderfully Made

By Lucy Mutheu, Kenya, Savana Kitui

I am wonderfully made,
I appreciate my body,
I love and respect my body,
Oh! my body my choice.

Seeking for guidance and counseling,
Whenever i am troubled,
Will always help to became a better person,
Oh! my body my choice.

Nobody should touch me,
Nobody should abuse me because of my body,
I will always accept my body
Oh! my body my choice.

---

Lucy’s poem was also published in the September 2024 edition of The Girl Gazette, a biannual publication of artwork, poetry, and essays by girls in the She’s the First partner coalition.

My Body, My Choice

By Yassin Jarju, 15, a student in The Gambia with our partner Starfish International

In a world where choices are made,
my body, my voice will never fade.
For I am a girl, strong and true,
menstruation is a part of me too.

It's a natural cycle, a sign of life,
bringing strength and power
I embrace it with love, for it's a gift,
a reminder of the beauty that my body uplifts,

So let's celebrate the freedom we possess,
to make choices that honor our happiness.
for my body is mine, and I have a voice,
to stand up, to be heard, to make my own choice.

To all the girls out there, remember, you have the power,
to embrace your body, to accept yourself and to love yourself.
Together, we stand, strong and true,
supporting each other, me and you.
With respect and love, we'll always rejoice,
for our bodies are ours, and we have a choice.

In this journey of life, you're in control,
with every decision, let your spirit unfold.

No one else can define who I am,
my body is mine, a precious gem,
I embrace my body, and make all the choices
choices about me, choices about who I am.

I stand tall, with confidence and pride,
in my body, my sanctuary, where I reside.
I make the choices that feel right for me.
for my body is mine, and I am free.

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A quote from Yassin’s poem was also published in the September 2024 edition of The Girl Gazette, a biannual publication of artwork, poetry, and essays by girls in the She’s the First partner coalition.

A Woman Rises

By Punya, 18, India

In shadows cast by doubt and fear,
A woman rises, strong and clear.

Her spirit, fierce, a beacon bright,
Empowered soul, a guiding light.
With every stride, she breaks the chains,
Defies the echoes of old refrains.

In unity, her strength unfolds,
A tapestry of stories told.

No longer bound by biased views,
She paints the world in vibrant hues.
Her voice, a melody of might,
Resounds through every day and night.

In resilience, she finds her grace,
A symphony of strength, embrace.
Empowerment, a flame untamed,

A legacy by her name proclaimed.
Through trials faced and battles won,
A woman's journey's never done.

United, let our voices ring,
In empowerment, together sing.

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Punya is an 18-year-old teen who is driven by a fierce passion through various forms of creative writing, including poetry. Through her dedication to reading, writing, and learning, Punya has cultivated a deep curiosity about the world around her and a desire take a meaningful impact on the society. She was previously published by She’s the First as part of the Power of Poetry campaign.

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Artwork provided by British Library/Unsplash