Plan International Malawi CD Kasoga challenges to harbour “scaring dreams”

Country Director for Plan International Malawi, Phoebe Kasoga, has challenged adolescent girls and young women to harbour bigger ambitions, stressing that dreams that do not exceed one’s present capacity are not “big enough.”

Kasoga made the remarks in Lilongwe last week at the girls’ conference. The girls’ conference formed part of the activities and programmes at the Generational Equality International Conference, which took place at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe from Thursday to Saturday.

The girls’ conference focused on feminist movements and leadership with an aim to create a critical mass of young women that can systematically shift their gender campus to favourable parity level across all domains.

In partnership with international and local non-governmental organizations in Malawi, Plan International Malawi brought together dozens of girls from various strata of life.

Speaking to Nyasa Times afterwards, Kasoga said the conference a number of issues, including safeguarding the best interest of the child, the ability to create a safe space for the girls to effectively participate, intergeneration dialogue and counselling distressed girls to improve their mental wellbeing.

Going forward, Kasoga said the feminist movements and leadership organizations would aim at doubling the global annual growth rate of funding from all sectors committed to women-led and feminist led movements and organization by 2026.

“We want to promote, expand, protect, civic space across all domains, including online, and support the efforts of women and feminist human rights defenders and women peacebuilders in all their diversity. We want to defend civic space and eliminate barriers to feminist action, organizing and mobilization,” she said.

Kasoga further disclosed that by 2026, they concerned parties want to increase the meaningful participation, leadership and decision-making power of girl leaders, and of women and feminist leaders in all their diversity.

They also want to advance gender parity in all aspects of public and economic decision making, including the private sector, civil society, international organizations, political and government institutions including executive and legislative positions.

“Furthermore, we want to promote and expand feminist, gender transformative and inclusive laws and policies and dedicate specific, flexible financial, technical, and other resources for adolescent girls and young feminist leaders and their movements and organizations to strengthen them and create safe and inclusive spaces for their meaningful participation in decision-making processes,” narrated Kasoga.

Former President Dr. Joyce Banda led the conference in her capacity as the current Chairperson of Women’s Empowerment and Development (WED) Africa – Asia and Member of the Committee of Elders (comprising of former and seating Female Heads of State) at AU African Women Leaders Network (AWLN).

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