

Girl Rising Fellows

Projects for Girls, By Girls
The Girl Rising Fellowship is an 18-month programme for a global cohort of girls aged 14-22, representing 6 continents. It provides a foundation of leadership, activism, and organizing skills that they can draw from for the rest of their lives.
If you’re a girl, you can take action right now with them — below, you can interact with the projects our Fellows have created for girls in their communities and worldwide, all inspired by the Global Girls' Bill of Rights.
Do you have your own ideas for advancing girls’ rights, but aren’t sure how to take the first steps? Apply for our next Fellowship cohort. Watch this space for application announcements.

...girls' right to safety from violence
Safiya Speaks Up follows a young girl as she learns to distinguish between uncomfortable and safe interactions in her community. She comes to understand safe and unsafe touch and identifies three trusted adults she can turn to. The accompanying Mentor’s Guide offers context, guidance, and resources to help adults support girls in understanding Safiya’s story and applying the tools she uses.

...girls' right to protection from harmful cultural positions
A 16-year-old Fellow partnered with Msichana Empowerment Kuria to hear directly from girls affected by FGM, who’ve become activists for themselves and other girls. She created a viewing guide for a Chapter or a Mentor to use when screening the conversation with girls.
Watch the video here
Download Chapter Viewing guide Download the Mentor guide.

...girls' pursuit of leadership positions
HERizon Fest was a girl-led conference held in April 2025 that empowered girls and young women to step into leadership roles and gain confidence. The sessions break stereotypes and show that girls belong in the rooms where decisions are made.
View recordings here!
![[HERizon+Fest]+web_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/54bef0_f667e08d830c44dab708075955a04910~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_404,h_293,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_avif,quality_auto/%5BHERizon%2BFest%5D%2Bweb_edited.jpg)
...using poetry to challenge barriers like bias and exploitation
Fellows created the Power of Poetry campaign to amplify girls' voices about this issue for National Poetry Month and the Global Week of Action for Education.
Girls aged 11 to 22 from Afghanistan, India, Guatemala, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, South Sudan, the U.K., and the U.S. submitted their work.
Be inspired to use your voice for change!

girls' right to education about their bodies
Beyond Bleeding shares sisterly insights and advice on menstrual health and period experiences. It was designed for girls who have little to no Internet access, but it is a valuable tool for any girl. The zine can be considered a sister resource to our existing My Period Diary.
![[BEYOND+BLEEDING]+Zine+Pages+Preview+(16](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/54bef0_34407ff1d2b04b11a45d1c03ee63eb41~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_404,h_293,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/%5BBEYOND%2BBLEEDING%5D%2BZine%2BPages%2BPreview%2B(16.png)
...using art to advocate for your right to comprehensive sexual education
Fellows Produced Pop-Up Gallery Shows with the theme “My Body, My Choice.” For International Day of the Girl, girls from around the world created art to express their right to comprehensive sexual education and access to free, quality reproductive healthcare. Many of these girls come from communities where it is taboo to even talk about sex; making artwork in support of their reproductive rights is a radical act in itself. Be inspired to use your art for change.

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Meet the 2026 Girl Rising Fellows

Adrienne became a Girl Rising Fellow because she wants to use storytelling to speak up for girls in rural communities who don’t always get a chance to be heard. She dreams of creating work that inspires girls to stay in school and believe in their power. When she’s not studying, Adrienne enjoys reading, playing football, and taking photos of everyday life around her.

Adrienne
Uganda

Alia became a Girl Rising Fellow because she believes education is a lifelong tool that empowers women of all ages, and she wants to help make it accessible to every woman. She is studying Chemical Engineering with aspirations in sustainable aerospace and clean-tech innovation.

Alia
UAE

Girl Rising is thrilled to have Asyl as part of the Fellowship programme!

Asyl
Kyrgyzstan

Christabel became a Girl Rising Fellow because she is passionate about empowering girls and creating supportive spaces for women to be seen, heard, and uplifted. She is an emerging cybersecurity professional and community builder, blending technology, storytelling, and advocacy. She hopes to amplify impact-driven projects like Dear Belle and champion opportunities for young girls across Africa.

Christabel
Mauritius

Fatima became a Girl Rising Fellow because she is committed to advancing educational access and gender equality for girls. As co-leader of afriCAN, a youth-led nonprofit supporting girls’ schooling in Sierra Leone, she works to remove financial and cultural barriers that keep girls out of the classroom. She hopes to continue amplifying girls’ voices and advocating for their rights through a career in law.

Fatima
USA
