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16 days of activism

I have a dream

I have a dream! Martin Luther King inspires many people, as well as  the young women and man we work with. How to make your dreams a reality? We empower youth to dream big, influence decision makers and people around them in their household and communities to reduce the obstacles to get an enabling environment. An environment with a save space to express themselves, with gender equality and with decent jobs and income.  Every day, in many parts of the world, women and girls face discrimination, inequality, violence, abuse and are denied opportunities to learn, earn and lead.

Gender-based violence at the workplace, public spaces and at home, keep young women from achieving their dreams. In this regard, 16 days-of-activism against gender-based violence is key time for us to raise awareness and invite people to stand-up and raise their voices for an end to violence against women and girls. 16 Days is an international campaign which runs every year from 25th November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10th December, the Human Rights Day.

  • Nurhaeda: "I have a dream to be a fashion designer"

    It is difficult to find a local bank or cooperative to support my business plan since I don’t have any collateral to guarantee a loan. I definitely need support from Oxfam, such as providing a sewing machine and helping me connect to financial institutions so I can access a loan or even a grant to fund my own boutique. I think another way to make my dream come true is by enhancing the creativity and innovation of my designs, for instance by creating fusion clothes that combine local and modern culture. I get inspiration and explore opportunities in the fashion industry through social media, like Instagram and Facebook. Read my full story here

  • Fatuma: "I have a dream to have my own bus company"

    ‘I am planning to save some money so I can buy a bus and start my own public transport business. Public transport is essential for the welfare of our community. We need to travel a long way for the nearest market, health care and higher education. I don’t know yet if I have the courage to drive the bus myself, but I can always hire a driver!’ You can read my story here.

  • Mukta: "I have a dream to own an electronic sells and service shop"

    My father does not have enough to support me financially. And in my society, there are many restrictions for a woman, especially a young woman like me, to go outside of the home and do a job. I want the kind of job where I can live with honor, gain respect and live a financially secure life. These things are connected by getting a fair wage, workplace safety and security, and acceptance of that work by society. Find out more my story here.

  • Farhana: "I have a dream of empowering girls with life skill education"

    I really want to empower other girls in my community through teaching, especially to expose them to a world beyond the school curriculum, by sharing the knowledge that I got from the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) training. Read more the campaign from Oxfam in Pakistan for 16 days of activism here.

  • Nur Hasanah: "I have a dream to be a teacher"

    I always thought that if I were a boy, I would have the power to speak up and live my life independently, which does not happen easily for girls. But this will not stop me from moving forward and reaching my dream – to become a teacher. One of the reasons I dream of becoming a teacher is my passion for creating new and exciting ways for students to learn in the classroom. Read more my story here.

  • Kediro: "I have a dream to start a health clinic"

    ‘Health is everything and at the base of a happy life in Oromo culture,’ explains Kediro Irreso, who lives in the village of Qararu the Oromia region of Ethiopia. ‘However, we need to travel long distances to receive healthcare.’ This is something Kediro dreams of changing – by one day running his own health clinic. He explains: ‘I am especially interested in diagnosis – identifying diseases by finding the hidden enemy in humans, and of course, prescribing the right medicine… it is really my dream!’ Find out more about my story here.

  • Rupa: "I have a dream to help other girls to be self determined"

    I always think that if I were a boy, things would be so different. Boys do not often have to surrender their life to others, and they have many opportunities to live independently. After getting attached to the EYW project, I felt strong enough to deal with any challenges and learned to live a new life. I am now continuing my studies, and my dream is to help other girls not to rely on the fates that sometimes are determined by the social norms, but instead to find a new way to live a better life. Read my full story here.

  • Sajida: "I have a dream of providing free education to girls"

    Sajida hopes to help other vulnerable young girls faced with forced early marriage by reaching out to their families and influencing them with her own example, and demonstrating the importance of education and how empowering it can be for girls. Find out more about the campaign from Oxfam in Pakistan for 16 days of activism here.