I first discovered Girl Up in 2020 when I applied for the WiSci Morocco Camp. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the camp was held online, but it was still a life-changing experience. I was surrounded by girls from around the world who were confident, motivated, and unafraid to speak up because they knew their voices mattered. That moment made me realize that if they could take action, so could I. After the camp, we—the Ivorian girls who participated—decided to start a Girl Up club in Côte d’Ivoire. Two years later, on March 8, 2022, our club officially came to life.
The WiSci camp remains the most transformative experience for me because it was the starting point of everything. Before, I often disqualified myself, underestimated my abilities, and thought I had nothing to contribute. But through Girl Up, I learned that I wasn’t less capable than anyone else—the only barrier was in my own mind. From nothing, we have built a space where girls in my community can dream, act, and lead.
Because when one girl rises, the whole world rises with her.
Since then, Girl Up has deeply shaped my goals, my vision, and my sense of purpose. I am currently pursuing a degree in International Economics and training as a Data Analyst, because I believe STEM is also a space for girls. Girl Up’s values taught me that leadership is not about me alone, but about empowering others. My ultimate goal is that no Ivorian girl—no matter her background—will ever disqualify herself. In ten years, I want to see thousands of girls leading projects and breaking barriers in spaces where women were once told they didn’t belong.
One of the projects I am proud of is the creation and growth of our Girl Up club in Côte d’Ivoire, which has become a platform for girls to learn, lead, and inspire each other. The fact that I now receive messages from girls saying, “Ehoura, I don’t have confidence in myself, please help me,” shows me the responsibility I carry. My mother, who worked tirelessly in the fields despite not finishing her education, showed me by her example that leadership means sacrifice and service. Today, I want to offer other girls what I once lacked—a safe space, opportunities, and encouragement to rise.
Through Girl Up, I also redefined what feminism means to me. It’s not a fight against another gender, but first a belief in oneself and the refusal to wait for external validation. Equity, justice, and leadership mean recognizing the opportunities we’ve been given and making sure to pass them on to others. Because when one girl rises, the whole world rises with her.
For me, leadership today means knowing myself—my strengths and weaknesses—and using them to inspire, motivate, and serve others. We are not leaders for ourselves, but for others, especially in a world full of challenges that require collective solutions.
Looking ahead, my hope for the next 15 years of Girl Up is that the movement will grow stronger in francophone Africa. Currently, our region is underrepresented, and there is little follow-up compared to other parts of the world. With friends from Burkina Faso and Guinea, I am working to establish more clubs in West Africa so that more girls can benefit from the opportunities that changed my life.
If I could give advice to my younger self, I would say: don’t regret your story, because it is your strength. Stop limiting yourself and complaining about your situation—there are others with far fewer opportunities. Believe in yourself, because your voice matters. You have something to contribute, and one day, other girls will look at your journey—from a simple village girl to the founder of a Girl Up club—and find the courage to chase their own dreams.
