What happens when adolescent girls are given space to lead? At the Adolescent Girls Summit (AGS) 2026, the answer was clear: they show up with ideas, courage and solutions.
Bringing together young changemakers from across Africa, the summit created a youth-led space to explore leadership, gender equality, STEAM and sexual and reproductive health and rights while centering girls not as participants alone, but as leaders shaping the agenda.
I learned the importance of believing in myself, not limiting my ambitions despite obstacles, and supporting my African sisters so they can make their voices heard.
— Jamela Kore
Among them were nine Girl Up members from Côte d’Ivoire, who contributed to the summit through co-facilitating sessions on The Power of Adolescent Girls’ Leadership and She Leads in STEAM: Designing Africa’s Future. Through these conversations, they brought youth perspectives, challenged norms and shared visions for a more equitable future.
For many, the experience was also deeply personal, space for learning, connection and renewed purpose.
Seeing young people committed to a common cause was inspiring and showed that our voices matter. Being born a girl is not a limitation, girls can be the change we want to see.
— Ange Marie
From facilitating conversations to building solidarity across borders, Girl Up members showed what youth leadership looks like in action: bold, collaborative and already shaping Africa’s future. AGS 2026 was a powerful reminder that when girls are given the space to lead, they do and Girl Up leaders were proud to be part of shaping that story.
