Since the outbreak of COVID-19 children in the Middle East and North Africa region have been living in various stages of lock-down. As children and particularly girls stay home, their voices are even harder to be heard than before and we know that when girls’ voices are not included in decision-making across all levels, they can be left behind. This campaign looks to support girls to speak up and defend their rights under COVID-19 lockdowns, to raise awareness amongst girls and with the wider public on girls’ rights, their dreams for the future, and the challenges they face; and to contribute to commitments for girls by targeting decision-makers at key campaign moments in 2020.
We asked children in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon what change they want to see for girls in their communities, and this is what they told us. Using story-telling art workshops, children came up with recommendations and key messages for change. You can see some of their recommendations and artwork below, as well as our storybook “We Can!”, inspired by their dreams and recommendations for the future. Read We Can! in English or Arabic.
What's the dream between your eyes? Join the conversation on social by using the hashtag #DreamsBetweenMyEyes.
‘What I think about myself and how the men in my life can support me’
Her: I have a strong will and I will achieve my ambitions in life.
Him: I’m always standing by my sister, I trust her always.
‘What I think about myself and how the men in my life can support me’
Her: I am strong, ambitious, able, smart, compassionate, a good friend and undefeatable.
Him: I am with you.
‘My Idol’
I love to be myself.
I am my own idol.
I am proud of myself and very very confident.
‘My Idol’
My idol is Billie Eillish, who despite having Tourette’s Syndrome insisted to peruse her dream.
‘My Superhero would be…’
Authorities to protect the girl from early marriage and continue her life.
‘My Superhero would be…’
To imprison the guilty.
'My hopes for the future…’
- The hope of excelling in my education.
- I dream about becoming a pharmacist.
- Giving children all their rights in life.
- For children to live with their parents.
- For children to live away from wars.
- Giving women their full rights.
- To not steal chances from children and rob their parents from them.
‘My hopes for the future…’
- I wish for ignorance to end.
- I wish that my community would be more aware than before.
- I wish to continue my education, and for every girl to reach her dream and strive for it.
- I wish to be successful in my life but through my own efforts, work, and perseverance.
- I wish that every girl in my community and every other community a happy and safe life.
- I wish that everything would be available to girls and everyone around me to have everything that they might need.
- I wish for everyone a safe environment, and great manners, and for all their wishes to come true.
- I wish stability and safety to all girls.
‘My dreams for girls around the world…’
Starting from the left:
- To end child marriage (a child does not raise a child) - all governments of the world stop early marriage.
- Obligate parents to pay a fee when they force their children out of school- issue a law to penalize any parent who takes their child out of school.
In the globe:
- To end harassment in the world.
- To end child labour around the world.
- For parents not to discriminate between their children males or females (to parents).
On the right:
- To not kidnap children - to all countries and it is a child’s right.
- Not to discriminate.
- Preserve women’s rights - to create a set of laws based on punishing anyone who mistreats women.
‘What I think about myself and how the men in my life can support me’
Her: I am strong, I am beautiful
‘What I think about myself and how the men in my life can support me’
You are the strongest, and you are exceptional, they want to change you because they know you are better than them.
‘My Superhero would be…’
The green man, Hulk
Superpower: strong
‘My Superhero would be…’
Buzz Lightyear
Flying, strong
‘My hopes for the future…’
We laugh, play, clean, sing, no racism, hold awareness raising speeches, donate things we don’t need anymore, conduct awareness raising meetings on how to deal with the future, education and eradicating illiteracy.
‘My hopes for the future…’
Don’t think on my behalf
Be yourself
Persevere
Achieve your dreams
Keep your hopes with you
Don’t underestimate yourself
No to racism
Don’t stop
Stay calm
Don’t be afraid
Depend on yourself
In front of you, not behind
Life is beautiful
Don’t give up
Explore new things
Live the moment
No matter how hard life gets, it will pass
Be happy
Learn
Be kind
Leave an impression on the world
Cooperate with others
Don’t disappoint
You are free
You have so much ahead of you
Don’t let the past control you
‘My dreams for girls around the world…’
A message to the youth: Try as much as possible to achieve your dreams.
Be strong you can do anything you want
Be happy and reject and mistreatment we are all with you
Keep your hope with you and don’t leave it because your hope and happiness are your life
(In globe):
Respect
Love
Manners
Don’t mind the mistreatment, take care of yourself, think about yourself and your family.
‘What I think about myself and how the men in my life can support me’
I am generous, smart, humble, hardworking, popular, funny, and always energetic
‘My hopes for the future…’
My friends are the most wonderful thing in my life. I love you.
‘My hopes for the future…’
My family won’t allow me to go out to play with my friends or ride the bicycle.
‘My dreams for girls around the world…’
We should always provide protection
Girls have the right to education and they have the right to know how to defend themselves.
‘My dreams for girls around the world…’
Everyone must know that it’s the woman who saves societies. She is half the society, more than that even.
Nobody in this world has the right to limit women’s abilities or to control their decisions
#Yes for equality between women and men.
