Shifting the Narrative

On this International Day of the Girl (IDG) 2024, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the invaluable contributions of youth, especially girls and young women. Over the years, we have learned so much about their contexts, unique experiences, needs, and diverse identities—across gender, sexuality, caste, religion, age, community, and economic background.

Storytelling is not just about recounting events. It’s about standing in one’s power and telling one’s truth. It’s about agency. When young people are either in positions to tell their stories themselves or be actively involved in how that story gets told, they bring a level of nuance and truth that no one else can replicate. It’s their voice, their experiences, and their narrative—exactly as they want it to be heard. 

Since I joined EMpower in January earlier this year, one of my key deliverables has been to lead and implement Meaningful Youth Engagement (MYE) in South Africa (SA), with a focus on mental health. MYE essentially means to centre young people, their voices, choices, and wisdom in a non-tokenistic way. Last week, we observed International Youth Day (IYD), which made me think about its significance at EMpower.

In recent years, EMpower has embarked on a transformative journey toward embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in every facet of our work. This journey began in earnest after the tragic murder of George Floyd in 2020, which sparked a global movement and a critical examination of systemic inequalities. For EMpower, it was a moment of profound reflection, leading to the formation of the IDEA Task Force—a volunteer group dedicated to promoting Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility within our organisation.

Just over a decade ago, I made the biggest professional decision of my life. At the time, I was finishing an MBA and working on secondment with McKinsey & Co. I received two job offers in a week – one was to continue in change management consultancy and the other to work for an NGO. Often, I say that I chose the “wrong” one, but I promise it’s a joke.

Since COVID-19, people seem more comfortable talking about their emotional state and are less likely to be judged. It has become okay to say, "I feel depressed," "I feel anxious," or "I feel isolated.” And yet, the term “mental health” still carries a considerable stigma. Often, when used, it’s interpreted as "mental disorder."