Casmira: The Voice of Youth Engaged alongside her Peers.
One year after her first trip abroad, Casmira has grown from a dynamic teenager into a determined young woman committed to defending the rights of her peers
It’s break time at the secondary school in Fenerive-Est. Around ten members of the Youth Council from the Analanjirofo region enter the courtyard to raise awareness among students gathered under their umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun. Among them is Casmira, one of the founding members of this initiative.
Casmira is a 12th grade-school student (scientific option) at the public high school. She recently celebrated her 18th birthday and has become a determined young woman ready to take control of her future.
“We created this Youth Council with other members to carry the voice of our peers after representing Madagascar at the Youth Education Advocacy Workshop held this year in Côte d'Ivoire,” she explains. The Youth Council is a growing community bringing together young people aged 15 to 25 committed to fostering positive change both locally and globally. A year earlier, she also participated in an international meeting dedicated to young change makers.
“It’s time for girls to take on more responsibilities in our society and earn the respect of others,” she says.
Advocating for Children
Within the group, Casmira and her peers visit schools and communities to learn about education-related issues and advocate with decision-makers for actions supporting children's education and improving the quality of teaching. They also participate in civic actions like large-scale cleaning operations.
“We take the initiatives of these young people seriously; we consider them to be responsible. There is no age to tackle the country’s issues, and their help is welcome,” explains one of the teachers who interacted with them that day.
Casmira, who is also an active scout, is determined to fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor, and even more, she hopes to obtain a medical specialization. She is now one of the most popular students at her high school, which she sees as beneficial since it has expanded her social circle and helped her build new relationships.
“My vision for the future is to see young people take more initiatives and become independent,” she concludes.
Note: In the Analanjirofo region, UNICEF and its partners support these young people through the Let Us Learn programme, funded by the UNICEF German National Committee.
