Name: Brilyanz Mance
Grade: Year 11
Age: 16 Years
School: Coober Pedy Area School
Hometown and State: Coober Pedy, South Australia
LIFTING US UP – How can women and girls empower each other and their communities in times of uncertainty and change?
2020 has been a year full of changes, challenges and fear. With a global pandemic expanding from March till now and possibly far beyond, it’s difficult to find that sense of connection us as people need.
As a teenage girl living in a rural community myself, it can be especially hard to build those connections. There is already a level of confinement within a rural area, with the nearest shopping center being seven hours away it can sometimes feel like you’re drowning in silence. Along with Covid-19 this confinement has become even tighter, unable to travel and fearing for the safety of friends and family living in the more affected cities.
Yet even though things are uncertain and changing at such a rapid pace, us women and girls can still band together. The one thing that is truly going to get us through this and smile even brighter is communication. The strongest way we can all empower ourselves and each other is the simple act of talking. Considering the need to social distance and self-isolate this may seem impossible, though through the help of modern technology this is not as daunting.
We could message each other through text, email or social media, an occasional phone call just to ask, ‘hey, how are you?’ we could create video call groups, similar to what schools are doing, providing a safe space to talk and make friends. It could even potentially create craft, cooking or book groups, with group organised activities where everyone does it from the safety of their own home. Similar to watching a YouTube tutorial, but with friends. There are so many possibilities with this concept, it can even be done with team video games.
Isolation can be daunting, it can create disconnection and loneliness between us, if we aren’t there for one another we can become alone, constantly filled with worry of what is to come.
‘Are they okay?’
‘When can I see my friends and family again?’
We cannot let these worries consume us, there is always a rainbow after the storm but that does not mean that we do not need our umbrellas at the moment. If we stay connected we will all get through this together. Us girls, we have the strength to change how we perceive our situation. Remember to message or call those people we cherish, and is we can to hug them as well. It will empower ourselves and those around us.