Name: Hannah Wertiechowski
Grade: Year 11
Age: 16 Years
School: Marist Sion College
Hometown and State: Warragul, Victoria
LIFTING US UP – How can women and girls empower each other and their communities in times of uncertainty and change?
Everyday women and girls around the world are told that they aren’t enough. That they aren’t strong, or smart, or powerful enough to make a change. Even in a country such as Australia, ‘the lucky country’, that prides itself on giving everyone a fair go, women still face discrimination, sexual harassment, gender bias, unequal gender representation and the pay gap. In order to face these issues, we must first face the underlying issue. Which is that as women, we are so used to being told that our voices donäó»t matter, that we sometimes believe it. This is why women’s empowerment matters so much.
In increasing amounts, women everywhere are taking on a male dominated world and demanding to be heard when society would rather quiet them. Yet they refuse to stop spreading the messages that they feel are important. Whether it is Malala Yousafzai, who knew young girls deserved the right to an education, so fought and faced a bullet for it. Or Greta Thunberg, who saw that Climate Change was the greatest ‘uncertainty and change’ the younger generations will face, and through amplifying the voices of many, demanded world leaders make a change. Or even a girl like me. I’m not sure how yet, but I know that one day I will make a difference. And when I do so, I know I will be backed by many amazing women in my community, and I hope it will empower others. Because I know that we, our experiences and our opinions, as women, are valid. And we can, and will, make the biggest difference. Because every voice brave enough to speak up, whether in a scream or a whisper, whether it is raised in support of themselves or others, has the power to empower. To make a difference.
In times such as these, with the pandemic and us as a community facing a great amount of uncertainty, leadership, whether through great or small means, is of the most value. A leader inspires, empowers and most importantly, she brings a voice to the voiceless. Whether it is speaking on behalf of the voiceless at a rally, on social media or within a cabinet meeting. Founding programs to educate and empower young girls everywhere, or simply having one conversation with a young girl who really needed to hear that she was valued. Because women and young girls alike are often made to feel as if they have to compete with one another in order to be valued, in order to be considered good enough by society. And now in an age of social media, this pressure is amplified in a way it hasn’t been before. However social media is a double edged sword which can act as a channel for women and young girls in particular to find – and give – a voice to empower themselves and others. So we, as a community, must see that sword for the opportunity that it is. Especially as a way to promote leadership and collaboration amongst women.
Because times of uncertainty and change are when women and girls thrive the most, as it allows us to look at our place in the world through a clear lens, and to understand that we as women are more alike than it may seem. And that by lifting one another up, we are lifting ourselves up. Because we are creating a world in which women and young girls everywhere empower each other to be better, do better, and most importantly feel better about themselves, and their place as a leader inside, and outside of their community.