Four female leaders to inspire you on International Women’s Day

Feb, ChildFund Pass it Back coach, Timor-Leste 

Seventeen-year-old Feb is using the skills she learned through ChildFund’s sports for development program to change the perception of girls in Timor-Leste. 

“In Timor-Leste, there is no gender equality,” she says. “We still use this ancient system where opportunities are given to boys or men. There are less opportunities in terms of education and jobs for girls and women. Women have no opportunity to lead; they just know how to cook. 

“What I would like to change in Timor-Leste is this ancient system; we have to give opportunities for girls and women so they can develop themselves and they can become leaders.” 

Feb has applied to become a member of the Youth Parliament in Timor-Leste. Her motive? “I want to raise the issue of gender equality,” Feb says. “I want equal opportunities for girls and boys in Timor-Leste.” 

Young leaders like Feb are paving the way for a new generation of girls in Timor-Leste. 

Albertina, Youth Changemaker, Zambia 

Albertina was sponsored through ChildFund when she was five years old. Throughout her education, the 18-year-old has seen too many friends drop out because they married early. 

“Of all my friends who I started school with, all of them have dropped out of school,” she said. “They have all married early and started having children. I saw this practice was harmful. 

“Children who are married do not get to do the things they desire and accomplish their goals.” 

Albertina became a peer educator with ChildFund Zambia in 2013. In this role, she hosts meetings in her community where she educates her peers about the risks of early marriage and early pregnancy, and encourages girls to stay in school. 

“I believe that every person has things to be accomplished in their life,” she says. 

“I want to pursue journalism so that I can continue what I’m doing in the community. By working in the media, I’ll be able to reach more people than I can right now.” 

Marguerite, Biomedical scientist and child sponsor 

As the co-founder of Women in STEMM and the executive director of the Industry Mentoring Network in STEM, Marguerite helps empower Australian researchers and industry figures in the areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. 

She is also a long-time ChildFund Australia supporter and an ambassador for the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, a Victorian government initiative that celebrates the outstanding achievements of women in the state. At the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, she’s an honorary investigator. 

Marguerite is passionate about the role of education in shaping people’s lives. It is one of the main reasons she has been a sponsor with ChildFund for more than 30 years.

“Knowledge opens the mind, opens doors and creates opportunities,” she says. 

“It provides individuals the knowhow, the toolkit and the skills they need to succeed – and if they fail, education provides them with the resources to draw on to learn and improve.”