Earlier this month, Sofia L., a Grade 12 student at Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School (FJR), attended the Working Group on Girls (WGG) International Day of the Girl Summit at United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The WGG is a global coalition of more than 90 non-governmental organizations dedicated to advocating for girls' human and legal rights at the United Nations.
As one of three girls representing the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM) Loretto Generalate and Mary Ward Centre, Sofia participated in meaningful discussions on girls' rights, advocacy, education, reproductive health and equality. She listened to panelists from organizations including UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), as well as representatives from the Permanent Missions of Peru, Mozambique, Türkiye and Canada. She also took part in mission visits with representatives from the Dominican Republic and Mozambique.
Drawing on data from the 2026 WGG Girls Shadow Report, Sofia researched the challenges facing girls in each country and presented recommendations directly to delegates on how to improve the lives of girls in their respective communities.
Through this experience, Sofia gained a deeper understanding of the importance of youth advocacy and the need to listen to others' voices when identifying the changes needed to create a more equitable world. As WGG Co-Chair Kimberly Happich Moloche shared, "...you don't have to wait until you are older to become a leader, you already are one."
Inspired by this message, Sofia will continue to empower and amplify girls' voices by promoting and leading the WGG Global Conversation Circle on November 20.
The FJR community is very proud of Sofia and her commitment to advocating for girls' rights around the world!
