African children are not different from children in other parts of the world. They dream, hope, question, and imagine.

June 16: A day to remember the power of children-led advocacy

Each year, on June 16th, the International Day of the African Child, we commemorate the historic Uprising of Soweto’s children in South Africa in 1976. On that day, thousands of black schoolchildren courageously rose up against the apartheid government’s policy of mandating Afrikaans—a language of their oppressors—as a compulsory medium of instruction in schools. What began as a peaceful protest became a tragic confrontation as police opened fire on the young demonstrators, leading to the death and injury of many children. Though their lives were taken, their courage showcased the power of children-led advocacy.

GFC’s Belief in the Power of Children

In marking this year’s Day of the African Child, GFC recognizes the bold leadership and resilience of the children and adolescents we partner with—not as future leaders, but as present-day changemakers. We also take this moment to reflect on the powerful insights and learnings gained through supporting and funding children and adolescent-led organisations.

Dispelling a Harmful Myth: Yes, Children Can Manage Resources

One of the most persistent and harmful myths we often hear from adults is the belief that children and adolescents are too young, too inexperienced, or too naive to manage financial resources. This mindset not only underestimates their abilities—it actively denies them opportunities to grow into responsible, capable leaders.

At GFC, we have seen the opposite. As part of our Gender Rights and Justice Initiative in West Africa, we have partnered with two powerful children and adolescent-led organizations:

• Children’s Forum Network (CFN) – Kenema Branch in Sierra Leone, a child-led organization advocating for the rights and well-being of children in their district.
• Club des Jeunes Filles Leaders de Guinea– N’Zérékoré Branch in Guinea, an adolescent girl- and youth-led organization actively working to end harmful traditional practices such as child, early and forced marriage, and promote girls’ right to education and protection.

Over the past four years, GFC has provided both organizations with over $100,000 USD in flexible, trust-based funding. These young leaders have shown remarkable responsibility—managing budgets, keeping transparent records, making collective decisions, and regularly evaluating their progress. In their words, GFC is the first and so far, the only funder to believe in them enough to invest directly in their leadership, enabling them to secure spaces of their own and build the infrastructure needed to realize their vision.

Beyond Funding: Mentorship, Connection, and Voice

Beyond flexible funding, we also provide children and adolescents with a wide range of capacity-strengthening support, including mentorship, leadership development, and tailored training that builds their confidence and skills. In addition, we create opportunities for them to travel and participate in national, regional, and international conferences—not merely as attendees, but as co-designers, facilitators, and decision-makers. Our goal is to ensure that wherever their rights and futures are being discussed, they have a meaningful seat at the table.

For example, during the regional Wellbeing Summits organized by Tostan, GFC ensured that children and adolescents were not just participants but actively involved in shaping the agenda. They participated in the planning process, took on visible leadership roles as speakers and moderators, and shared their lived experiences and ideas for change.

The Adolescent Girls Summit- A unique space dedicated to children and adolescents

The Adolescent Girls Summit (AGS) is an adolescent-led, biannual regional convening where girls and boys aged 10 to 19 from across West Africa drive every aspect of planning and implementation—from setting the agenda to facilitating discussions and defining collective action. Rooted in trust, agency, and intergenerational collaboration, AGS provides a transformative space for children and adolescents to connect, build solidarity, and shape the change they want to see in their families, schools, communities, and nations.

GFC proudly supports this process by resourcing and co-creating the space alongside adolescents and local partners. Rather than steering the process, we play a facilitative role—amplifying adolescent leadership, ensuring their voices shape every stage, and helping to build the supportive structures that allow them to thrive as equal partners in driving social change.

The 3rd edition of the Adolescent Girls Summit (AGS) is scheduled to take place from March 31 to April 3, 2026, in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire. Building on the remarkable momentum of previous summits, children and adolescents are already deeply engaged in actively planning and shaping every aspect of this transformative event.

Key lessons from supporting and funding children and adolescent-led organizations

Children are not a homogeneous group

African children, as defined by the African Charter for the Rights and Wellbeing of the Child, are a richly diverse group under the age of 18, with identities and experiences shaped by gender, geography, ability, health status, culture, and more. They live in both rural and urban areas, face varying social and economic realities, and include children with disabilities, those affected by HIV and AIDS, and youth with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities—many of whom experience stigma and marginalization. Rooted in a mosaic of ethnic, linguistic, and religious traditions, African children’s lives reflect a wide spectrum of perspectives and challenges. To truly advance their rights and well-being, responses must be inclusive, intersectional, and grounded in respect for this complexity and diversity.

Children are embedded in dynamic ecosystems that shape their experiences, and when empowered, they also become catalysts of Community Change

Children do not grow up in isolation—they are deeply embedded within complex social ecosystems shaped by family structures, cultural traditions, religious beliefs, and community norms. To truly advance children’s rights, we must engage this broader network of influencers who can either reinforce or help transform the conditions that shape children’s lives. Yet children are not merely shaped by their environments—they also have the power to shape them. Through years of partnership with child- and adolescent-led organizations, we have seen that when children are supported with resources, mentorship, and safe spaces to lead, they can challenge harmful norms and drive meaningful change. In Sierra Leone, for example, GFC’s child-led partner, CFN-Kenema, has worked with the Borbu community to end gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices such as female genital cutting and Poro society initiations—promoting the wellbeing of both girls and boys. Their efforts have led to tangible shifts in attitudes and behaviors, demonstrating—as the community chief put it—“they may be children, but they have brought positive change to our community.”

A Call to Action

June 16 is not just a day of remembrance—it is a call to conscience and collective responsibility. While many African children still endure violence, exclusion, and harmful practices like child marriage, they also continue to raise their voices for justice and change. In the spirit of the children of Soweto, Global Fund for Children stands with African children and adolescents in urging governments, donors, civil society, and community leaders to;

• Recognize them as leaders, not just beneficiaries
• Move beyond symbolic gestures and provide intentional, sustained mentorship that recognizes their potential and equips them to lead with confidence, courage, and integrity.
• Trust them with meaningful resources, including flexible funding to drive their own initiatives.
• Create inclusive spaces that foster genuine co-creation with children and adolescents.
• Advocate alongside children and adolescents—amplifying their voices, not speaking on their behalf.
• Encourage governments to uphold their commitments to advance children’s rights and wellbeing.