Your Voice Matters, It Breaks Barriers

Amina Kay Cantave
Oct 13
4 min read

As the world celebrates the International Day of the Girl this weekend, I'm reflecting on a deeply insightful workshop I facilitated just a few weeks ago for more than 75 bright high school students at O’Reilly Senior High School in Accra, Ghana.

The session, titled "Your Voice Matters, It Breaks Barriers," was designed to be a space for honest reflection, challenging assumptions with curiosity, and empowering every student to see their potential without the limits of certain traditions. The initiative was driven by a need to question some ingrained societal structures that automatically give boys confidence to dream and reach higher than girls.

The objectives of the workshop, supported by the school’s leadership team, were to:

Empower students to value gender equality, recognizing:

The importance of girls' and women's voices,
The importance for boys and men to support the development of girls' and women's voices, as well as:
Encouraging girls to build self-confidence and pursue ambitions beyond traditional expectations.

The Mirror of Ambition: What Does Your Future Look Like?

We began with a simple but revealing question:

"What do you see as the ultimate goals for your life in 15 years to 20 years?"

The responses offered a crucial moment for collective reflection. When the students were asked to pause and imagine their futures, the contrast was striking:

Most girls’ dreams centered on children, marriage and generating some income
All boys' visions focused on career development, money, and professional success with no mention of Family life, children or partnership.

This moment was the mirror. It clearly showed how deeply gendered societal expectations were subtly guiding young women, potentially limiting their dreams before they even finished high school. Recognizing the effect of cultural norms that shape aspirations differently based on gender, our goal was to broaden the horizons for all students.

Honoring Diligence, Elevating Aspiration, and Building Stability

Ghanaian women are renowned for their hard work, resilience, and crucial contributions to their families and the nation's economy. The aim of this workshop was to actively raise the ceiling of professional possibilities for the next generation of girls, ensuring their efforts translate into influence not only in informal sectors but across all formal sectors.

Marriage and the family unit remain crucial pillars of Ghanaian society, offering stability deeply rooted in tradition. In an unstable world, where the risks of financial crisis due to illness, death, or economic hardship are always present, a strong, prepared family unit provides a vital safety net. Therefore, aspiring to a successful marriage founded on partnership and foresight, alongside professional achievement, equips women to achieve their personal potential while contributing robustly to their homes and communities, navigating difficult times with greater resilience and security.

Why Silence is Society's Loss

We then explored the concept of voice and why it matters.

"Have you ever seen a situation in your family, school, or community where a girl or a woman was not given a chance to speak or was simply ignored? What did that feel like to watch? What is the consequence for families and society at large? "

Through their own discussion, the students reached a powerful conclusion: when women's voices are limited in leadership, government, and formal business, we lose half the innovation, half the creative solutions, and half the necessary perspectives to build a stronger, fairer Ghana and world at large. They clearly shared that hearing women's voices is not just about fairness; it’s about making smarter, more complete decisions for everyone.

Boys as Partners, Not Gatekeepers

Gender equality is a human issue and a shared responsibility. We dedicated a significant portion of the time to the boys, emphasizing their critical role as allies and partners.

"How can you support your sisters, women family members, female classmates, and future partners in achieving their professional dreams? How can you, as a boy and future man, prepare to also think about your familial future and become a good husband and father?"

This opened a vital dialogue on redefining responsibility—one where strength is found not in dominance, but in support, partnership, and a shared commitment to a home and society where everyone’s ambition is valued. It’s about being a true partner who champions the professional life of the woman beside him and therefore securing the family.

A Pledge for Change

To close, every student was asked to make a personal pledge—one small, tangible action they would carry forward. The final pledges included:

"I will speak up for a girl/woman who is being interrupted. "As a High School student, I will start thinking about my academic and career goals first." "I will encourage a woman/girl in my life to pursue a subject she loves." "I will enroll in an extracurricular activity where I can develop my leadership." "I will challenge my own beliefs about what men and women 'should' do in leadership, government, and formal business."

The dynamism and commitment from the students were inspiring. They didn’t just listen; they pledged. We left with a final, unifying message that embodies the spirit of this day:

"Your confidence is your power. Use your voice to demand a future without limits, and watch the barriers fall for all of us."

A sincere thank you to Ms Shemimah Dapilaa for her presence and exceptional organizational efforts, and to Headmaster Francis Aniagyai and Mrs. Linda Kye-Duodu for welcoming me to O’Reilly Senior High School, Medaase !.