By Alex Vásquez Ocampo, Communications Officer for the Province of Colombia–Venezuela and GSIF Latin America

To mark the International Day of the Girl Child, the regional webinar “Girls and Adolescents Who Raise Their Voices, Inspire, and Transform Their Futures” took place on October 16, 2026, as part of the work of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd in Latin America and the Caribbean. The gathering encouraged participants to exchange experiences of leadership, participation, and the defense of girls’ and adolescents’ rights.

During the opening, Heidy Hochstatter, director of the Good Shepherd International Foundation for Latin America, highlighted the Congregation’s work through the Girls’ Club, an initiative operating in several countries across the region. It builds skills, promotes awareness of rights, and creates spaces where girls can express their views and participate actively in their communities.

From Peru, Leysi shared how the Congregation’s workshops and accompaniment, along with her grandmother’s story, strengthened her understanding of rights and her appreciation of education and perseverance as tools for building her future.

Julissa, a leader of the Girls’ Club in Ecuador, presented “Our Voice Counts: Girls and Adolescents Who Participate, Lead, and Transform.” She highlighted education as a tool for overcoming barriers and expanding opportunities, alongside the value of spaces for participation in developing communication and leadership skills. Her experience in international forums, including the United Nations, reaffirmed that age should not be a barrier to expressing opinions, leading, and defending rights.

“When an Opportunity Opens New Paths” Dr. Georgia Chávez, ambassador for the ShakthiSat mission in Bolivia, shared the story of Michelle, a young Bolivian woman studying for a higher technical qualification in culinary arts at the Don Bosco Institute. Michelle receives a half scholarship through the Postsecondary Program and participates in the Revolución Mariposa project, carried out by the Congregation’s Programa NNA y Familia in Bolivia.

Since the age of five, Michelle has participated in Good Shepherd education and skills development activities. Through her preparation in subjects such as physics, mathematics, programming, and telecommunications, she was selected to represent Bolivia in India as part of the ShakthiSAT Mission, an international nanosatellite-building experience. During the webinar, we learned how she achieved the highest score among the program’s participants. Her story highlighted the importance of education, perseverance, and accompaniment in discovering abilities and opening new paths.

It also reminded everyone that providing opportunities means trusting girls and adolescents, helping them develop their potential, and expanding their possibilities for building a life of their own.

“A Collective Commitment to Girls’ Rights”

In the concluding remarks, Kelly Copa Cuarety, Juvencio Chamba, and Patricia Mosquera revisited the gathering’s main lessons and reaffirmed the Congregation’s commitment to defending and protecting the rights of girls, adolescents, and women.

The experiences from Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia showed that leadership grows through education, participation, awareness of rights, and access to opportunities. They also highlighted the importance of continuing to create spaces for listening and learning, with the commitment of families, communities, and organizations.

The webinar concluded with a video of Michelle thanking the speakers, participants, and organizers, and inviting everyone to continue participating in Good Shepherd activities across the region.

The central message throughout the gathering and its conclusions was clear: when girls are heard, recognized, and supported, they can transform their lives and contribute to positive change in their families and communities. It is therefore essential to continue creating spaces where every girl and adolescent can exercise her rights, develop her abilities, and shape her future with dignity, confidence, and hope.