Introducing myself and my journal: Carolyn - Mobilizing Girls Voices

About Me:
Carolyn is very passionate about the subject of Girls and Women's Empowerment. I am from Nigeria; a trained lawyer and gender specialist who has engaged almost a decade's experience in advocacy, gender mainstreaming and gender security, adolescent girls and women's empowerment as well as a cinematographer and producer of documentaries around girls and women's stories. I have worked in Nigeria's private sector and engaged series of research and other assignments with various civil society organisations and international organisations such as the Girl Effect University of the Nike Foundation, the DFID, Girl Hub Nigeria, UN Women, the British Council, the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria and a number of organisations.
I have authored a number of thesis and dissertations, written position papers and contributed to a number of publications. Details of my work experience can be found at http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=49568394&trk=nav_responsive_tab_...
Against my background growing up in Nigeria, I was resilient to break away from the ordinary and pursue my dreams to visibly contribute to development in my country and in the course of my experience working with development organisations, I realized my passion for girls and women's empowerment and I keep pursuing this passion with every fiber in me.
I set up an Organisation called Girls Voices. Girls Voices primarily seeks to provide an online platform where girls can connect and share about various issues affecting them such as education, health, fashion, entrepreneurship and other issues. While a lot of support from local and international organisations are directed at girls and women in the local communities in Nigeria, I turn my focus towards the girls that are literate and educated; the assumption is that such girls are already fortunate and stand better chances in life. However, this is not entirely true as a lot of potential lies in building a community for these girls to share information among themselves to improve their knowledge-base and eventually improve their chances of a better life. I find that the subject of confidence, good self esteem, inspiration and so much more are carefully eroding in our society, particularly with girls and it is important that our girls know that their voices count. If they don't know that their voices count today, they will never be bold to speak and impact their environment tomorrow. Girls Voices currently has a Facebook Page where girls are connecting and information is shared on various subjects and news about girls all over the world. This is the first stage as Girls Voices plans to eventually expand her online presence and develop various digital and other resources to educate girls. We also envisage that this online platform would become a connecting thread between the girls and we would be able to have the girls share their stories and experiences to motivate and inspire other girls. Girls can visit our Facebook Page and like us at www.facebook.com/girlsvoices.
I have also been passionate about photography and storytelling and I contributed to a number of documentaries and audio-visual projects over the years. I developed that skill and currently manage a digital media production company in Abuja that produces documentaries, adverts/jingles, and various digital content. The digital media company, Marksmen Consult Limited has produced a number of short documentaries about the stories of girls in local communities in Northern Nigeria.
I am excited to be a World Pulse member and I look forward to engaging as much support as i can get to improve my work and share my experiences with other vibrant women doing so much for girls and women around the world.
Todays girls are tomorrows women, Girls voices need to count!

My Passions:
Girls and Women's Empowerment

My Challenges:
Funding to adequately establish my Organisation and strengthen the structures that will guarantee effective work.

My Vision for the Future:
To build a community of girls who are able to share and connect with each other to improve their life's chances, opportunities and decisions.

My Areas of Expertise:
Research, Photography and Videography