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"Dear Young Change Maker:

I hope this message finds you smiling, even if life isn’t perfect right now. I want to share a bit about my own journey because I know what it’s like to grow up with dreams that sometimes feel too big for the space you’re in. When I was a teenager, life wasn’t always easy. There were moments of self-doubt, times when I thought my skin tone was not good enough, and days when I wondered if my voice really mattered. 

But even in those moments, I found strength in small things the encouragement of a teacher, the support of friends and the hope that one day I would encourage other dark-skinned girls for the better. What inspired me to keep going was that I learned that every challenge was shaping me into someone stronger, wiser, and more compassionate. I realized that progress begins with believing in yourself, even when no one else does. It means loving everything about YOU and constantly looking into the mirror without shame. 

And that’s what I want to remind you of today: You are capable. You are enough. You are part of something bigger, a generation full of creativity, courage, and purpose. Your ideas, your kindness, and your resilience can light the way for others. No matter where you come from, what you’re facing, what you look like, keep learning. Keep trying. Keep dreaming. Your story matters, and your journey will inspire others one day."

With hope & encouragement, 

Tanatswa

"Hello:

My life as a teenager was bearable. I was a quite girl who thrived academically. What inspired to keep me going was prayer and reading novels on my free time. It kept me from trouble."

Always, Fadzai

"Dearest friend: 

I hope this message receives you in well spirit and health. I know things appear undesirable and down right destitute at times in life, however I want to share with you how I persevered through my teenage chapters despite on-going depression and financial hardship. What truly led me to have faith and see a future for myself was to remain active in my community and sharing my internal doubts with trusted adult and friends. I was an athlete and staying focused on arts by way of theatre and dance, music through a marching ensemble along with physical health via volleyball, basketball and track & field, I was able to find a way to forget the things that were out of my control and keep my mind on things that made me excited to get up and keep going.

As I write this letter, I shed a tear as I am challenged this day to recall and relive some of the hardest times in my life. I was raised with a single parent household in an underserved and underrepresented community that systemically embedded socio-economic disparities. So what inspired me to keep going was the audacity to pray for myself, even if I was not versed in scripture. I dreamed of the life I wanted and took each day by the reigns with purpose and intention. I wanted to give my all to each endeavor and hoped it would lead me to a brighter future....and that my friend did come to pass.

I am here this moment able to testify to you that this day shall not defeat you and neither will the next. Keep your eyes on your immediate goals now and watch how years of small achievements culminated into the life I imagined at your age. Just remember you are not alone."

Ever in my thoughts and prayers, Your Big Sister Leslie

"Dear Girls: 

Coming from a traditional background where education was often out of reach for women, I’ve come to deeply appreciate its transformative power. Though I now live in the UK and work as a teacher in an international school in Bangkok, my journey here has been anything but easy — and I want to share it with you, so you know that you are not alone. 

I was born in Afghanistan, where life for girls and women is filled with challenges, inequality, and often, silence. At the age of five, my family and I were fortunate enough to move to the UK in search of a better future. But starting over was hard. We didn’t speak a word of English, and we had almost no money. 

My father worked 4 to 5 jobs a day — as a cab driver, food delivery man, servant — anything to provide for us. I watched him work with strength and quiet sacrifice, and I carry that determination with me every day.  My mother was married at the age of 17 and moved in with in-laws in a strict and traditional household. She faced injustice and gender inequality, but she fought hard — for herself, and for her children. She made sure we grew up with love, strength, and the chance to dream beyond the limits of tradition.

Even as a teenager, I faced inequality within my own family — different expectations for me compared to my brother. And when I decided I wanted to go to university and live away from home, it caused a lot of tension. My father didn’t agree with my ideas. He wanted a different life for me — one that mirrored the lives of the women before me. 

School was another challenge. I was the only Asian girl in my class and was often bullied and excluded. I had no friends for a long time and felt like I didn’t belong. But I never gave up. I believed in my future, and I was lucky to have teachers who believed in me too — who saw my potential even when I couldn’t see it in myself. 

But I stood firm. I challenged those expectations, even when it was painful, and I kept fighting for the life I knew I wanted. Today, at 31, I live far from home and teach in Bangkok. I’ve carved out a life that reflects my values, not someone else’s. Do I still doubt myself sometimes? Of course. We all do. And yes, society will always have something to say. But here’s what I’ve learned: you have to believe in yourself, even when no one else does. You have to find the light inside you and protect it fiercely. 

I hope this letter reminds you that you are stronger than your circumstances. No matter what others expect of you, your dreams matter. Your voice matters. There is beauty in the struggle, and there is strength in choosing your own path — even when it’s hard, even when it’s lonely. So don’t give up. You have a bright future ahead of you. Life will have its ups and downs, but it is still beautiful — and so are you."

With love and strength, Ashima