How GLOW Club Inspired This 16-Year-Old to Champion Disability Inclusion in Malawi

Girls around the world living with physical disabilities face discrimination and systemic injustices that can prevent them from reaching their full potential. 

Social stigma often bars these girls from pursuing an education — in fact, children with disabilities are twice as likely to never attend school. Those who do enroll often drop out early due to discrimination and social stigma, leading to a lifetime of inequities. 

“Many children with disabilities are kept in their houses without doing anything,” says Mutuyimana Francoise, a GLOW Club mentor in Malawi. “They have no freedom to walk, go to school, or do other basic things that children their age should enjoy. They’re not cherished. They’re left behind.”

But a brighter future is possible: a future where girls lead the movement for inclusion and understanding. In Malawi, 16-year-old GLOW Club member Christine is raising her voice to share her journey from feeling sidelined to becoming a powerful advocate for disability inclusion thanks to the encouraging environment she found in GLOW Club. 

This is her powerful story. 

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. 

A Place Where Confidence is Born 

My name is Christine, I live in Malawi, and I have a disability that makes walking difficult. Growing up, it was sometimes difficult to make friends. For example, where I’m living in my area, some girls would laugh at me and the way I’m walking. They would pity me, or say that I don’t know how to walk.

It would give me a lot of stress for people to see the way I am. Sometimes, I would have too much anger. I was so angry, I couldn’t even express my feelings to my mom. I used to just stay quiet without saying anything. 

16-year-old Christine found the confidence to advocate for herself and other girls in Malawi living with disabilities after joining GLOW Club.

But then I found the GLOW Club, where I learned so many things, made a lot of friends, and even started to feel confident for the first time. In the club, we have a mentor, and my mentor is like my friend. Whenever I have a problem, I go to her so I can see if she can help me. She advises me on things I don’t know, and even comforts me when I’m stressed out. 

In GLOW Club, when they see that I am angry, they don’t shout at me. They are calm and talk with a very calm voice so that I can calm down. That is what has helped me the most in life. For real, I have changed so much.

“Children with disabilities deserve to go to school instead of staying home without doing anything.”

In the past, I was very furious — I was angry. I couldn’t talk to anyone. I used to think, “Let me just go and sleep.” But now, anytime I get angry, I can see myself getting worked up and chill myself down. I think to myself, “It’s OK. It will pass.” Now I can chill, talk, and laugh with my friends, even my mentor. 

Speaking Out For Change

In the club, we have learned about advocacy, which means helping those people who do not have a voice to to fight for their rights. I learned that you have to advocate. You have to fight for your rights. 

Last year, I started to advocate for myself and others like me at a GLOW Club Summit in front of community leaders, teachers, parents, and many other people. Speaking in front of the community…it was very difficult for me to do that. But I knew that I wanted to speak out. 

Christine advocated for the rights of children living with disabilities in front of parents, teachers, and community members at a recent GLOW Club Summit.

I told them about the rights of people living with disabilities, and I spoke directly to parents. Some parents who have children with disabilities used to discriminate against them. They would say, “I don’t want anything to do with this child,” instead of helping them. I told them that’s not good. You have to love that person. You have to help that child to have a good life. 

Christine leads a conversation with peers at a recent GLOW Club Summit.

I also told them about the right to an education. Children with disabilities deserve to go to school instead of staying home without doing anything. They should go to school so they can have a bright future, and those schools should have inclusive facilities and accommodations. 

I felt very happy that I advocated for other people’s rights and they listened to me. I was very happy about that. Realizing that I am being heard is empowering. I hope that speaking up for my rights and making people aware of my needs can facilitate change in my school and community.

A Future Without Limitations

In my future, I want to help other people with disabilities by providing basic needs and opening a learning center for them. I would also like to provide counseling for mothers so they can understand the situation of their children. 

I want to help other girls to be like me. Because I’m still learning and adding on to the knowledge I have now. I’ll help other girls to also have the knowledge that I have, and to continue being the voice of the voiceless. 

My other dream? To be a superstar! Because all in all, I’m beautiful. Can’t you see that?

Global G.L.O.W. mentors girls around the world to become powerful advocates and confident leaders. Since inception, our GLOW Clubs have ignited the power of over 91,000 girls to do 3 transformative things: increase their confidence, strengthen their voice, and build their power. 

This transformation story has been made possible through our collaboration with Solidarity of Refugee Women for the Social Welfare (SOFERES), who coordinate GLOW Clubs for girls throughout Malawi. We’d like to extend a special thanks to Christine for sharing her incredible story. You can support powerful advocates and confident leaders like Christine at globalgirlsglow.org/donate.