Bringing Together Religion and Women's Rights Through Learning
Can storytelling change how we see the world? On December 10, 2024, the Gender Ambassadors Club in Burkina Faso showed us it can. They hosted a talk called “Girls’ and Women’s Rights and Religions” that brought different faiths together to discuss women’s rights. This event, hosted by the Faith to Action Network partner, Diakonia, hosted over 200 students, parents, teachers, and religious leaders, who gathered at Saint Viateur School in Ouagadougou. The event, made possible by Faith to Action Network’s prize money, showed how religious beliefs and women’s rights can work together.

Religious Leaders Speaking Up for Change
People often think religions are against women’s rights, but this event showed something different. Three respected leaders – a Christian brother, a Muslim imam, and a traditional chief – came together with some important messages:
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- 1. They made it clear that no religion supports hurting women
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- 2. They showed how women are important advisors in their communities
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- 3. They explained how religious teachings actually support women’s rights and safety
These leaders talked about how they can help change old ways of thinking and support women’s rights in their communities.

Young People Speaking Their Minds
The event gave students a chance to ask honest questions about things they usually can’t discuss. Some of their questions really got people thinking:
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- 1. Do religious leaders agree that men shouldn’t always be seen as the family head?
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- 2. Why do women advisors have to stay in the background?
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- 3. Why do we only talk about women’s rights and not men’s?
These questions showed that young people are ready for change and want to make things better.
Making a Real Difference
The talk did more than just share information – it got people excited about making changes. Students learned that religious teachings actually support women’s rights, not oppose them. Many participants wanted to join the Gender Ambassadors Club after the event, showing they’re ready to stand up for equality in their communities.
The event was also shown on local TV and shared on social media, helping spread these important messages to even more people. Plans are already in place to hold more talks in schools and share religious texts that support women’s rights.
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