This paper will discuss 7 individuals who conduct a notable impact in the field of child and youth. These individuals are Jaha Dukureh, Opal Tometi, Bee Quammie, Malala Yousafzai, Robin M. Boylorn and Michelle Obama. All these women give the child and youth field a different lens on what it means to be a child and youth worker or relating their work to the community of children and youth care.

QUESTION

The child and youth career is a growing aspect that have many aspects making it grow. There are numerous of people that make the child and youth care field outstanding with the work by advocating and seeking justice for children and youth. Even if these individuals are not “child and youth workers,” they provide justice and guidance for children and youth. This paper will discuss 7 individuals who conduct a notable impact in the field of child and youth. These individuals are Jaha Dukureh, Opal Tometi, Bee Quammie, Malala Yousafzai, Robin M. Boylorn and Michelle Obama. All these women give the child and youth field a different lens on what it means to be a child and youth worker or relating their work to the community of children and youth care.

Jaha Dukureh 

Jaha Dukureh is an activist who supports to end female genital mutilation and child marriage in Africa with the focus on mobilizing youth. Dukureh is helping girls who are forced to have genital mutilation in the African countries and supporting the girls who are focused on being married (Regional UN Women Ambassador Jaha Dukureh). A marriage that they are not ready for and at a young age to a man who is twice the age of her and who she has never met before. Durkureh is focusing on the youth of girls that are in Africa and the girls who do not have a voice in their countries. Durkurek is also the CEO and Founder of Safe Hands for Girls that supports African girls who have survived genital mutilation and addressing the harmful physical and psychological consequences of the outcomes (Regional UN Women Ambassador Jaha Dukureh). Jaha Dukurek is fighting for the girls in Africa and their rights. As she was also a victim of an arranged marriage to a man who was much older than herself. She wants it to stop, as she knows first hand how it is and how it felt. Dukurek states that she is proud to be fighting the rights of children all over Africa (Regional UN Women Ambassador Jaha Dukureh). Dukureh has the ambition and the strength to fight and to support this massive issue of girls’ rights in Africa. She is changing the way Africa looks at girls and their rights, and she is a change maker for future girls.

Opal Tometi

           Opal Tometi is a human rights activist, writer, strategist, and community organizer. She uses a range of platforms to communicates to the public and around the world. Tometi has numerous TedTALKS, videos of her voice, Twitter, published books, and conferences. Tometi is a speaker, who shows commitment to the issues that she is authentically dealing with, and is communicating with honesty, integrity and depth of how she feels about the issue. Tometi uses her own experiences, past and current with the issues she is standing up for (Tometi, 2019). She and two other women who founded Black Lives Matter and is currently the Executive Director at BAJI (Black Alliance for Just Immigration). Tometi insights into a range of insights into the adversity of social injustice, anti-black bias, and uninformed her views of immigration and education. Tometi is using her voice and empowerment to support children, youth, and adults through her powerful voice (Tometi, 2019). She is seeking justice for the things she believes should be equal for all people. Tometi gave her voice on how she felt about the social justice government was and is treating the black community, including the youth. Black Lives Matter grew so big that the organization is in almost every city, promoting and supporting the black community when there is hate crime towards them. Tometi is a voice that started one of the most powerful things in Toronto, that stands next to the black youth when there is an injustice being shown, throughout the media and enforcements.

Bee Quammie

Bee Quammie is a feminist advocate who uses social media as her platform. She has work that is posted through online articles/newspapers, interviews, and advocating at functions expressing her opinions and having her voice heard. She is a proud founder of 83toinfinity.com and thebrownsugamama.com, and her voice has been expressed in the globe and mail, huff post Canada, FLAREfashion, hazlitt, saveurmag and many more. Quammie is someone who advocates things that should already be in effect for every person and child. She does not do it for herself, and she does it for every individual out there. This woman is a robust black feminist who questions Ford’s government with their cuts towards children and youth within the education they deserve and writes her articles in multiple newsprints. Quammie also has this sense of humor in individual tweets where she jokes about random things and how every one of us is on Twitter. “Play-based educational program aimed at giving incoming kindergarteners a head start on school. Due to reports of systemic racism impeding the success of Black students in Durham region” (Quammie, 2018). The feminist lens is focused on women’s oppression that defines being a good woman and being a woman created in their one’s self-concept as challenging the status quo. It is perceived to be oppressive to women. Women encouraging women to have respect for themselves, having power and to feel on top that they can be whomever they want to be (Moradi, 2012). Quammie also has this robust and passionate voice, where she gets her voice heard, and the people reading her messages understand them.

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai is a public figure not only in the Middle Eastern community but around the whole world. Yousafzai is advocating and supporting the right for all girls to have an education. Education is Yousafzai mission, allowing all girls to have the same amount of education, anywhere around the world (Malala’s story: Malala Fund, 2018). Yousafzai was targeted due to her tribe and confidence in supporting’s girls’ education, which caused so much hate some people tried to kill her. But Yousafzai survived and is continuing to pursue her goal. Yousafzai has opened a Mala Fund, a charity that is dedicated to allowing every girl to achieve a future by going to school. From this tribe and driven work, Yousafzai received a Noble Peace Prize as she is the youngest ever to receive one. With this tribe and force, Yousafzai has sent over 130 million girls to school and will send more in the future (Malala’s story: Malala Fund, 2018). Yousafzai has given a chance for girls to have the education they always needed. Yousafzai is driven to enhance the education system and equality towards girls and to create a world where girls can learn, lead, and have the same opportunities as males.

Robin M. Boylorn

           Robin M. Boylorn, who is an anti-black feminist writer, has written articles that are used in the Child and Youth program and used as a resource for students. Boylorn writes about the culture, the black community, and how cultural identities within everyday life. Boylorn writes about how the neighborhood reflects on the individual within it. She also wrote an article regarding how television, either through movies, or TV series views black communities. How black communities are always the “hood,” where violence is still happening, the person who is shooting everyone, and the wicked person is always a black youth (Boylorn, 2008). The media bashed black individuals, including youth, through the different aspects that is happening. The media is continuously portraying black youth as these thug individuals who steal, fight, and kill. Boylorn is reflecting on the Child and Youth field as she is supporting black children and youth who are being shamed and discriminated against due to the colour of their skin and the community. The media is considering portraying black individuals as bad people and providing negative and harmful information. The media is always representing black individuals as these evil people, showing the public images that are twisted and not actual. When a black youth is a victim or an offender, the media is showing pictures of them drinking, or partying while it is a white youth, the media shows a class or family photo. The media is attacking the black individual, and a lot of these individuals are youth. Boylron is seeking for justice for the black communities and informing the public through articles the hate crime towards these individuals.

Michelle Obama

           Michelle Obama is contributing a lot towards the children’s foundation and supporting girls all over the world. Obama had created “Girls Opportunity Alliance” today, and this organization sent more than 98 million adolescent girls around the world who were not in school. Obama’s mission statement for the organization is, “When girls get the opportunities they deserve, amazing things start to happen; poverty goes down, economies grow, families get stronger, and babies are born healthier” (Welcome to the Girls Opportunity Alliance, 2019). Obama is always talking about this issue to raise awareness, and she uses a range of platforms to state her message on social media, twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. Obama also advocates for girls’ education through interviews that are conducted, providing evidence of the outcome of her program. Obama also flew to Peru, Uganda, and Vietnam and spent time with the members of the communities who are working together to empower young and adolescent girls through education (Welcome to the Girls Opportunity Alliance, 2019). Michelle Obama is inspiring, empowering, and connecting with individuals to support this cause that is in need. She is also inspiring and challenging young individuals to join her organization to empower the purpose of education for girls. This is empowering young girls to succeed in their future.

ANSWER

  Influential Figures Making a Notable Impact in Child and Youth Care

Introduction

The field of child and youth care is witnessing significant growth and transformation due to the tireless efforts of numerous individuals who advocate for justice and support the rights of children and youth. While not all of these individuals may be child and youth workers themselves, they contribute to the field by providing guidance and seeking justice for the younger generation. This paper will highlight the contributions of seven notable individuals, namely Jaha Dukureh, Opal Tometi, Bee Quammie, Malala Yousafzai, Robin M. Boylorn, and Michelle Obama. Each of these women offers a unique perspective on child and youth care and works towards creating a better future for children and youth.

Jaha Dukureh

Jaha Dukureh is a prominent activist who focuses on ending female genital mutilation and child marriage in Africa, with a particular emphasis on mobilizing youth  (Joshi et al., 2020). As the CEO and Founder of Safe Hands for Girls, Dukureh supports African girls who have survived genital mutilation and addresses the physical and psychological consequences of these practices. Dukureh’s personal experience as a survivor of arranged marriage drives her determination to fight for the rights of girls in Africa, challenging societal norms and advocating for change.

Opal Tometi

Opal Tometi is a human rights activist, writer, strategist, and community organizer. As one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement and the Executive Director at BAJI (Black Alliance for Just Immigration), Tometi uses various platforms, including TED Talks, videos, and conferences, to communicate her commitment to social justice. She addresses issues of social injustice, anti-black bias, and immigration through her powerful voice, empowering children, youth, and adults alike.

Bee Quammie

Bee Quammie is a feminist advocate who effectively utilizes social media as a platform for her activism. Through her websites, online articles, interviews, and advocacy at events, Quammie raises awareness about the importance of equal rights and opportunities for all individuals, including children and youth (Quammie et al., 2020). She fearlessly questions policies and government decisions that affect the education and well-being of children and youth, particularly within marginalized communities, and showcases her sense of humor in her engaging tweets.

 Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai is a globally recognized figure who advocates for girls’ education worldwide. Despite facing a targeted attack by extremists due to her support for girls’ education in Pakistan, Yousafzai survived and founded the Malala Fund. Through her foundation, she works tirelessly to ensure that every girl has access to education, empowering them to shape their own futures. Yousafzai’s determination has resulted in sending millions of girls to school, highlighting the transformative power of education.

 Robin M. Boylorn

Robin M. Boylorn is an anti-black feminist writer whose work provides valuable insights into the experiences of black communities and the challenges faced by black children and youth. Her writings, often used as resources in the field of child and youth care, examine cultural identities, media representations, and the impact of systemic racism. Boylorn’s articles shed light on the discrimination and negative stereotypes faced by black individuals, particularly youth, and contribute to the ongoing fight for justice and equality.

 Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama, through her Girls Opportunity Alliance, has made significant contributions to supporting girls’ education globally. Her organization has helped millions of adolescent girls who were previously out of school, providing them with opportunities for growth and empowerment (Haynes et al., 2019). Obama utilizes various platforms, including social media and interviews, to raise awareness about the importance of girls’ education and its positive impact on communities, economies, and overall well-being.

Conclusion

These seven influential women, Jaha Dukureh, Opal Tometi, Bee Quammie, Malala Yousafzai, Robin M. Boylorn, and Michelle Obama, have made substantial contributions to the field of child and youth care. Their tireless efforts to advocate for justice, support education, challenge stereotypes, and empower children and youth have had a transformative impact on societies globally. By amplifying their voices and sharing their stories, we can inspire future generations to continue the important work of promoting the well-being and rights of children and youth.

References

Haynes, C. S., & Block, R. (2019). Role-model-in-chief: understanding a Michelle Obama effect. Politics & Gender, 15(3), 365-402. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/politics-and-gender/article/rolemodelinchief-understanding-a-michelle-obama-effect/F3B50E41347FB6CD9DB1B9F740C7A691 

Joshi, C., Aliaga, J. R., & Insua, D. R. (2020). Insider threat modeling: An adversarial risk analysis approach. IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security, 16, 1131-1142.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9218982/

Quammie, B. (2020). YOU DON’T SOUND BLACK: MICROAGGRESSIONS, MAJOR TRAUMA. Men’s Health, 35(8), 53-56.https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA636080416&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=10544836&p=HRCA&sw=w