Disclaimer: The author of this article uses an asterisk (*) to indicate the inclusion of a broad spectrum of individuals who have experienced socialisation and life as a girl or woman, as well as those who identify as girls or women, including gender non-conforming and transgender individuals.
About
This article explores the Girls* Advisory Group (G*AG), established as part of the Safer Cities for Girls* project, organised by the Juniper Foundation and PLAN International Poland. GAG is made up of six young individuals, aged 17 to 24, who are deeply committed to ensuring that women’s* safety in cities is taken seriously. The article highlights the group’s work and achievements to date. From a media campaign to a conference, G*AG has been actively involved in a range of engaging projects and events, all detailed in this piece.
Written by
Maria Zaborska, a member of the Girls* Advisory Group1
Amplifying Youth Voices for Safer Cities
The Girls* Advisory Group (G*AG) was created as part of the Safer Cities for Girls* project, organised by WAVE member Juniper Foundation and PLAN International Poland, to amplify youth voices in the debate about women*’s safety. The project focuses on enhancing the safety and activity of women* in public spaces, their mobility and autonomy in cities, and their freedom to live as they choose.
We, Marysia, Małgosia, Mika, Hania, Natalia, and Yeva, are proud members of G*AG. Together, we work to educate the public through our personal experiences with (un)safety. Our approach is rooted in a peer-to-peer method, which means working on equal terms without hierarchy. We have aimed to create a space where every voice is valued, not as “expert” or “learner”, but as a unique contribution. By doing so, we acknowledge that every voice matters. Each experience is different, but that doesn’t make it any less worthy of being shared.
From the beginning of our journey with G*AG, we have focused on showing that our expertise is rooted in our unique experiences with safety and unsafety, making our voices a valuable and important part of this conversation.
Our work began on Instagram, where we use our group account, @ohmy_gag, to make our voices heard. The content we create follows five themes: education, recommendations, experiences, news, and freedom. We are free to write about whatever feels important to us, creating a unique mix of voices, stories, and opinions. We let our diversity shine through our Instagram profile while keeping a clear message: women*’s safety must be taken seriously.
However, our work extends far beyond social media. On 5 October 2024, we hosted our first in-person advocacy event. This was the culmination of months of work on women*’s safety in cities like Warsaw and Krakow.
During the event, we presented reports prepared by researchers from the Juniper Foundation and PLAN International Poland, shared insights into how G*AG operates, and most importantly, exchanged experiences with other participants. The event concluded with a creative zine-making activity about safety, adding an artistic touch to the day.
We were also deeply involved in the #BezpieczeństwoNaJuż (#SafetyRightNow) campaign. From participating in the campaign video and choosing the slogan to promoting it in the media, we played an active role at every stage to ensure it resonated with our peers. The campaign officially launched on 11 October, the International Day of the Girl Child. On that same day, we attended a conference to share our work, activities, and involvement in the Safer Cities project. We highlighted the importance of the “nothing about us, without us” approach, stressing how crucial it is to include young people in all of their diversity in initiatives like ours.
Our voices were not limited to Poland. Just two days after the conference, we travelled to Brussels to exchange knowledge and experiences with organisations like WAVE member Garance ASBL and PLAN International Belgium, both of which have years of experience in improving safety.
During our visit, we worked tirelessly to share our message, explain why groups like G*AG are essential, and demonstrate how they can improve project outcomes. This trip was also an opportunity to connect with other young activists, share stories, and spark new ideas.
After over six months of hard work, we still have the energy and passion to do more. The Girls* Advisory Group has so much more to say and do. We want to spread our message further and show other young people that they can change the world around them by getting involved in initiatives like ours.
So, next time you walk through a city, take a moment to think about how it could be improved. What could be planned differently? How does the city affect you and the people around you? If you notice something you do not like, speak up and change it for the better.
Are you a youth activist passionate about creating a world free from gender-based violence? Explore the WAVE Campaigning and Advocacy Toolkit for Young Activists, available in English and Polish2. This resource is here to support your efforts! Check out HERE!
- https://bezpieczenstwonajuz.pl/ ↩︎
- Thanks to WAVE member Juniper and translated as part of the Safer Cities for Girls project ↩︎
