Realizing the persistence of traditional and cultural myths that continue to limit young women’s participation and voice in community affairs, the Community Youth Development Trust (CYDT) conducted Young Women’s Forums/Voices Fora during April 2026 to give young women a space to openly discuss these barriers and how they affect their lives.
The forums created an opportunity for young women to speak about beliefs and expectations that can discourage them from expressing their views, taking up leadership roles, making independent decisions or participating in community activities.
Through open discussions, participants reflected on how some traditional perceptions continue to influence the way young women are viewed and the opportunities available to them. The conversations allowed young women to share their experiences, question limiting stereotypes and discuss practical ways of becoming more confident and active within their communities.
The forums also connected personal experiences with wider community issues. Young women discussed how social expectations can affect their access to education, economic opportunities, leadership spaces and participation in local decision-making.
CYDT facilitated the discussions to ensure that young women were not simply recipients of information, but active participants in identifying the issues affecting them and expressing the changes they would like to see in their communities.
The April forums also provided an important peer-learning space. Young women were able to hear from others facing similar challenges, exchange experiences and encourage one another to participate more actively in community affairs.
The activity formed part of CYDT’s broader work to strengthen young women’s participation in local governance and community development. By creating dedicated spaces for young women to speak about the barriers they experience, the organisation is helping bring their perspectives into conversations that have traditionally been dominated by older community members and men.
The Young Women’s Forums demonstrated that challenging limiting cultural beliefs begins with creating spaces where young women can question them, speak openly about their experiences and participate in decisions affecting their lives and communities.