Luz, a girl with a Dream

Since she was little, Luz faced challenges that led her to raise her voice for the rights of girls and adolescents. Despite the difficulties, she found in the Leadership School a space to grow stronger and become a young leader committed to equality. Her story is a testimony of courage, perseverance, and empowerment, inspiring more girls to believe in themselves and fight for a future with more opportunities.

«My name is Luz, I am 17 years old, and I am from the Department of Caaguazú, Paraguay. I see myself in the future as a professional in the field of architecture and as a woman who helps my peers, especially girls, to know their rights, accompanying them in building a country where there is much more equality for everyone» she says with a hopeful smile.

However, the reality around her is hard. «Many girls cannot study because they have to work, selling herbs on the streets to bring some food home. Others are forced to drop out of school due to early pregnancies.» Luz could not stand idly by in the face of this situation. At school, together with her classmates, she spoke to younger girls, teaching them about their rights, encouraging them to continue their studies, and showing them that their voices have power.

But not everyone welcomed her leadership. When she ran for the presidency of the Student Council at her school, her team was made up entirely of women. Despite having more support and votes, she suffered a great injustice—she lost to a candidate who did not believe in women’s leadership. Manipulation and sexism took away her opportunity and self-esteem, but not her fighting spirit.

Wanting to help those who were also victims of bullying, she became a victim herself, becoming the target of mockery, which led her to change schools. She shared that those were difficult months—she stopped attending school and felt powerless. However, she was always supported by her mother, her family, and friends from the Leadership School of Plan International Paraguay, who helped her rebuild her confidence and realize that her voice still mattered.

Luz has a message for all girls:
“Fight for your dreams, but above all, know your rights. Never give up, because there will always be someone who will support you.”

Luz, girl leader

International Women’s Day is special for her. It is the day when all women unite in a single voice—a cry for struggle and hope for a better future. «The country of my dreams is a country without violence against girls and women. The country of my dreams is a country without bullying. The country of my dreams is a country where the State provides greater security for girls and women on the streets.»

Plan International Paraguay’s Leadership School

We support adolescent leadership in a protected space for training, exchange, and participation. There, we encourage them to gain self-confidence and express their perspectives in community spaces. Additionally, we strengthen their leadership skills, their knowledge of their rights, and their reflection on their development opportunities, helping them build life plans that project their potential. Our goal is to encourage adolescents to explore their dreams as a starting point for shaping their paths according to their interests.

Thanks to her participation in Plan International Paraguay’s Leadership School, Luz found a space where she could express herself freely, gain self-confidence, and strengthen her role as a leader in her community. She learned to defend her rights and those of other girls and women. This allowed her to represent her community in different spaces, including the Power Takeovers, where she assumed the role of Minister of Employment, Labor, and Social Security. Through that experience, she understood the importance of speaking with confidence, making her voice heard, and fighting for real change.

The Paraguay We Want

Luz dreams of a country where no girl has to drop out of school to work, where pregnant girls can complete their education, and where bullying no longer extinguishes dreams.