Nineteen-year-old Maleeha Nadir spent a day at the UNICEF Islamabad office stepping into the role of UNICEF Gender Specialist Fahmida Iqbal as part of a Girls Takeover hosted with UN Women Pakistan and the Pakistan Girl Guides Association National Headquarters.
During the Girls Takeover Maleeha led team discussions, engaged with staff across different sections, and articulated a clear vision for girls’ empowerment while offering thoughtful insights on the challenges facing adolescent girls in Pakistan.
She was accompanied by fellow girl guide Haida Kashif and PGGA Programme Secretary Ramsha Alam, highlighting the importance of youth representation in decision making and program discussions at UNICEF.
Advancing gender equality is essential to unlocking progress for every child, from expanding access to education and improving child nutrition to strengthening health, protection and opportunities that enable girls to reach their full potential. The Girls Takeover reflects a commitment to strengthening girls’ leadership and ensuring their voices are heard in policy and program spaces.
