I didn’t have real hope for the situation of women for a long time now. I felt like nothing will ever change, that some of my sisters and mothers will just suffer from society’s harms and die just because they were “women.” That I won’t be able to change anything.

But I found a new motivation – working with youth, impacting youth, involving men as much as I possibly can, and going after laws and seeking justice for all.

And my dear Colani Hlatjwako, the Africa coordinator of OBR offered me a tool, an opportunity to join the One Billion Rising Global movement for women.

And yes I have something to rise for in my country: I want youth, women, men to join me in solidarity to rise and stop gender based violence in Togo.

After the YALI(Young African Leaders Initiative) promotion in my city this week, I took the opportunity to explain the concept of the rising and all the participants accepted to join me and take action against gender based violence in our country. This is the first step.

TOGO RISING!