16-Year-Old Girl ‘Takes Over’ As The Swedish Ambassador

Wednesday provided a rare opportunity for  16-year-old Alice Salaita, to ‘take over’ as Swedish Ambassador to Kenya Her Excellency Anna Jardfelt for a day.

For Alice, her ‘Ambassadorial’ role began on early Tuesday morning when she was picked up in Ambassador Jardleft’s vehicle by Deputy Ambassador Michael Hjelmaker who chauffeured to meet Ambassador Anna at the Embassy in Nairobi.

Alice was warmly welcomed by Ambassador Jardleft who took her on an orientation tour of the Embassy of Sweden and the neighboring Embassy of Somalia hosted in the same compound.

Young Alice proceeded to her maiden ‘office’ where she chaired the weekly meeting with Political and Trade departmental heads of the Embassy to discuss various topical issues among them a feminist policy, Sweden-Kenya interactions on culture and environment.

Another highlight meeting as ‘Ambassador’ was meeting the gender and development officers at the embassy. She shared with them her personal story and challenges she has faced growing up in Kajiado County after she lost her father, the only breadwinner of her family of six children.

She was enrolled at Soila Maasai Rescue Center for her primary education, which saved her from practices like female genital mutilation and early marriage that are faced by girls her age in her community.

 “Getting a golden opportunity to step into the shoes of an Ambassador is overwhelming and humbling at the same time. This is a mind-shift to how I have viewed women’s leadership in my community. I also hope Ambassador Jardleft will visit my school in the near future. I am so excited for this opportunity to be a leader and make decisions on behalf of the Ambassador,” said an elated Alice who is currently a form one student at Illodokilani Secondary School in Kajiado.

Since 2016, several young women and girls have participated in the ‘Girls Take Over’ initiative across the country in various capacities as politicians, entertainment heads, teachers, army commanders, and Ambassadors. Among them was 17 years old Mary Georgina who ‘took over’ as Speaker of the National Assembly in 2018 while 9-year-old Silvia ‘worked’ as the Speaker of Homabay County Assembly in 2017.

The purpose of ‘Girls take Over is a call to action for radical social and political change to tear down barriers of discrimination and prejudice that continue to hold girls back.

On the other hand, Ambassador Jardleft said that there is a need to empower young women and girls and show them that they can also be our future leaders and decision-makers.

“Alice’s experience ‘taking over’ my role as the Ambassador is symbolic in encouraging young women and girls to study hard in school and achieve their career choices in the future. Educating them is the key to empowering them,” said Amb. Jardleft

Plan International Kenya Country Director Kate Maina-Vorley said Girls Take Over initiative recognizes girls as powerful agents of change and as the leaders of tomorrow. This platform provides visibility and drives new opportunities for action and investment in them. Girls will occupy spaces where they are rarely seen or heard and making it clear they have the right to be there without being silenced or ignored.

Celebrated every year on October 11, The International Day of the Girl Child was declared by the United Nations in 2011 as a day to recognize girls’ rights and support greater opportunities and the unique challenges girls face around the world.