UN, Vodacom and Partners Unite to Celebrate Girls’ Leadership and Call for Inclusive Economies on the International Day of the Girl Child 2025

Pretoria, South Africa — 10 October 2025: The United Nations in South Africa, in partnership with Vodacom and the UN Global Compact Network South Africa, commemorated the International Day of the Girl Child 2025 under the theme “Her Future, Her Power: An Intergenerational Dialogue for Change” at Vodaworld in Midrand.

This year’s commemoration aligned with the global theme, “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis,” highlighting girls’ leadership in shaping solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges — from climate change to digital inequity. It echoed the conviction voiced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres that “every girl, everywhere, deserves equality, opportunity, and dignity.”

The International Day of the Girl Child serves as a powerful global platform to amplify girls’ voices, spotlight persistent barriers to equality — including unequal access to education, digital and economic exclusion, and gender-based violence — and reaffirm that girls’ empowerment is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The event opened with remarks from Matimba Mbungela, Chief Human Resources Officer at Vodacom Group, who emphasized Vodacom’s ongoing commitment to bridging gender divides in technology and leadership.

“We are proud to have partnered with the United Nations in South Africa and UN Global Compact Network South Africa on 'Her Future, Her Power: An Intergenerational Dialogue for Change,' bringing together industry and UN leaders, changemakers and young girls themselves. The focus being to amplify girls’ voices and drive concrete commitments for a gender-equal future. At Vodacom, our commitment to girls' empowerment extends beyond a single day. Through initiatives like Code Like a Girl, which has trained over 27,000 girls across Africa, Techstart, which aims to upskill 1 million young people, and being on track to attain over 50% female EXCO representation in most of our markets by 2030, we continue to invest in building Africa's future workforce and leadership pipeline,” said Mr. Mbungela.

In a special video message, Mr. Nelson Muffuh, the UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa, underscored the importance of multi-sector partnerships and sustained investment in girls’ empowerment:

“Empowering girls is the foundation for a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. This Day reminds us that every girl deserves the right to dream freely, learn fully, and lead boldly.”

Delivering the keynote address, Ambassador Nozipho January-Bardill, a leading Pan-African and global advocate for social justice and gender equality, called for urgent and sustained action to unlock girls’ leadership potential.

“Girls and women have always been at the forefront of change — but what they need now is access to platforms, capital, and leadership pathways that match their potential. Equality cannot wait,” she affirmed.

The programme featured creative performances and testimonials under the banner “Her Voice, Her Power,” followed by an industry leaders’ panel discussion moderated by Ms. Precious Magogodi, UNFPA Youth Specialist. Panellists included:

• Dr. Sunshine Myende, Chairperson, National Youth Development Agency
• Refilwe Nkabinde, Financial Director, Vodacom South Africa
• Akhona “She Ref” Makalima, FIFA Referee and Founder of the SheRef Foundation
• Sophie Mokoena, International News Editor, SABC

A fireside conversation brought together young leaders Candice Chirwa (Founder, Qrate), Violet Letsoalo (Vodacom), and Qhawekazi Mazaleni (Miss South Africa Top 10 Finalist), who reflected on their journeys of resilience, innovation, and advocacy under the theme “Becoming Impactful Leaders.”

The event culminated in the presentation of a Joint Declaration: “Commitments for Girls’ Empowerment 2025,” outlining concrete pledges to advance mentorship, digital skills development, and inclusive business practices.

“The private sector holds immense power to reshape the future for women and girls. This platform is about moving from inspiration to implementation — mobilizing companies to invest in equality, amplify girls’ leadership, and ensure they are not just part of the conversation but at the forefront of change,” participants affirmed.

More than a celebration, the gathering marked the beginning of a sustained effort to strengthen collaboration between the UN system, corporate leaders, and youth advocates. It also served as a springboard for the forthcoming “Women Leading Change Summit,” envisioned as an annual platform to drive concrete partnerships, measurable commitments, and collective accountability — ensuring that every girl in South Africa can lead, innovate, and shape the inclusive future she deserves.

For media enquiries and interviews, please contact:
• Leigh-Ann Chetty, Vodacom, Email: Leighann.chetty@vodacom.co.za 
• Eunice Namugwe, UN Information Centre – Pretoria, Email: namugwe@un.org
• Rethabile Mbokodi, UN Global Compact Network South Africa, Email:  rethabilem@globalcompactsa.org.za