Girls and Young Women’s Advocacy Network (GYWAN) is a vibrant, young woman-led organization born out of lived experience, deep conviction, and a refusal to accept the status quo.
Our founder, Mellicentia Boateng, grew up in a community where inequality was the norm, a place where girls were expected to remain silent, stay small, and survive systems built against them. For years, she believed this reality was unchangeable, until exposure to knowledge and advocacy opened her eyes. That awakening stirred something powerful: a commitment to raise her voice and never again be silent in the face of injustice.
Coming from a home affected by gender-based violence, Mellicentia intimately understood the pain of silence, fear, and invisibility. She vowed not just to break that cycle for herself, but to build a movement where no girl or young woman would have to endure it again, alone or unheard.
What began as a bold idea has grown into GYWAN, a fast-growing network of passionate young women and allies working to dismantle the barriers that hold girls back. Founded on the belief that every young person deserves to thrive in a safe, inclusive, and rights-respecting society, GYWAN emerged as a movement for gender equality, youth empowerment, and social justice.
Our leadership is powered by vibrant, committed young women and men who bring their energy, experience, and vision to every space we occupy—from grassroots communities to national policy tables and international platforms. We design and lead campaigns, capacity-building initiatives, and advocacy efforts that amplify the voices of girls and young women, not just as beneficiaries, but as co-creators and leaders of lasting change.
