I Belong To Me (Children's book)

“I Belong To Me” is a celebration of the African History and Heritage on Girls’ and Women’s Human Rights and the path towards the elimination of Harmful Practices, Female Genital Mutilation and Child Marriage. The main character, an 11 year-old girl called Saleema, travels the Continent to visit the cities where the main African policies related to Girls and Women’s rights were adopted in order to discover that there is legitimacy and power in her voice and in her dreams. The book explains, in a simple and accessible manner, concepts such as Girls and Women’s Rights, Bodily Integrity and Bodily Autonomy. Far from the anichean vision, “I Belong To Me” explores the power of Pan-African intergenerational dialogue and the crucial role played by communication and collaboration at family and community level in reaching Agenda 2063 Aspirations.
The book was written, illustrated, and proofread by a team composed exclusively of African Women, coming from different regions and backgrounds, in order to ensure cultural authenticity. The story is anchored in African Culture and social structures for the book to be a conversation starter and an interactive tool at grassroots level.