Girls Run The World Australia
Commonwealth Points of Light 219. Asha Clementi
Asha Clementi, representing Australia, aged 22, is inspiring young women from diverse backgrounds to gain experience in diplomacy and develop leadership skills through her initiative ‘Girls Run The World’.
Asha started volunteering at the age of 15 with YWCA Canberra, which included speaking at the ACT Legislative Assembly about domestic violence, and with UN Youth, taking part in the UN Youth Australia Pacific Project. Her experience representing the National Council of Women Australia at the UN Commission on the Status of Women inspired her to launch her own voluntary initiatives to empower other young women, support them with honing leadership skills and building networks to help further their careers. In 2017, at the age of 17, she co-founded ‘The Girls Leadership Network’ with her mother, a programme which has provided free training, workshops and development opportunities to over 250 girls aged 16-21. Following this, she set up ‘Girls Run The World’, an initiative which now works with Embassies and High Commissions based in Canberra, allowing participants to meet with Ambassadors, discuss humanitarian issues, and work alongside Embassy staff.
Vicki Treadell CMG MVO, British High Commissioner to Australia, said:
“I’m delighted to see Asha receive this recognition for her dedication to supporting and empowering young women and girls, an agenda I am personally very committed to. It is especially important to open opportunities to those who would not normally have such access. Asha has shown long term and significant commitment to volunteering and supporting her community including (but not limited to), through her leadership with the Girls Leadership Network and Girls Run the World.
“I’ve seen first-hand the impact of Asha’s work when hosting some of the participants of Girls Run the World at the British High Commission.”
Asha said:
“It means so much to me to receive the Points of Light Award – there are so many incredible people helping their communities around the world that have received this award and I am so humbled to be one of them. This award would not have happened without all of the hard work done by our volunteers on The Girls Leadership Network and Girls Run the World, especially Ritu Clementi.
“I have been so privileged to be able to work with the British High Commission and so many other diplomatic missions here in Canberra to empower young women to pursue a career in diplomacy through the Girls Run the World program. This program would not have been possible without the willingness of them, and so many others, to open their doors to young women. Gender equality in diplomacy, especially at the top levels of diplomacy, still has so far to go and the empowerment of young women is key to helping us get there.”