Aline Sibomana, 19, Arizona
Girls For A Change

Alina Sibomana

Aline Sibomana is one outstanding teen leader. She helped get a chapter of national activist organization Girls For a Change (GFC) up and running in Phoenix, Arizona. GFC empowers teen girls to create and lead social change through Girl Action Teams. Each team consists of ten girls and two women coaches and meets throughout the school year. First they pick an issue they want to change, and then they work on changing it. Aline knows how important it is to be active in your community, and her efforts help other girls realize it too.

Teen Voices: When did you start volunteering at Girls For A Change?
Aline Sibomana: I started volunteering when I was 16 in 2005.

TV: How did you hear about the organization?
Aline: I heard about it through my school, GateWay Early College High School. Our principal, Yvonne Watterson, was instrumental in bringing Girls For A Change to Phoenix and wanted to make sure all of the girls in the school knew about the opportunity to join GFC, so we had a school assembly.

TV: What do you do at Girls For A Change?
Aline: Girls For A Change is a non-profit that empowers girls to create social change. Teams of girls, called Girl Action Teams, have two women volunteers called GFC Coaches. The Coaches support the girls in identifying a community issue they want to work on and then designing and implementing a social change project to tackle that issue. I am a part of the Phoenix Girl Steering Committee. We are the girl leadership body of the Phoenix site and we meet regularly to plan events for girls in the GFC program, assist the staff in decision making, and represent GFC at events in the community. Every day with Girls For A Change is amazing because I know that I’m helping girls discover their voices and in turn I have discovered my own. Girls For A Change has given me the opportunity to meet many women leaders in my community. I have also had the honor of emceeing at GFC girl events such as Spring into Action and the annual Completion Ceremony. I’ve spoken at GFC fundraising events and have shared my personal story with others. There are so many rewards to being involved with GFC. I know that I’m making a difference and that’s something that I think that everyone should have the opportunity to do.

TV: What has been your proudest moment or your biggest achievement at Girls For A Change?
Aline: My proudest moment is everyday when I realize that I’m making a difference in girls’ lives. My biggest achievement is realizing my full potential and believing that I can do anything.

TV: How do other teens respond to the work you do? Are they supportive?
Aline: Other teens are supportive. I think it is because we all want to create change in our communities and ourselves, but some of us just need the tools and support to do it. GFC gives girls those tools and the support.

TV: Is your family supportive of your activism?
Aline: My family comes from Burundi, Africa and while they are supportive, they don’t get why I do what I do. I do it because I want to let girls know that they can succeed.

TV: Why do you think it is important for teens to get involved in activism?
Aline: I believe that we are all placed on this earth to do good; teens should be involved in activism because we are the future and we can help shape how that future is going to look.

TV: Do you think teens are well-informed when it comes to the changes they can make in their communities?
Aline: I don’t think so because until Girls For A Change I didn’t know that I could make change. GFC helps teens realize that they can be change agents. They don’t teach change in school.

TV: What is the most important thing you would like teens to know about the difference they can make?
Aline: I want to let teens know that if they see something in their communities they don’t like, they should do something about it. Like Maya Angelou says, “If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain.” Teens can truly make change if they set their minds to it. And girls can check out GFC’s website for ways they can get involved in starting GFC where they live!

TV: Do you plan to continue in this field after you graduate? What's the next step for you?
Aline: I do plan to stay with Girls For A Change when I graduate, and I do plan to continue helping people, especially new refugees, in my community.

TV: Tell us a little bit about yourself: Where are you from? How many siblings do you have? What do you do for fun?
Aline: I’m from Bujumbura, Burundi, in Africa. I came to the USA in 1999 and I have nine siblings. For fun, I like to work with new refugees in their transition to living in the Phoenix area.