hello everyone my name is Lila and I’m 17 years old and I’m from North barium
17 years old and I’m from North barium
17 years old and I’m from North barium Academy and the title of my speech today
Academy and the title of my speech today
Academy and the title of my speech today is the dispense of childhood it’s
is the dispense of childhood it’s
is the dispense of childhood it’s something that I’m very passionate about
something that I’m very passionate about
something that I’m very passionate about which is why I’m here to discuss it
which is why I’m here to discuss it
which is why I’m here to discuss it today when I look at this picture it
today when I look at this picture it
today when I look at this picture it emits everything that childhood is
emits everything that childhood is
emits everything that childhood is supposed to be told it is supposed to be
supposed to be told it is supposed to be
supposed to be told it is supposed to be happiness it’s supposed to be optimism
happiness it’s supposed to be optimism
happiness it’s supposed to be optimism it’s supposed to be hope and it’s
it’s supposed to be hope and it’s
it’s supposed to be hope and it’s supposed to be a carefree mentality now
supposed to be a carefree mentality now
supposed to be a carefree mentality now when I was given a stimulus taking
when I was given a stimulus taking
when I was given a stimulus taking flight I was a bit caught off guard
flight I was a bit caught off guard
flight I was a bit caught off guard what does taking flight even mean it’s a
what does taking flight even mean it’s a
what does taking flight even mean it’s a bit of an odd way to start off with
bit of an odd way to start off with
bit of an odd way to start off with something then I realize the more that I
something then I realize the more that I
something then I realize the more that I research that in order to understand
research that in order to understand
research that in order to understand what taking flight means we have to look
what taking flight means we have to look
what taking flight means we have to look inside who we are and when spiars us as
inside who we are and when spiars us as
inside who we are and when spiars us as individuals now personally to me taking
individuals now personally to me taking
individuals now personally to me taking flight means when you’re a child you
flight means when you’re a child you
flight means when you’re a child you believe that you can conquer anything on
believe that you can conquer anything on
believe that you can conquer anything on this planet no mister no missus is gonna
this planet no mister no missus is gonna
this planet no mister no missus is gonna tell you no you can’t do it you can do
tell you no you can’t do it you can do
tell you no you can’t do it you can do it when you put your heart and your soul
it when you put your heart and your soul
it when you put your heart and your soul into it now I have a younger sister and
into it now I have a younger sister and
into it now I have a younger sister and she’s now 14 when she was a toddler she
she’s now 14 when she was a toddler she
she’s now 14 when she was a toddler she took this ivar so literally so much so
took this ivar so literally so much so
took this ivar so literally so much so she’s the climb on top the fridge scream
she’s the climb on top the fridge scream
she’s the climb on top the fridge scream I am on top of the world and then jump
I am on top of the world and then jump
I am on top of the world and then jump off face friend all the time my absolute
off face friend all the time my absolute
off face friend all the time my absolute inspiration she is but stories like that
inspiration she is but stories like that
inspiration she is but stories like that show to me what childhood is supposed to
show to me what childhood is supposed to
show to me what childhood is supposed to be we all have that unique passion to
be we all have that unique passion to
be we all have that unique passion to conquer anything on this planet it
conquer anything on this planet it
conquer anything on this planet it doesn’t matter whether you want to be
doesn’t matter whether you want to be
doesn’t matter whether you want to be the next princess of Candyland or the
the next princess of Candyland or the
the next princess of Candyland or the next greatest fire fighter or in my case
next greatest fire fighter or in my case
next greatest fire fighter or in my case the next John Cena absolutely love him
the next John Cena absolutely love him
the next John Cena absolutely love him you can do anything that you want
you can do anything that you want
you can do anything that you want anything on this planet
anything on this planet
anything on this planet unfortunately I understand that I’m from
unfortunately I understand that I’m from
unfortunately I understand that I’m from a privileged background and not everyone
a privileged background and not everyone
a privileged background and not everyone does experience this some children on
does experience this some children on
does experience this some children on this planet they have their lives taken
this planet they have their lives taken
this planet they have their lives taken off them their innocence removed from
off them their innocence removed from
off them their innocence removed from them and then they can take flight to
them and then they can take flight to
them and then they can take flight to the futures that they want to go to
the futures that they want to go to
the futures that they want to go to which brings me to the topic of my
which brings me to the topic of my
which brings me to the topic of my speech today FGM which stands for female
speech today FGM which stands for female
speech today FGM which stands for female genital mutilation this occurs two girls
genital mutilation this occurs two girls
genital mutilation this occurs two girls from 0 to 15 years of age and it
from 0 to 15 years of age and it
from 0 to 15 years of age and it involves things such as burning scarring
involves things such as burning scarring
involves things such as burning scarring or even cutting on the female genitalia
or even cutting on the female genitalia
or even cutting on the female genitalia now as you can see 133 million girls
now as you can see 133 million girls
now as you can see 133 million girls today in 29 countries in Africa the
today in 29 countries in Africa the
today in 29 countries in Africa the Middle East and Asia
Middle East and Asia
Middle East and Asia have undergone this procedure and not
have undergone this procedure and not
have undergone this procedure and not only does it remove the innocence of
only does it remove the innocence of
only does it remove the innocence of childhood it also removes the the
childhood it also removes the the
childhood it also removes the the opportunities that you’re provided with
opportunities that you’re provided with
opportunities that you’re provided with in adulthood such as a great sexual
in adulthood such as a great sexual
in adulthood such as a great sexual health or even a functioning
health or even a functioning
health or even a functioning reproductive system things like this
reproductive system things like this
reproductive system things like this show me that we need to take a stand
show me that we need to take a stand
show me that we need to take a stand today to help the our girls in our
today to help the our girls in our
today to help the our girls in our future now as you can see this shows
future now as you can see this shows
future now as you can see this shows this obviously highlights about the
this obviously highlights about the
this obviously highlights about the innocence of children has been taken
innocence of children has been taken
innocence of children has been taken away through these tools that they’d use
away through these tools that they’d use
away through these tools that they’d use to perform female genital mutilation on
to perform female genital mutilation on
to perform female genital mutilation on the girls here I have a map showing the
the girls here I have a map showing the
the girls here I have a map showing the African countries in which female
African countries in which female
African countries in which female genital mutilation takes place we have
genital mutilation takes place we have
genital mutilation takes place we have places like Somalia Kenya Nigeria and
places like Somalia Kenya Nigeria and
places like Somalia Kenya Nigeria and Chad now if you look further down
Chad now if you look further down
Chad now if you look further down towards the bottom I can see my own
towards the bottom I can see my own
towards the bottom I can see my own country Zimbabwe in which it says female
country Zimbabwe in which it says female
country Zimbabwe in which it says female genital mutilation does not it’s not
genital mutilation does not it’s not
genital mutilation does not it’s not widely practiced but I’m here to tell
widely practiced but I’m here to tell
widely practiced but I’m here to tell you that not widely practice is not good
you that not widely practice is not good
you that not widely practice is not good enough for me I want no child on this
enough for me I want no child on this
enough for me I want no child on this whole planet to ever have to experience
whole planet to ever have to experience
whole planet to ever have to experience such a traumatic thing also here as you
such a traumatic thing also here as you
such a traumatic thing also here as you can see these are predominately Muslim
can see these are predominately Muslim
can see these are predominately Muslim countries now another thing that bothers
countries now another thing that bothers
countries now another thing that bothers me about FGM is a lot of people label it
me about FGM is a lot of people label it
me about FGM is a lot of people label it and attach it to a religion FGM does not
and attach it to a religion FGM does not
and attach it to a religion FGM does not belong to religion terrorism does not
belong to religion terrorism does not
belong to religion terrorism does not belong to religion much like racism or
belong to religion much like racism or
belong to religion much like racism or anything negative that you can think of
anything negative that you can think of
anything negative that you can think of this is merely a cultural concept it’s
this is merely a cultural concept it’s
this is merely a cultural concept it’s been taken out of hand and today we can
been taken out of hand and today we can
been taken out of hand and today we can they make take a stand against it so in
they make take a stand against it so in
they make take a stand against it so in the UK alone one hundred one thousand
the UK alone one hundred one thousand
the UK alone one hundred one thousand and thirty seven girls have gone under
and thirty seven girls have gone under
and thirty seven girls have gone under FGM so a statistic to me when I saw
FGM so a statistic to me when I saw
FGM so a statistic to me when I saw actually took me aback if you take a
actually took me aback if you take a
actually took me aback if you take a moment to think about it this could be
moment to think about it this could be
moment to think about it this could be your mother your sister your neighbor or
your mother your sister your neighbor or
your mother your sister your neighbor or even your auntie now when I told people
even your auntie now when I told people
even your auntie now when I told people today I’m gonna be talking about FGM
today I’m gonna be talking about FGM
today I’m gonna be talking about FGM people for a bit taken aback they were
people for a bit taken aback they were
people for a bit taken aback they were like oh my la that’s a bit random but
like oh my la that’s a bit random but
like oh my la that’s a bit random but the inspiration behind FGM has come from
the inspiration behind FGM has come from
the inspiration behind FGM has come from my mother who was a great auntie nurse
my mother who was a great auntie nurse
my mother who was a great auntie nurse if you can think of the most shocking
if you can think of the most shocking
if you can think of the most shocking thing she’s probably treated it with her
thing she’s probably treated it with her
thing she’s probably treated it with her eyes closed she’s absolutely fantastic
eyes closed she’s absolutely fantastic
eyes closed she’s absolutely fantastic but from her own experience she’s
but from her own experience she’s
but from her own experience she’s actually said that nothing has ever
actually said that nothing has ever
actually said that nothing has ever affected her more or been more
affected her more or been more
affected her more or been more heartbreaking than seeing a
heartbreaking than seeing a
heartbreaking than seeing a fourteen-year-old girl cry when she
fourteen-year-old girl cry when she
fourteen-year-old girl cry when she merely touches our arm tubes
merely touches our arm tubes
merely touches our arm tubes stories like that actually inspired me
stories like that actually inspired me
stories like that actually inspired me to stand here today another reason why I
to stand here today another reason why I
to stand here today another reason why I want to help the girls that have been
want to help the girls that have been
want to help the girls that have been silenced I have in their and I having
silenced I have in their and I having
silenced I have in their and I having their innocence removed from them so how
their innocence removed from them so how
their innocence removed from them so how do we combat as such a phenomena without
do we combat as such a phenomena without
do we combat as such a phenomena without insulting or belittling other cultures
insulting or belittling other cultures
insulting or belittling other cultures and other traditions well first of all
and other traditions well first of all
and other traditions well first of all we recognize recognizing the symptoms of
we recognize recognizing the symptoms of
we recognize recognizing the symptoms of girls that have gone under FGM or are
girls that have gone under FGM or are
girls that have gone under FGM or are potential victims towards it is a key
potential victims towards it is a key
potential victims towards it is a key part in the movement symptoms of girls
part in the movement symptoms of girls
part in the movement symptoms of girls that have already gone under FGM include
that have already gone under FGM include
that have already gone under FGM include difficulty walking or sitting or even
difficulty walking or sitting or even
difficulty walking or sitting or even what running or even standing symptoms
what running or even standing symptoms
what running or even standing symptoms of girls that are at potential threats
of girls that are at potential threats
of girls that are at potential threats to female genital mutilation involves
to female genital mutilation involves
to female genital mutilation involves sudden absences from school abrupt
sudden absences from school abrupt
sudden absences from school abrupt holidays in which they’re preparing to
holidays in which they’re preparing to
holidays in which they’re preparing to become a woman or preparing for a
become a woman or preparing for a
become a woman or preparing for a marriage ceremony
marriage ceremony
marriage ceremony um second of all conversation
um second of all conversation
um second of all conversation conversation is so key in my life if you
conversation is so key in my life if you
conversation is so key in my life if you ask any of my teachers any of my friends
ask any of my teachers any of my friends
ask any of my teachers any of my friends I love to talk like a lot I believe that
I love to talk like a lot I believe that
I love to talk like a lot I believe that when we talk about taboos subjects
when we talk about taboos subjects
when we talk about taboos subjects subjects that no one wants to talk about
subjects that no one wants to talk about
subjects that no one wants to talk about and we take uh sincere and humble
and we take uh sincere and humble
and we take uh sincere and humble approach we solve the problems in our
approach we solve the problems in our
approach we solve the problems in our universe but this only happens when we
universe but this only happens when we
universe but this only happens when we when we step out of our comfort zone and
when we step out of our comfort zone and
when we step out of our comfort zone and talk to people they’re not like us some
talk to people they’re not like us some
talk to people they’re not like us some people aren’t from the same religion
people aren’t from the same religion
people aren’t from the same religion same race same background in terms of
same race same background in terms of
same race same background in terms of economics so how does this relate to
economics so how does this relate to
economics so how does this relate to taking flight well much like the
taking flight well much like the
taking flight well much like the functions of a plane each and every
functions of a plane each and every
functions of a plane each and every single individual in society has their
single individual in society has their
single individual in society has their role to play some of us are pilots some
role to play some of us are pilots some
role to play some of us are pilots some of us are Co pilots
of us are Co pilots
of us are Co pilots some of us are engines and others are
some of us are engines and others are
some of us are engines and others are gears when we come together we form
gears when we come together we form
gears when we come together we form something beautiful a planning which
something beautiful a planning which
something beautiful a planning which helps our young girls today in order to
helps our young girls today in order to
helps our young girls today in order to reach the futures that they want to
reach the futures that they want to
reach the futures that they want to accomplish some of them want to be
accomplish some of them want to be
accomplish some of them want to be doctors and we can be the ones to help
doctors and we can be the ones to help
doctors and we can be the ones to help that so as young people what can we do
that so as young people what can we do
that so as young people what can we do why are we the ones have to solve this
why are we the ones have to solve this
why are we the ones have to solve this problem together well as young people we
problem together well as young people we
problem together well as young people we are the innovators inspire us and the
are the innovators inspire us and the
are the innovators inspire us and the creators of tomorrow I believe that as a
creators of tomorrow I believe that as a
creators of tomorrow I believe that as a community when we come together when we
community when we come together when we
community when we come together when we we must honor each other walking hand in
we must honor each other walking hand in
we must honor each other walking hand in hand with our wings interlocks in order
hand with our wings interlocks in order
hand with our wings interlocks in order to provide allies for our girls in the
to provide allies for our girls in the
to provide allies for our girls in the future in order for them to become
future in order for them to become
future in order for them to become better people and not
better people and not
better people and not for them but for us too because when we
for them but for us too because when we
for them but for us too because when we put our hearts and minds into it and we
put our hearts and minds into it and we
put our hearts and minds into it and we become the plane that our society needs
become the plane that our society needs
become the plane that our society needs I believe our society will emit
I believe our society will emit
I believe our society will emit prosperity dignity rule of law justice
prosperity dignity rule of law justice
prosperity dignity rule of law justice peace hope freedom equality and trust
peace hope freedom equality and trust
peace hope freedom equality and trust thank you guys for listening I’m Lila
thank you guys for listening I’m Lila
thank you guys for listening I’m Lila [Applause]
Lila the bravery just the bravery in
Lila the bravery just the bravery in tackling a subject as I said that is
tackling a subject as I said that is
tackling a subject as I said that is quite a difficult one we were talking
quite a difficult one we were talking
quite a difficult one we were talking backstage and you know when I said to
backstage and you know when I said to
backstage and you know when I said to you how long have you known about this
you how long have you known about this
you how long have you known about this and you’ve said a couple of months I had
and you’ve said a couple of months I had
and you’ve said a couple of months I had this little pang of guilt yeah I’ve
this little pang of guilt yeah I’ve
this little pang of guilt yeah I’ve known about it longer and I haven’t do
known about it longer and I haven’t do
known about it longer and I haven’t do anything what is it that inspired you
anything what is it that inspired you
anything what is it that inspired you from hearing this from hearing stories
from hearing this from hearing stories
from hearing this from hearing stories from your mom to say actually no we need
from your mom to say actually no we need
from your mom to say actually no we need to do something about this what made you
to do something about this what made you
to do something about this what made you change your kind of passion into action
change your kind of passion into action
change your kind of passion into action well in terms of when I had to look at
well in terms of when I had to look at
well in terms of when I had to look at myself first I’ve been fortunate enough
myself first I’ve been fortunate enough
myself first I’ve been fortunate enough to have such great teachers such such a
to have such great teachers such such a
to have such great teachers such such a great parents and they’ve shown me that
great parents and they’ve shown me that
great parents and they’ve shown me that if you see something wrong you have to
if you see something wrong you have to
if you see something wrong you have to take a stand towards it doesn’t matter
take a stand towards it doesn’t matter
take a stand towards it doesn’t matter how little it doesn’t matter your age
how little it doesn’t matter your age
how little it doesn’t matter your age wherever you come from those factors
wherever you come from those factors
wherever you come from those factors don’t matter when you start to talk
don’t matter when you start to talk
don’t matter when you start to talk about things when you want to take
about things when you want to take
about things when you want to take action that’s when change begins so I’ve
action that’s when change begins so I’ve
action that’s when change begins so I’ve been inspired by the people around me do
been inspired by the people around me do
been inspired by the people around me do you know one thing I thought of when I
you know one thing I thought of when I
you know one thing I thought of when I was listening to you is that revolutions
was listening to you is that revolutions
was listening to you is that revolutions never start at the top they start with
never start at the top they start with
never start at the top they start with one caring person just you they start
one caring person just you they start
one caring person just you they start with you and I think that’s what you’ve
with you and I think that’s what you’ve
with you and I think that’s what you’ve started a but there is one you talk
started a but there is one you talk
started a but there is one you talk about your teachers and adults but there
about your teachers and adults but there
about your teachers and adults but there is one special teacher we were talk
is one special teacher we were talk
is one special teacher we were talk about before who I said to Lyla who
about before who I said to Lyla who
about before who I said to Lyla who inspires you and what did you say
inspires you and what did you say
inspires you and what did you say Shirin I said a Miss Blake she’s in the
Shirin I said a Miss Blake she’s in the
Shirin I said a Miss Blake she’s in the crowd today miss Blake where are you
crowd today miss Blake where are you
crowd today miss Blake where are you give it up for miss Blake well she’s
give it up for miss Blake well she’s
give it up for miss Blake well she’s such an amazing piece
such an amazing piece
such an amazing piece they she’s trying to get smaller and
they she’s trying to get smaller and
they she’s trying to get smaller and smaller No we’ll have you tap-dancing
smaller No we’ll have you tap-dancing
smaller No we’ll have you tap-dancing miss Blake
miss Blake
miss Blake so what is it about miss Blake that
so what is it about miss Blake that
so what is it about miss Blake that inspires you she’s such an incredible
inspires you she’s such an incredible
inspires you she’s such an incredible woman I’ve only known her since
woman I’ve only known her since
woman I’ve only known her since September really um some days I’ll come
September really um some days I’ll come
September really um some days I’ll come into school and I’m like miss I don’t
into school and I’m like miss I don’t
into school and I’m like miss I don’t want to do it
want to do it
want to do it I hate sociology I can’t do it I’m the
I hate sociology I can’t do it I’m the
I hate sociology I can’t do it I’m the worst and she’s always like no you can
worst and she’s always like no you can
worst and she’s always like no you can do it you can do it some days I’m like
do it you can do it some days I’m like
do it you can do it some days I’m like oh can’t you just say I can’t do
oh can’t you just say I can’t do
oh can’t you just say I can’t do anything but from day one she’s always
anything but from day one she’s always
anything but from day one she’s always believed in me and that’s something that
believed in me and that’s something that
believed in me and that’s something that I’m so grateful for and I’m gonna miss
I’m so grateful for and I’m gonna miss
I’m so grateful for and I’m gonna miss her when I leave six for Miss Blake
her when I leave six for Miss Blake
her when I leave six for Miss Blake you’ll ask your legacy there that’s the
you’ll ask your legacy there that’s the
you’ll ask your legacy there that’s the power of someone believing in you please
power of someone believing in you please
power of someone believing in you please thank Lila Murph EMBO what a woman
thank Lila Murph EMBO what a woman
thank Lila Murph EMBO what a woman [Applause]
”
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