Raquel Kasham Daniel

"We run initiatives like the HER Safe Space Clubs, where girls learn about their rights, safety, and reproductive health right there in school."

"We also launched the He for Her campaign, which teaches boys how to be allies and stand up for the girls around them."

"It’s about building an ecosystem of support, ensuring girls are not just in school, but that they are seen, safe, and heard."

"Beyond the Classroom has become a way of saying, “I see you. You matter. You’re not alone."

"I know what’s possible when just one person believes in you."

"I want to be that person for as many girls as I can."

"It’s one of the projects I’m most proud of."

"The truth is, if we’re serious about changing the way girls are treated, then we have to bring boys into the conversation."

"It’s been girls doing all the heavy lifting, trying to survive, speak up, protect themselves, and fix systems that weren’t built with them in mind."

"It’s not fair, and it’s not sustainable."

"That’s why we created ‘He for Her’, to show boys that they have a role to play. And not just by posting online or saying the right things, but in how they behave every single day."

"How they talk to girls, how they show up as friends, classmates, brothers, and future husbands or leaders."

"Things like listening, respecting boundaries, speaking up when something’s wrong."

"These things are basic, but they matter so much. And let me be honest, this campaign is so personal to me."

"I know this work isn’t finished, it’s always evolving."

"What I love about these projects is how they work together."

"Each one focuses on a different part of the puzzle. For example, with the ‘Books Over Boys’ campaign and booklet, girls learn about the value of education and how unplanned pregnancy can disrupt their dreams."

"The ‘Go Girl’ board game teaches girls about their rights and leadership in a fun, exciting way."

"There’s the ‘He for Her’ campaign brings boys into the conversation, showing them how to be allies."

"I literally saw how education was transforming my life and I knew that there was no way I would sit back and not help other children, especially girls."

"I started removing the barriers that would prevent children from enrolling, staying, excelling and graduating from school."

"You would find me providing sanitary pads for girls to enable them stay in school or providing free books to children in and out of school to inspire them to either get enrolled or complete their education."

"My current project is the Community Empowerment Against Violence and Abuse."

"in the last one year, I have worked tirelessly to ensure we educate children in remote communities about COVID-19 and I am excited to see these new books reach the hands of many more children."

"It is focused on educating the children at one of the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Abuja on abuse, molestation, rape and all sorts of abuse they could encounter at home or at school."

"We have worked with these displaced children for over three years and right after the lockdown when schools were resumed, we visited their camp and noticed a few girls were pregnant."

"Some confided in us that they were abused during the lockdown. The majority didn’t even know they were abused. The painful part for me is that these girls didn’t resume school last September."

"I started to think about what they would do differently if they knew more about abuse and how to keep themselves safe or call for help if they are ever molested. Thinking about them and how much we can help them helped me design this project to not only educate them but their parents and teachers as well."

"The project was simply on paper before we got this funding."

"I recall jumping up and dancing when I got the email. My heart went to the children. I was excited that 200 children would be armed with the information necessary to keep themselves safe from abuse and molestation and able to report should anything ever happen to them."

"I am excited and grateful."

"They’re not just guests."

"They are living proof that your past doesn’t have to be your prison. And every time I hear their stories, I see pieces of myself in them."

"Beyond Her Odds is my story too."

"bEvery hardship, every loss, every struggle prepared me to stand here today and tell girls, not just that they can make it, but that they will."

"Parents have a responsibility to keep their children safe and even though they can’t be with them everywhere, the least they can do is equip them from home with the necessary life skills they need to survive, be confident and stay safe."

"Ultimately, I want to see policies come alive in ways that improve the daily lives of girls, making their rights more than just words on paper but real protections and opportunities."

"Find what you love the most and do it. Because once you find purpose, only you can stop you."

"A ruby is a valued and precious stone. As precious as rubies are, they have imperfections in them. I am a woman of rubies because I am a precious and valued daughter of God."

"My passion for education and sexual & reproductive health for adolescent girls is influenced largely by my background and experiences growing up."

"I discovered that there is a gap in how people find volunteer opportunities and how non-profits find volunteers, so I designed a platform that advances community action by volunteering."

"Volunteering worked for me; I believe it is a solution that can tackle the problem of unemployment in Nigeria. By serving and giving your time, it can turn up to learning or earning opportunities."

"It is good to always remember that everyone you meet is fighting a battle you might not know about. So whatever it is you are going through, keep your spine straight, be honest in all you do and don’t be lured into becoming somebody you are not."

"As you try to make a meaning of your life, learn to build strong networks and collaborate with others in your field. It helps you to not only grow but also to keep hope in times of difficulty."