A Salford teenager who’s on track to win a place at Oxbridge and become a neurosurgeon has been honoured at a prestigious event celebrating the North West’s most inspirational women. Alicia Matshazi, 16, was presented with the Little Sister Out Loud Award at Girls Out Loud’s Shining Stars Ball on Friday 19th April. Alicia was recognised for her high career ambitions, overcoming her fear of disappointing others and appearing as weak for admitting her struggles. She was the joint recipient of this award alongside Layla Warren-Bardsley, 13, from Ashton-under-Lyne. Alicia participated in Girls Out Loud’s Big Sister programme in Coop Academy Walkden, where she was paired with Big Sister Joanne Eames, Executive at Pearson Vue. The pair met once a month in a structured and supportive school environment as part of the programme, with Joanne sharing inspirational life stories to empower Alicia to find her own voice. The Big Sister mentoring programme pairs female role models with teenage girls aged 12-13 for 12 months. It seeks to inspire and guide them to create a better future for themselves, with in-depth training and support from Girls Out Loud. The Little Sister Out Loud Award, sponsored by Apprentify, is given to a Little Sister who has found her voice, her visibility and her confidence, and is shining her light to inspire other girls and on her way to becoming an awesome role model. Alicia Matshazi said: “I feel very honoured to receive such an award, especially since I believe that the impact Girls Out Loud had on the others was just as powerful to them as it was to me. However, it feels gratifying that others were able to recognise the positive change within myself by the time we got to the end of the program. “At the time, I had found it difficult to distinguish my emotions and positive ways of managing them. I saw this program initially as a chance to speak about my feelings and problems to a person who wouldn’t be directly impacted by me expressing them. “At the beginning I was hesitant to truly open up to my Big Sister Joanne, however I found that with time it became almost natural. She made me feel seen, heard, and most importantly understood. “It was only when we had completed the programme that I was able to see just how many things had changed: for one, the relationships within my family had improved and now we’re able to communicate so much better. “I’d be lying to myself if I said that I now feel 100% confident all of the time, however, only now do I realise that this is something that everyone feels. I now have the tools that I acquired from Girls Out Loud to pick myself up and move forward. I actively go over the advice that Joanna passed on to me and find it very helpful even today.” Jane Kenyon, founder of Girls Out Loud, said: “Alicia presented as a clever and confident teenager, but she was performing as many young girls do for fear of disappointing anyone or being seen as weak and vulnerable. “Once she trusted her Big Sister, Joanne, and understood that she wouldn’t be judged for her honesty, Alicia took the brave step to pull down her walls and share, and this made all the difference. “Today Alicia is a different girl – she is proud of her emotions, is less of an overthinker, and is incredible self-aware for a 16-year-old. “Alicia is on track to great things with her dream to become a Neurosurgeon, and I for one have no doubt she will make this happen.” The Shining Stars Ball was hosted by Manchester-based social enterprise Girls Out Loud to celebrate the North West’s top inspirational women and female pioneers. The event, held at Hilton Manchester Deansgate on 19th April, honoured nine women and girls who have gone above and beyond to champion women and equality in their personal lives and careers. It forms part of Girls Out Loud’s 14-year commitment to inspiring and empowering young girls, having impacted more than 30,000 young girls in the region. The non-profit was founded by entrepreneur, campaigner and female champion, Jane Kenyon, in 2009, with a pledge to empower and inspire the next generation of teenage girls. The multi-award-winning social enterprise is the leading provider of programmes targeting teen girls in the North West. For more information and to help change the lives of teenage girls across the North West, please visit: https://girlsoutloud.org.uk/
