It was a Friday morning, 13 April 2025, when my phone buzzed
with a message that would change everything: an invitation to the UNICEF Field
Office in Kano State for an advocacy training session with other U-Reporters. I
remember staring at the message, excitement bubbling inside me. That day, I
walked into the meeting not just as Aisha Ahmad Tijjani, but as someone ready
to learn, serve, and make a difference. That was the day my U-Report journey
truly began.
At the training, I gained insight into the Polio Campaign and realized for the first time that awareness isn’t just about sharing information; it’s about saving lives. From that moment, my purpose became clearer: to use my voice and creativity for impact.
Soon after, I found myself walking the busy streets of Kano
on World Environment Day, alongside other U-Reporters, picking up plastic waste
under the bright morning sun. The sound of laughter, the click of cameras, and
a shared sense of purpose filled the air. We weren’t just cleaning the city; we
were changing mindsets, one plastic bottle at a time.
Then came World Breastfeeding Week. Ten key spots across Kano saw ten groups of passionate U-Reporters holding placards high. “Breastfeeding saves lives!” we chanted, our voices echoing through the streets. I captured those moments in a short Instagram reel—a visual story that spoke louder than words—showing that young people can turn awareness into action.
Next was the Measles and Rubella Campaign, where I met
brilliant minds, listened, learned, and understood how ideas born in meeting
rooms could ripple out into communities and spark real change. Beyond community
outreach, I utilized my social media platforms to amplify messages about the
Polio Campaign, HPV Vaccination Campaign, and World Environment
Day—demonstrating that advocacy isn’t limited to physical spaces; it thrives in
the digital realm, where voices echo endlessly.
Then, through the same platform, one opportunity changed my life again: a call for the HPV Vaccine Uptake Young Leaders Program shared on U-Report. I applied and was selected as one of the Young Leaders for HPV Vaccine Uptake in Kano State. I still think about that moment, how far I had come—from reading a message on my phone to becoming a voice for girls’ health in my community. It didn’t feel like a coincidence. It felt like purpose. That moment was more than an achievement; it reflected how far I had come—from reading that invitation message one Friday morning to becoming a voice for girls’ health and empowerment in my state. This journey has taught me that change doesn’t always arrive loudly. Sometimes, it begins quietly—with curiosity, with learning, with one brave step.
Being a U-Reporter has shown me the power of voice and
visibility. Every campaign, every meeting, and conversation reminds me that our
voices matter—not someday, but today. Now, whether online or in the community, I’m still learning, still growing, still speaking up. But now, I do it knowing that my voice matters.
I have learned that true advocacy begins when awareness acts
as a spark and action becomes the flame. U-Report is more than a platform for me. It became a path that led me to confidence, to leadership, and to purpose.
