Teen Takes the Reins at British Embassy Cairo for International Day of the Girl
18-year-old Fatma Al Hefnawy swapped her daily routine for the high-powered world of diplomacy. Invited by the British Embassy in Cairo, she stepped into the shoes of the British Ambassador for a day. The virtual event celebrated International Day of the Girl, giving Fatma a rare glimpse into embassy life and leadership.
GirlsTakeOver Pushes Young Women Into Leadership Spotlight
The event was part of the GirlsTakeOver initiative, run by Plan International alongside Egypt’s Ministry of Social Solidarity and the Canadian Embassy. Embassies and government bodies worldwide took part, handing the keys to young women to spotlight leadership opportunities and amplify their voices.
Fatma Meets Top British Diplomats, Talks Cyberbullying
Fatma had a front-row seat to leadership, chatting with British Ambassador Sir Geoffrey Adams and top female officials including Her Majesty’s Consul in Cairo and the Department for International Trade Country Director. They discussed the challenges women face at the top.
She also met with embassy teams focused on communications, social development, and gender issues. The spotlight was on this year’s urgent theme: online harassment and cyberbullying of girls. This ties into a global campaign where young women have called out social media giants, demanding better tools to fight abuse.
“We must work together to stand against bullying because it can really destroy anyone. This is a very important topic and I am happy I participated today and learned a lot. I am proud to have spoken with the British Ambassador to Egypt,” Fatma said.
Sir Geoffrey Adams added, “It was a pleasure hosting Fatma in honour of the International Day of the Girl. The UK has been a huge advocate of women’s empowerment and supporting women’s political and economic inclusion.
We applaud Egypt’s strong commitment to promoting gender equality and their efforts to empower young women to reject all forms of violence. We look forward to strengthening our partnership in this area.”
