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Malissa Veroni
By Erika Rolling
Community

Local woman hoping to travel to Sierra Leone to teach youth at National Girls Summit

Jul 26, 2023 | 1:14 PM

A Grande Prairie therapist, specialist, and social worker has been invited to travel overseas to be a keynote speaker at an inaugural event to inspire young women, girls, and boys by talking about feminism, safer sex, mental health, and other related topics.

The National Girls Summit in Sierra Leone reached out to Malissa Veroni to be their host this fall to inspire youth to grow and respect females, as they are considered lesser in that country.

Veroni says the NGO- Girls Advocacy Development Network (GADNet) sought her out for her ability to inspire those through speaking and advocacy for women’s sexual, mental, physical, and relational health.

“My job is to go inspire, but to be honest, I’m the one inspired and my hope is to show that there are other ways to be as a woman.”

She notes the NGO is brave for holding this type of event in their country, as they want women and girls to learn how to hold their space.

“As women, we are very multi-layered, complex, wonderful beings and we deserve a place at all tables.”

Veroni notes young boys will also be in attendance at the summit to learn.

“We can form together and need men and boys to learn so society can be better.”

Malissa estimates her round-trip travel to teach and inspire over 500 youth in Sierra Leone will cost around $10,000, which she is hoping to raise through the community.

“I’d rather volunteer and donate my time where I can so they (the NGO) can use their very, very limited funds for sustainability projects they do to try and save girls and help them grow and develop,” as she explains why she is asking for donations to travel.

“It’s been a lifelong dream of mine, even though my situation right now doesn’t make sense; emotionally and spiritually it does.”

Veroni has started a GoFundMe to raise money and is also offering sponsorship packages, which can be found on her website.

The National Girls Summit is October 15-18.

by Erika Rolling