Sophie Darwish, a 2024 Senior at American International School in Egypt, and the President of the UN-supported GirlUp initiative started her journey as a change-maker early in Middle School. As a young student embarking on a change mission, she initially questioned her ability to make an impact. “At first, like many young individuals, it was easy to struggle with the thought of ‘what difference can I alone make?’ However, GirlUp taught me the power of collective action, as well as what changes I could make if I truly pushed towards my goals,” she said. “Since joining GirlUp, my commitment and love for the club –and the difference it makes– has only grown stronger with each passing year.”
Witnessing firsthand the difference that GirlUp made in her community, made Sophie realize the significance of the club's mission. Girl Up is a girl-centered leadership development initiative, focusing on equity for girls and women in spaces where they are unheard or underrepresented. The organization operates a global network of regional affiliates impacting 270,000 girls and youth leaders in 155 countries and all 50 U.S. states, developing transformative leaders who advance gender justice worldwide. It motived her to lead and expand the club's efforts, empower more voices, and affect even greater change.
Over the years, the AIS GirlUp Club has fostered a close partnership with the Baheya Foundation, a non-profit charity and breast cancer hospital in Egypt renowned for offering free treatment to women battling breast cancer. As President this year, Sophie aimed for GirlUp to actively contribute to the foundation’s mission, beyond just fundraising.
GirlUp taught me the power of collective action, as well as what changes I could make if I truly pushed towards my goals.
“A visit to the Baheya Hospital for a volunteer day provided us with a closeup look at the comprehensive services and care provided to patients,” shared Sophie. “Among these, the Baheya Boutique particularly captured our attention. This unique concept allows every patient the opportunity to select six pieces of clothing, four times a year, at no cost, from a selection of new or gently-used donated clothes,” she added. The boutique has partnerships with clothing brands for additional donations and has even received contributions from famous actors, including dresses that patients can borrow for special events.
Motivated by the desire to support this incredible service and mobilize the entire AIS community, Sophie organized a school-wide clothing drive, similar to the school’s annual food drive. This initiative would not only inform everyone about the boutique's amazing work but also provide a meaningful way for the school community to come together to make a positive difference.
Sophie’s goal for the AIS GirlUp Club is to create a tangible impact both within the local community as well as by inspiring individual club members by their collective actions. By engaging in volunteering, fundraising, and establishing meaningful partnerships, the club strives to contribute significantly to improving the lives of girls and women. “Our initiatives aim not only to raise awareness about issues affecting women globally but also to provide direct support and resources that can make a real difference. I want every member to know that in some way, something they did within the club has had a positive impact on a women in our community,” said Sophie.
Ms. Neveen Salem, IB CAS Coordinator and Head of the Social Studies Department at AIS Egypt, and advisor to the Girl Up chapter at the school, believes that Sophie success comes from her integrity and dedication, her unwavering reliability and ethical conduct. “Sophie exemplifies a remarkable blend of attributes. Her charisma, evident in her interactions, undoubtedly enhances her interpersonal appeal. Her penchant for humor adds a distinctive charm to her character, fostering an environment of positivity and camaraderie," she explained further.
Going forward, through more intiatives like the Baheya Boutique campaign, Sophie hopes to empower girls and women and create a more equitable and supportive environment for them to thrive. This mission guides every activity and event organized by the AIS Girl Up Club, to leave a lasting and positive mark on the world.