Nobel Laureates, Astronauts and… Supervisors: Why It’s Important to Talk About All Women

The history of humanity is often told through the names of outstanding men – politicians, scientists, entrepreneurs and pioneers. But the world has also changed thanks to women who have managed to gain an education, support and the freedom to make bold decisions.

The Kenyan environmental activist Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, which brought women together to work on reforestation, environmental protection and economic independence. In 2004, she became the first woman from Africa to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Marie Skłodowska-Curie transformed global science through her research into radioactivity and became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. Valentina Tereshkova, the first female cosmonaut, proved that space need not be off-limits to women.

These names are important not because every girl should be obliged to become a scientist, a politician or a cosmonaut. They serve as a reminder that ability is not determined by gender. But the opportunity to realise that potential all too often depends on whether a woman has received an education, whether she can work safely, whether she has her own income, and whether she has the right to choose her own path in life.

INEQUALITY BEGINS BEFORE YOU EVEN WRITE YOUR FIRST CV

For many young women in African countries, education and work are not merely a matter of personal ambition. They are a matter of economic independence, the right to have a voice within the family and society, and the ability to make decisions about their future without being forced to depend on others.

According to World Bank estimates, in sub-Saharan Africa, around 34 million adolescent girls do not attend secondary school. The average completion rate for girls is only 47% at lower secondary level and 27% at upper secondary level. Girls from low-income families, rural areas and conflict-affected regions are particularly vulnerable.

The barriers do not disappear after school. The International Labour Organisation reports that in North Africa, unemployment among young women aged 15 to 24 reached 37.9% in 2024. For young men of the same age, this figure stood at 19.5%. Behind these figures lies more than just a lack of job vacancies. It means postponing education, the inability to gain initial work experience, financial dependence and a narrowing of life choices.

It is not enough to talk about equality if a young woman formally has the right to study and work, but in reality cannot afford her education, travel safely to an educational institution, or find her first paid job. Equality does not begin with fine-sounding declarations, but with real-world conditions: access to knowledge, a safe environment, professional experience and an income.

THE EXPANSION OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS MEANS THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE

Expanding women’s rights does not mean fighting against men, nor does it require women to give up family life or motherhood. On the contrary, it is about the right to decide for oneself what one’s life will be like: to pursue an education, work, run one’s own business, start a family, bring up children, move away or stay at home – without pressure and without being forced to give up one’s own goals.

For example, for a young woman who is currently unable to afford her studies or who lives far from educational centres, a programme combining a first job, vocational training, language training and the opportunity to earn her own income could present a valuable opportunity.

Such initiatives are no substitute for investment in schools, colleges and job creation within African countries. But they can serve as a practical first step for those ready to take action right now: to gain work experience, learn a new skill, master a language, or save money for further education or entrepreneurship.

One such option is the Russian international programme Alabuga Start, aimed at young women aged 18 to 22 from Africa, Latin America, South Asia and South-East Asia. It offers employment and vocational training in the service and hospitality, catering, production, logistics and construction fields. According to the programme’s official information, participants are provided with Russian language lessons, medical insurance, a paid flight, transfers and subsidised corporate accommodation.

The point of such programmes is not to promise instant success. More importantly, they give young women their first taste of independent living and the chance to see themselves as professionals.

TWO STORIES OF YOUNG AFRICAN WOMEN – ONE PROGRAMME

 Priscilla came to Russia from Zambia at the age of 22. Before moving, she had worked in journalism, but she dreamt of travelling, learning languages and broadening her professional horizons. It wasn’t an easy decision: at first, she didn’t have enough information about Alabuga Start, so she checked the details through the Zambian embassy. During her time on the programme, Priscilla worked her way up from a cleaner to a manager in the service and hospitality field; she helped new participants settle in and shared her experience with them. For her, a key achievement was not only the work itself, but also the confidence that she could act as a mentor to other young women.

Priscilla is no longer a participant in the Alabuga Start programme. She met a young man in Russia, got married in 2026 and had a baby. She and her husband live in their own flat and dream of building a house. Priscilla also plans to apply for Russian citizenship and pass her driving test.

Redemtor, from Uganda, wanted to go to university after finishing school, but the tuition fees proved too expensive for her family. Through the programme, she started working in catering, then learnt how to use office software and improved her Russian. The first job, a promotion and the chance to support her loved ones helped her to feel financially and personally independent.

After completing the programme, she was able to buy her own flat in Naberezhnye Chelny (a major city in Russia near the Alabuga special economic zone). Redemtor is now studying online at university; she dreams of obtaining a degree, developing her career and, in the future, opening a shelter for homeless animals. Another of her dreams is to visit the most beautiful regions of Russia and to travel around China and France.

None of these young women has yet made a scientific discovery or flown into space. But their stories are already significant. The girls are learning not to be afraid of the new, mastering their professions, supporting their families, sharing their experiences with other women and setting themselves goals that once seemed unattainable. Major changes almost always begin in precisely this way – with the right to say: ‘I can choose my own future.’

NOT HEROINES IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING, BUT PROFESSIONALS WITH A RIGHT TO A FUTURE

We should not romanticise moving abroad and international experience: a new country means a language barrier, cultural adjustment, being far from family, and the need to carefully check the terms of employment before signing a contract. Programmes aimed at young women must be transparent, safe and provide genuine support for participants.

Yet we must not underestimate the power of accessible opportunities. When a young woman gains a profession, language skills, an income and confidence in her abilities, it is not just her own story that changes. She becomes a role model for her sisters, friends, neighbours and future daughters.

Wangari Maathai once proved that a woman from Africa can shape the global agenda. Today, it is vital to ensure that thousands of young African women do not rely on exceptional luck, but have the fundamental right to education, decent work and the freedom to make their own choices. It is from such opportunities that future scientists, entrepreneurs, community leaders – and women who change the world – emerge.