Chloe Ferris Award presented at event celebrating young Belfast women

A Belfast youth organisation has been praised for encouraging and supporting young girls through leadership and social impact.

On Wednesday evening, young women from R city, a cross-community organisation working with different backgrounds across north and west Belfast, showcased a project they had been working on for several months in line with International Women’s Week.

A special moment of the evening was the Chloe Ferris Award, in memory of the past participant and staff member, following her sudden death in December 2024.

The event served as a platform for the girls to reflect on their work from their SHE (Supporting Her Empowerment) programme, to discuss their experiences and share the lessons they had learned.

Speaking to the Irish News, SHE ambassador Addiyson Grainger described the programme as a “safe space” where young women can discuss the challenges they face, particularly those linked to gender inequality.

“Things like women being put down simply because of their gender, even today, being told they can’t do things because they’re disturbing a mould they have to fit into as a woman from Northern Ireland.

“With the work of SHE I feel we are combatting this by creating a space where young girls can go to talk about the issues and being made aware of issues that are happening and questioning why it is happening and what we can do.”

Caitlin Dodson shared her personal experiences and the importance of awareness in addressing the challenges women face.

“Just walking along the street, you experience catcalling or being touched when you don’t want to be. Men don’t really think about it until we put it out there and they see and understand this is how women feel.

“We recently did a survey and men thought women actually enjoyed catcalling and it made them feel good, and we were able to tell them it’s not something women like and maybe stop them doing it to someone else.”

Eve McDermot emphasised the importance of the initiative in giving young women a voice to tackle real issues.

“We usually talk about feminism and how it impacts women in Northern Ireland and further afield and the issues women struggle with in today’s society.

“Period poverty is such a big thing and we have a great connection with Africa where we do a programme every year.

“It’s very exciting to see all our hard work come together.”

SHE ambassador Ashanti Aglonu joined a panel discussion with former politician and peace activist Monica McWilliams, content creator and presenter India Sasha and Ulster University Lecturer in Community Youth Work Dr Gail Neil.

Monica McWilliams told The Irish News she is ‘totally amazed and so inspired’ by the young people and

She said: “It’s my belief that some of these young women will change Northern Ireland, and some are going to change the world,” she said

“They raise really difficult issues which in my day were so stigmatised they didn’t talk about them, things like period poverty and violence against women and girls, they’re putting it all out there. There’s nothing they won’t put on the table and the culture is changing and I love the word empowerment.

“During the panel discussion we spoke about the challenges for women and girls. In many ways the challenges haven’t changed that much and for me it comes back to the four Cs – Cash, culture, confidence and, one day, childcare. We’re still facing that, but I think the confidence is here in this room in terms of supporting her empowerment, the cash we see projects like this still struggling to get funding.

“The system itself needs to change, it’s not just these young individual women who are changing. The system itself needs to open up and give them space and let them participate and promote their rights.”

The Chloe Ferris Beauty award, which recognises ‘a young woman who has inspired peers, encouraged change and supported others’, was presented to Ashanti.

“It just feels like I’m making a difference and people are recognising that,” she said.

“It feels so good and empowering to receive the Chloe’s Beauty Award and it makes me want to keep going and doing what I’m doing.

“It’s great to have all these strong girls and women come together and empower each other.

“Within SHE I have gained way more knowledge of the issues women face daily and it’s a real movement to support women and girls and help change our society.”