Only five years ago, then 18-year-old Gracia Michelle Olongbo voted for the first time in the 2020 presidential and legislative elections in the Central African Republic (CAR). At the ballot box, she expressed belief that her voice – both as a young person and as a woman – mattered. This International Women’s Day, MINUSCA spotlights the journey of activism that she has since embarked on.
Five years down the road, it is evident that exercising her right to vote was more than just a rite of passage. Rather, “Rights, Justice. Action. For all women and girls” – the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day – are for her more of a personal calling.
Gracia Michelle wasted no time in lending her passions and talents to civic life. At the polls, she had spoken of the importance of leadership in marshalling positive change. One year after casting her first-ever ballot, she and her fellow students at University of Bangui’s Faculty of Science founded the association Ligue Centrafricaine des Jeunes Scientifiques in 2021. As the president of the association, she is working for the change she advocated through leadership.
They’ve taken on a broad palette of issues – that encapsulate the focus of this year’s International Women’s Day.
Action for rights
The group’s members have worked to highlight the leadership of women and youth and promote scientific education in the CAR. “We realized that, for the development of the CAR, it is essential to train architects and engineers capable of constructing modern infrastructure. To achieve this, young people must be encouraged to explore scientific fields,” she notes. They have, among others, organized competitions in mathematics across high schools and worked to raise awareness about on importance of making informed career choices. “At university, we observed that in scientific fields, there are far fewer girls than boys, so we started raising awareness among parents to encourage their daughters to pursue careers in science.”
The Ligue Centrafricaine des jeunes Scientifiques also advocate’s the right to learning through raising awareness among parents, about the importance of truly investing in the education of young people, especially young girls, in a holistic way. “We also take action to combat psychological violence, particularly verbal abuse and pressure that girls often face in our country. To study effectively, students need a healthy environment. We engage in advocacy with parents to encourage them to support the mental health of their children.”
Gracia argues that both access to opportunities, and conducive environments to enable women and young people to use their talents and fulfil their potential, are a matter of justice.
The future of the CAR, along with some of the country’s most pressing needs, are inevitably part of the association’s advocacy agenda. “We also raise awareness among young people about being responsible citizens. We encourage them to prioritize dialogue over division, and to focus their energy on building rather than destroying, in order to secure the right to peace and security for all.”
A guiding light
She reflects on this International Women’s Day theme: “For me, this year’s theme represents a collective responsibility viewed through the lens of rights, justice, and action. This means that it is not enough to simply talk about rights — we must also take meaningful, concrete action.”
“I see a natural connection between rights, justice and action. Recognizing rights is only the first step. True justice ensures that those rights are protected, and taking action is what brings change. If we let this year’s theme guide our actions, I believe that we will achieve progress that both highlights and strengthens women’s rights.”
For Gracia, justice and action are inseparable from women’s rights.“International Women’s Day also honors women who stood up and fought for their rights. Justice gave them purpose, and action propelled them forward. Today, we must continue to act on the path they paved.”
Leading by example
Understanding that “Rights, Justice, and Action” are fundamental to establishing lasting peace, she maintains that it is important for women to lead from the front.
She points to exercising the right to vote and having a say in shaping the future of the Central African Republic as one such action, while reflecting on her electoral journey: “When I voted for the first time, I would say that I voted with emotion. But five years later, on 28 December 2025, I voted with more maturity, awareness, and responsibility. Over time, I also understood that voting is not just a right, but a civic act that shapes the future of the country.”
“Beyond talking about women’s rights, we must take actions that advance these rights. We need to be a source of inspiration and embody the values that we defend.”
Age can be a stumbling block. Gracia recounts that in the past, when the association sought partnerships and solicited support, members were often met with scepticism due to their young age.“We are frequently told that we are too young when presenting our projects. This made us realize that we cannot rely on others to act on our behalf—we must lead by example. We have carried out numerous activities using our own resources to show that we are capable of driving change.”
She believes that meaningful progress in advancing the rights of women and young people will help advance peace. “I want to ask everyone who can support women, particularly young women, to give them a helping hand.”
Civic education is key
The challenges notwithstanding, they remain undeterred. The young leader is confident that the actions of the Ligue Centrafricaine des Jeunes Scientifiques to promote rights and justice will not be in vain. “If women and youth are trained and engaged, and aware of their responsibilities for tomorrow, then we will have a peaceful future and sustainable development in the CAR.”
Gracia is grateful for the opportunity that the 8th of March provides to speak up for the rights of young women and to highlight the collective efforts of the association’s members: “International Women’s Day is not only a day to celebrate the progress achieved in securing the rights of millions of people but also a time for reflection, renewed commitment, and focus to continue agitating for change.”
MARIA KABATANYA
