Meet Satta
Sheriff an inspiring young woman breaking barriers and leading positive
change for Liberian Children.
About Satta F. Sheriff
Satta F. Sheriff is a staunch
Child Rights Advocate, first elected female Speaker of the Liberian Children’s
Parliament and Executive Director of Youth in Action for Peace and Empowerment
(YAPE) a children and youth driven NGO founded to advocate, promote,
empower, and defend Liberian Children, girls and other vulnerable groups in
society. Satta is currently a recognized member of the fifty (50) most
impacting young females Leaders in Africa 2017 (One World Foundation).
Satta was born during the Liberian Civil War
in the mountainous city of Bong, Fulmah District Bongmines; she started
primary education at age six (6).
Growing up in a large family with both her parents uneducated
and extremely poor, Satta drew enough strength and inspiration to defend the rights
of children from her mother who was a victim of forced/Child Marriage. Satta life changing
advocacy-journey started at age (9) when a 13 year-old girl was due to get
marry to a thirty-nine year-old man in her community, Satta felt it was wrong; She soon engaged the
girl parents and the community leader thus stopping the marriage.
Since age nine (9), Satta has been
working to improve the living conditions of Children in Liberia while
persistently defending and seeking justice for the rights of Children who
are victims of abuse and violence.
Satta Impacts
At age 13, Satta became a peer educator to create
awareness on the effect of Stigma and discrimination on Children and
adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS in Liberia. She led a team of over sixty (60)
adolescent girls under the banner “Daughters of the Kings” educating teenagers
on sexual reproductive health, sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment,
teenage pregnancy, Child abuse, Rape, the modes of transmission and preventive
measures of HIV, STIs and STDs in Kakata City, Margibi County. Satta become a role model for many girls and
soon she became a recognized agent of change in life skills education, educating
girls on the importance of abstaining from sex, in fighting teenage pregnancy,
and illiteracy thus eradicating poverty in Margibi County.
Since then, Satta has continue to
organize rallies, Marches, symposiums and stakeholders engagements to
fight for the rights of children which hold government officials accountable to
children and girls in Liberia.
In early 2017, a 13 year-old
was allegedly raped and impregnated by a lawmaker. Through Satta and others
advocacy investigation was conducted, the lawmaker was arrested and his case
was sent to court.
In 2016, Satta co-founded the Joint
Action Committee on Children (JACC) to advocate and protect children rights in
Liberia. Through JACC; Satta championed a national Campaign and
brought justice to the families of two Liberian minors (Alvin Moses &
Ruben Paye) who were mysteriously killed in 2015.
Since 2016, Satta has consistently
represented the Girls and Children of Liberia at the United Nations
Headquarters in New York and the African Union Headquarters on different
occasions to defend Children and Girls rights international.
In early 2016, Satta was awarded the
Diana Princess of Wales Active Campaigner Award for defending the rights of
children and ensuring safe spaces for girls and children in Liberia.
In 2015, Satta was elected first female
Speaker of the Liberian Children's Parliament by children from across Liberia
fifteen (15) political subdivisions. As the official voice of Liberian
Children, Satta made recommendations on behalf of children and represented the
children of Liberia locally, nationally and internationally.
Through Satta advocacy, she has
given justice, mentored advocates, improved and impacted the lives of thousands
of children and girls in Liberia. Her monthly mentorship program encourages
and mode teenagers to become leaders, self-confident and bold for positive
change. Satta has become a face of persistent and true youth advocacy in
Liberia inspiring many girls to feel confident, bold and powerful in raising
their voices on national issues. In 2016. Satta was honored the most
influential teenager Award in Liberia for her touch advocacy and stands on
national issues.
In 2015 during the Ebola crisis in
Liberia, Satta initiated a radio program called ‘’Kids and U’’ on Radio
Joy Africa 97.5MHz in Kakata City, Margibi County to promote the rights of Children and to give
children the Space to talk about issues affecting them in society. As a child
then, Satta used the media to advocate while creating the space for
other children to speak out, she continued to care and saved lives through her
regular awareness on Ebola and its preventive measures on the show reaching out
to over 15,000 children and parents during the entire crisis.
After Ebola, Satta also developed a
project which eventually became a campaign titled ‘’Your Support, Our
Future’’ to solicit assorted school items for orphans especially students
affected by the Ebola virus Disease.
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