Hannah Witton is among eight women named “Girls’ Champions” by the BBC as part of its 100 Women season.
The season is dedicated to celebrating and sharing the achievements and work of a diverse range of women. The “Girls’ Champions” are those who specifically deal with the issues of younger women and girls. As well as Hannah, the line-up includes 18-year-old June Eric Udorie, who has campaigned against FGM (Female Genital Mutilation), and Emily Rose Yates, a disability rights advocate.
So proud to be a Girls' Champion as part of BBC's 100 Women & honoured to be along side such inspirational women! https://t.co/qk8dZvG60m
— Hannah Witton (@hannahwitton) November 26, 2016
In a video produced by the BBC, Hannah said: “Being a Girls’ Champion to me is all about supporting women and girls no matter what their background, who they are, or where they come from, raising the voices of all women and being kind to each other.”
Hannah tells TenEighty: “I feel so honoured to have been selected as a Girls’ Champion this year! I’ve got a bit of impostor syndrome, but mostly I’m just really proud and excited to be recognised for my work alongside other incredible women.”
According to the BBC, all eight of the Girls’ Champions this year are “digital activists”, so we asked Hannah about what digital activism means to her. “For me it’s about education, raising awareness, and using the platform and resources that I have for the better,” she explains.
“I don’t want to look back in years to come and think, ‘I was in such a great position with thousands of people who would listen to what I said and I didn’t take the opportunity to try and make the world a better place’.”
Speaking about what she hopes to achieve as one of the champions, Hannah says: “I’m hoping to learn from the other women and feel a new surge of inspiration. And I’m also hoping that this reaches more people and more young people can hear my message and find some comfort in it.”
Want more?
Check out the YouTubers campaigning for National HIV Testing Week or find out more about Hannah and others’ involvement in #IChooseToSee.
For updates follow @TenEightyUK on Twitter or like TenEighty UK on Facebook.
