Abi Wright is the co-founder and CEO of Festival of the Girl, an initiative dedicated to amplifying girls’ voices and advocating for their rights. She has played a pivotal role in establishing this UK-based organisation, which focuses on creating positive, inclusive, and inspiring environments for girls. Alongside her co-founders, Laura Mulvaney and Jen Rolfe, Abi actively champions gender equality, contributing to global platforms and campaigns aimed at empowering girls around the world.
“Our mission is to empower girls to see themselves as leaders of tomorrow.”
Standing proud
My journey started in the theatre world, studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Though I loved performing, I realised it wasn’t the field for me due to a lack of confidence and issues with self-image. After working in corporate roles for several years, including positions at Manchester United and Alfred Dunhill, I discovered a passion for empowering women through physicality, posture, and self-confidence, leading to the creation of SheStands.
SheStands uses the Alexander Technique to explore how gender stereotypes shape women’s posture and physical presence. I realised how early on girls start to shrink themselves—physically and emotionally—due to societal expectations. This led me to focus on empowering girls to reclaim their space and assert their presence with confidence. This passion for empowering girls through simple, practical tools eventually fed into Festival of the Girl.
Setting up Festival of the Girl
Together with Laura Mulvaney and Jen Rolfe, I co-founded Festival of the Girl in 2019 after noticing a gap in activities specifically aimed at primary school-aged girls (7-11 years). Our aim was to break down harmful stereotypes and showcase the range of opportunities available to girls. The first event took place in a venue in Tower Hamlets, London, which was gifted to us and where around 150 girls and their families participated in various hands-on activities, from martial arts to coding, inspiring girls to explore their interests in a fun and supportive environment.
The festival was entirely activity-based, focusing on hands-on experiences rather than talks or panels. We wanted to showcase various activities and encourage the girls to try them out. This included exciting options like martial arts with lightsabres, an army boot camp, and creative sessions such as vision board making or engaging with numbers in ways that made them appreciate math’s practical applications.
The first year was wonderful, and we thought: “Brilliant! Let’s continue this.” But, in 2020, COVID hit, so restrictions meant we couldn’t run an in-person event so we continued our mission by holding two online festivals, which proved to be a huge success. More than 5,500 girls signed up, not just from the UK but from around the world. This response reinforced that our work was resonating globally and encouraged us to continue expanding the Festival’s reach. We returned to live events as soon as we were able to. and are now focusing on growing even more.
Change through action
When we started Festival of the Girl, our goal was to create a platform where girls’ voices could be heard and truly valued. There was a notable gap in discussions about gender equality, and we felt young girls were often left out of the conversation. Festival of the Girl isn’t just about marking International Day of the Girl on the calendar — it’s about fostering the long-term empowerment of girls to take action in their lives and contribute to the broader fight for gender equality.
Creating inclusive spaces
The idea for Festival of the Girl came from noticing how many girls feel excluded from mainstream events. We wanted to create a welcoming space where girls of all backgrounds and abilities could belong. Whether through art, coding, or public speaking, we encourage girls to step out of their comfort zones and explore new activities, helping them discover their strengths.
They absolutely love that. But I think once you hit secondary school, it becomes much more peer-to-peer. That’s who you go to for advice or guidance. However, for that 7 to 11 age range, we can still reach those girls and say, look, you might be told this, but that’s not true. Look at the women working in these roles. Look at you. You’ve never tried this, but you can try it right now. And I think with our festival, it is just that. Getting them to try something new and celebrate being a girl.
By challenging gender stereotypes, we hope to boost their confidence and show them that they can excel in fields they might never have considered.
Encouraging leadership in girls
At Festival of the Girl, we make sure that girls see themselves as leaders by giving them real leadership roles. Whether it’s organising workshops, making decisions about representation, or speaking at events, girls are encouraged to use their voices.
We’ve recently introduced our Festival of the Girl Awards, where we asked girls to nominate their friends for three different awards: the Inspiring Girl Award, the Leader and Changemaker Award, and the Loyalty and Friendship Award. This initiative is all about supporting each other and raising each other up. We are never in competition with one another, except in friendly sports competitions. It’s essential to celebrate our wins because, too often, we just move on to the next task without reflecting on our achievements.
It’s about giving them a seat at the table and ensuring they’re empowered to express their views, paving the way for future generations of female leaders.
Building a global movement
The challenges facing girls are universal. Whether it’s fighting for access to education or addressing mental health, our work transcends borders. Through Festival of the Girl, we aim to connect girls globally, creating a support network where they can learn from and inspire one another, amplifying their voices collectively.
2024 highlights
This year we hosted our first session for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and it was a highlight of the weekend. To be able to create the magic of the festival while also making it accessible was wonderful and we felt so touched by those families who were able to join the festival for the first time.
Another highlight was our first Festival of The Girl Awards which had so many of us in tears as we met the amazing winners of the Inspiring Girl Award, Leader and Changemaker Award and Loyalty and Friendship Award. It was such a special moment for everyone and with a video message from Alex Scott at the end the girls left feeling inspired and proud of themselves.
For me personally, the best moment at the festival is welcoming everyone as they first enter the festival because the look on the girls’ faces is like nothing else. The awe and excitement and joy on their faces makes all the hard work worth it.
Why International Day of the Girl matters
International Day of the Girl is a chance to recognise and celebrate girls before they become women. It’s vital to show them from a young age that they have options and to teach them to challenge societal expectations. Girls should feel empowered to pursue anything they’re passionate about, and our festival is a platform where they can celebrate their girlhood while being introduced to new skills and experiences.
Expanding horizons
Our long-term vision is to take Festival of the Girl across the UK and eventually globally. We want to reach as many girls as possible and provide them and their families with tools to challenge gender stereotypes and make informed choices about their futures.
Alongside the festival, we hope to expand our educational resources, offering more workshops for parents and developing a podcast created by teenage girls for younger girls. We want to continue campaigning for gender equality and getting girls involved in advocacy and leadership throughout the year.
Engaging the Womanthology community
We’re always looking to connect with individuals and organisations that share our passion. Whether it’s through social media or in person, we welcome anyone who can contribute to our work, be it as a speaker, workshop leader, or corporate sponsor. We’re particularly keen to collaborate with companies that want to support and engage with the next generation of girls. You can connect with us through Festival of the Girl on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.
Looking ahead
The next phase for us is about strategic growth. We’re now in our sixth year, and it’s time to focus on long-term sustainability and expanding our impact. That means planning for the future, securing funding, and taking time to reflect on how far we’ve come. Our goal remains the same: to reach as many girls as possible, empower them to challenge stereotypes and celebrate the limitless possibilities of girlhood.
