Newark Youth Discuss ‘Gender Equality’ Across The World

NEWARK, NJ — The words “gender equality” can mean very different things, depending on who you ask and where they’re from.

Recently, youth advocate Kritika Nagappa helped to organize and run a series of virtual “international exchange” events with the U.S. Department of State and Newark Summer Youth Employment Program.

At the event, the participants were joined by speakers from Russia, Algeria and the United States to discuss women's rights around the world.

It was a topic close to the heart of Nagappa, a senior at South Brunswick High School who founded Proudly Female, an online community of supportive and empowered women, and a finalist for the 2020 United States Department of State’s Algerian Youth Leadership Program.

“As Americans, we often view concepts through an American lens that limits our understanding of other people and cultures,” Nagappa said.

“Through discussion with female speakers from Russia, Algeria and the United States, the SYEP Fellows observed how the same topic, gender equality, was different in various countries,” Nagappa explained. “The Fellows engaged in meaningful conversation on the issues that women face, ranging from barriers in the workplace to domestic violence.”

In addition to being a successful educational opportunity, the events gave the participants a chance to make some memorable connections with their peers in different countries, she added.

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