Girl Pow-R’s newest hit, “Slam,” deals with more than just obnoxious exes but pushes listeners to stand up for each another in times of need. Its powerful message supports that there is power in numbers when we all work together and lift one another. By standing up, staying strong and having a voice, we can make the world a better place for ourselves and those not given the privilege of a say, hence mobilising to make a difference.
When we see people, like or unlike ourselves, in trouble, we must have this conviction to help them in the best possible way, and not be silenced by fears to truly strive for justice so we can mobilise to make a difference. The message of this article is a relatively long phrase: it is in three parts because one part is insufficient for a cause – I look forward to fully explaining this sentiment further in the article.
‘Standing up’ is the first part of mobilising to make a difference; this does not mean actively standing, but it means identifying a cause you think needs to be supported or a person or people that require some form of aid. Standing up requires participation in conversations, discourse, or other forms of exchanges where you can find other individuals that agree and resonate with your mission.
Here, you can rally a group of people to a common cause, plan future meetings and pave the way forward. ‘Standing up’ shows a passion towards something that would have been left unsaid and unchanged; it brings awareness to the cause and creates a voice for the voiceless.
However, as mentioned previously, it is one part of the three-part phrase. Standing up educates different people on a cause and leads to initial mobilisation, but what happens when opposition arises? What stops the group from breaking apart or losing motivation? Enter the second part of standing up: staying strong and having a voice.
‘Staying strong’ is the second part of successful mobilising to make a difference; this does not mean growing physically buff, though that can help! Staying strong refers to how strong the participants’ faiths are in the mission and how strong-willed they are in the face of opposition. In every push for change, there will be those who don’t support you and try to belittle your mission.
‘Staying strong’ means boosting and sustaining morale in the movement’s followers; it allows for a change in strategy and an altercation in the movement’s goals if these have become blurry or hidden. If a group does not go through this process, they might not survive to reach the phase when the movement matters; ‘staying strong’ is the ultimate test of a group.
Every group of people with a mission has a limited amount of resources at their disposal – this is the same reality for their opponents. If the group dismantles or disperses before they reach their full potential, their opponents win. If not, the victory goes to the mobilisers. But what good is a group of people, a movement, if none of them has a voice? What good is a protest if there is no voice for the voiceless?
‘Having a voice’ is the third part of a successfully mobilising to make a difference; this brings us to the last part of our phrase! Having a voice means you have the privilege to speak your mind without fear of retribution; you can use this power for good or nothing at all. If you are reading this, I hope it is for the former.
Not everyone is Nelson Mandela, Malala or Oprah Winfrey – most of us are Khadija’s, Jameses, Allisons, Azizas and Amelias. We are seemingly ordinary people, but we do not realise how much power our voices hold in changing other people’s lives.
We can choose to help those in need in our communities – for example, by stopping prejudice against others or making a facility accessible to specific people. ‘Having a voice’ enables one to make a difference in somebody else’s life, making you extraordinary, notably when you use it to help people elsewhere to gain access to the same thing: a voice. This is how we can mobilise to make a difference.
When these three phrases are combined, they are a superpower unstoppable and usable everywhere and anywhere, whether in classes, protests, or when hanging out with friends. We must all stand up, stay strong and have a voice so we can mobilise and make a difference in our society.
To move people to a common cause is easier said than done. The first person you have to convince is yourself, which is very difficult. If you want to build long-lasting friendships, leadership skills, and collaborative skills, sign up for the Girl Pow-R training program. Contact us info(at)girlpow-r.com for sign-up information or visit the website Girl Pow-R. Be sure to watch their latest music and lyric videos on YouTube (and subscribe to Girl Pow-R for more entertainment), and listen to and share their music on Spotify.