Self-esteem and body confidence are important for a child's development. Body image has to do with how people think about their size and shape as an important part of their identity, says Dove. 

When young people lose confidence in their body image, many lose confidence in themselves, and this can affect their self-esteem, wellbeing and even mental health, says the brand.

Dove says that in its latest research study, The Real State of Beauty: A Global Report, Dove found that more than three in five girls (63%) say they have not felt confident at school because they don't feel good about the way they look. Seventy percent of young South African women and girls see the pressure to undergo cosmetic procedures from social media and influencers. 

Eighty percent of girls opt out of important life activities, such as trying out for a team or joining a club at school. Seventy percent of girls stop themselves from eating when they are worried about their appearance, or otherwise put their health at risk — for adult women, it's an incredible 90%, says Dove. 

For the past 20 years, the Dove Self Esteem Project has been on a mission to reach millions of young people to help shatter beauty stereotypes, build body confidence and inspire them to feel empowered and included, so they can realise their full potential. 

"At Dove, we believe no young person should be held back from reaching their full potential. Since 2004, Dove has been committed to building body confidence and self-esteem for the next generation of young people," says Dove Brand Manager, Masechaba Khawula.

"Through the Dove Self-Esteem Project, we've been helping parents, mentors, teachers and youth leaders deliver self-esteem education that's reached more than 114 million young people so far across the world. We want a future where young people feel empowered to confidently challenge beauty standards, advocate for themselves and feel connected to and celebrate their bodies," adds Khawula. 

The initiatives, leading up to International Day of the Girl Child on Friday, 11 October, brought together young girls, educators and influencers to address growing concerns around confidence and self-worth, says Dove.

According to the brand, several in-person workshops with learners, teachers, influencers and media, have been held throughout the year to unpack ways in which parents, guardians and teachers alike can assist young people with self-esteem issues, while practically demonstrating the programme, interacting with one another and sharing self-esteem journeys. 

The initiative culminated on Friday, 25 October with a panel discussion at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). Youth figures and experts led discussions on body confidence and the importance of fostering a positive self-image in young people. Hosted by media personality Hulisani Ravele, the panel highlighted how building self-confidence can have a lasting impact on well-being and personal development, says the brand. 

The Dove Self-Esteem Project's mission is to reach 250 million children with self-esteem education by 2030, making it the largest provider of self-esteem and body confidence education globally. The free online resources available on the Dove South Africa website, empower parents and caregivers to support children in navigating appearance pressures, offering tips on how to curate a positive social media experience and promote healthy conversations around body image.

"Good educators understand that building confidence and self-worth is crucial for a child's development. Initiatives like these play an essential role in helping young girls navigate the social pressures they face, especially in today's digital world. By fostering positive self-esteem early on, we are laying the foundation for their future success, both academically and personally," says Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube. 

Dove concludes that it will continue to leverage its partnerships to expand the campaign's reach, aiming to provide self-esteem education to 20 000 children across South Africa this year.

For more information, visit www.dove.com. You can also follow Dove on Facebook, X, or on Instagram. 

*Image courtesy of contributor