The Stars Are Calling Again: Voice Among the Stars Returns for 2026

When we launched Voice Among the Stars, we set out to prove a simple idea: that African girls belong in the conversation about space, and that their voices can shape where the industry goes next. Our first cohort proved it beyond doubt.

Over four weeks, 52 girls from six African countries came together virtually for a journey of learning, leadership, and collaboration. Organised into eight star groups, named for some of the brightest points in the night sky, they worked across borders to explore space innovation, leadership, and sustainability. By the end, every single participant had presented in front of an international audience, many of them for the very first time.

A real stage, real recognition

The programme culminated in a Final Showcase that was anything but a closing ceremony. Teams presented their projects to an audience that included representatives from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), and the Kenyan Space Agency.

The projects were ambitious, tackling African challenges through space-based solutions, from climate resilience and biodiversity protection to inclusive education and women's leadership in STEM. In the keynote, UNOOSA's Aarti Holla-Maini urged the girls to trust their voices, build resilience, and stay true to themselves. The educators and officials in the room saw exactly what we hoped they would. As one US Embassy space affairs attaché put it, the presentations were terrific and the girls were clearly inspired.

What the girls took away

Behind the statistics are the moments that stay with you. Across the weeks, participants imagined their voices as colours, as forces of nature, and discovered how voice carries strength and resilience. They wrote letters to their future selves. They learned that leadership is not about perfection but about persistence, authenticity, and service.

For Florence, of Team Spica, the experience was about growth. She described it as "a space where our voices met purpose, passion, and power," and reflected that our voices, calm or fiery, are instruments of change, and that when we raise them together, we become unstoppable.

For Mercy, of Team Rigel in Lagos, it was about belonging. "Space often feels like an 'exclusive, out-of-reach' concept," she wrote, "but this reminded me that we do belong. And we can do much more." Her closing line has stayed with us: "I walked away with new knowledge, new sisters, and a new fire. The sky isn't the limit anymore, it's just the beginning."

Now it's your turn: applications for 2026 are open

This year, Voice Among the Stars returns bigger and bolder. Themed Ground Control: Girls in Africa Steering the Future, the 2026 programme runs as a free five-week virtual experience for girls in Africa aged 16 to 19, four weeks of workshops and seminars leading up to a public Final Showcase.

We are building on everything the first cohort taught us, with more star groups, more partners, and more room for girls across the continent to find their place. Selection comes down to three things only: your age, your African roots, and your availability. You do not need fancy equipment or a perfect internet connection to take part.

If you have ever wondered whether space is for you, let the first cohort answer that for you: it is. You need curiosity, a willingness to find your voice, and the courage to use it.

Applications are open now and close on 20 July 2026.

Whether you are dreaming of a career in space or simply ready to lead with more confidence, there is a star group waiting for you.

The sky isn't the limit. It's just the beginning.