At 16, Diane became a mother. "I was too young to have a child. It's not what I wanted," Diane says. Then, lowering her eyes briefly, she raises them again: "Even though I was not ready, I now feel like a respected and responsible adult."

In addition to this early pregnancy, the security situation in the Central African Republic brought another share of concerns to her young life. Indeed, the violence of the civil war soon reached her loved ones. In 2015, "a group of rebels entered our town to kill my father, the mayor. They opened fire on him. But, miraculously, he fainted and was not hit. After that, we crossed the river to live with my aunt and uncle," recalls Diana.

At just 18 years old, Diana already had too many stories to tell. So the Youth Talk project gave her the means to do so. Two years ago, Diane joined forces with other young journalists to produce radio programs addressing the country's issues.

While fighting continued in some provinces, her baby was born. These issues, then, took on a new dimension. Diane began to fear for two. "I don't want my child to grow up in a country at war," she says. However, as the radio shows went on, hope emerged. "I realized that we can change the course of the future through a dialogue between young people and adults on peace issues."

Indeed, the project inspired her to take action. Being a radio host "makes me want to help my community, to use my voice to make a difference."

Specifically, Diana draws on her unique journey to design a different future for herself and others. "I was shocked by how midwives acted with women about to give birth. So the program gave me the confidence to talk about this issue and become a midwife myself."