Help work in schools in Sierra Leone to train girls to be agents of change.

Why we care: Violence against girls is widely accepted, and girls are largely unaware of their rights.

How we’re solving this: Helping a generation of young people to become agents of change for themselves and others in order to break the cycle of discrimination and violence against women and girls.

Girls in Sierra Leone are exposed to harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation and forced early marriage. Many have to abandon their education as a result.  Womankind Worldwide is working with a local women’s organization to train young people to be agents of change in their communities by setting up school clubs in six schools in southern Sierra Leone to educate girls on their rights, engage boys to eliminate violence, and help teachers to protect girls through activities and training sessions.

This project will support 120 female secondary school students and teachers to attend three-day workshops to learn about the rights of women and girls, specifically around issues of early/forced marriage, teenage pregnancy, FGM and sexual harassment.

Girls’ school clubs will be supported to organize activities within their schools and communities such as debates, quiz competitions, and poster campaigns and will perform dramas to be aired on the radio. 

The activities will be led by the girls themselves, who will share their knowledge on rights with up to 16,800 more people in their communities. Young men and other young women will learn about girls’ rights to live without violence and discrimination through these activities.

Budget breakdown:

  • $46 per trainee for venue, trainer, transport