With your help, Pathfinder will support 1,000 girls from urban and rural areas of Ethiopia through a leadership program. We will fund scholarships to allow girls to remain in school, will provide sexual and reproductive health education and referrals for services, and will support girls' clubs that provide social support and mentoring by successful women in their communities. Pathfinder's comprehensive model integrates health and life skills to help adolescent girls realize their full potential.
Harmful traditional practices are widely practiced in Ethiopia, particularly early marriage, which severely impacts girls' educational, social, and economic opportunities. In addition, girls have a greater work load than boys and those from poor families often leave school to support their family. These young girls often lack knowledge of sexual and reproductive health issues and frequently experience sexual abuse, unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortions, and pregnancy-related health risks.
Pathfinder integrates secondary school scholarships, health and life skills, and mentoring to help adolescent girls in Ethiopia realize their full potential. Through school-based girls' clubs, girls have a safe space to learn about sexual and reproductive health, learn from and be inspired by mentors, and build social networks and leadership skills. We also work in the community so that parents understand the importance of girls' education and a healthy sexual and reproductive life.
We believe that keeping girls in school is one of the best ways to prevent early marriage and pregnacy. We support girls so they will continue their education, build support networks and leadership skills through girls' clubs, and develop skills to improve their chances for later employment. Most importantly, girls develop their ability to assert their own point of view, including controlling their reproductive lives. Our aim is to impact the health and well-being of 1000 girls in Ethiopia.
My family and friends are encouraging me to work hard. I have friends who married at 6 or 7 years of age and their families tell me how lucky I am, and they wish their daughters also had a chance.
- Zenibu, 17 year-old scholarship recipient
Total Funding Received to Date: $3,194
Remaining Goal to be Funded: $27,615
Total Funding Goal: $30,810
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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