African Girls Leadership Initiative

Introduction

We are so excited to present our last quarter successes in 2015. During this quarter, three beneficiaries of the African Girls Leadership Initiative (AGLI) graduated with their Bachelor degrees in Biology (2 scholars) and Public Administration (1 Scholar). In addition, the Foundation held her last “Breakfast Walk and Talk” session, bringing together women from different works of life.  We were also able to host our Segal Ambassador for Family Planning workshop with students and beneficiaries from all of our local universities and two of our high schools in Liberia. After nearly four years of being in existence, we successfully conducted our first parental engagement meeting with parents and guardians of our many beneficiaries. Finally, our international students returned home for a visit and to also give back to the community.

Our Success, Our Pride

The last quarter of 2015 was really the time to celebrate the AGLI. This quarter saw three of our local students obtained Bachelors in different fields. Patience and Nowoe graduated from Mother Patern College of Health Sciences with Bachelors in Biology; while Carenether completed the United Methodist University earning her Bachelor in Public Administration. Carenether and Patience were part of the first group of beneficiaries recruited from Grand Bassa County; they were moved to Monrovia to attend the universities of their interests. Nowoe was transferred from our one time assistance grant program (Our Children’s Fund) after one year because she still couldn’t afford the tuition to complete her last year Bachelor program. GPFA provides educational, financial, social and relevant opportunities to especially, vulnerable and less fortunate women and girls across Liberia; therefore, Nuwoe’s situation met the criteria for her acceptance into our AGLI program. 

Presently, Nowoe and Patience are preparing to attend Medical school; GPFA will continue to support them to achieving their goals. These many achievements inspire us to celebrate our girls.

First Parental Engagement Meeting

GPFA held its 1^st Parental engagement meeting after months of coordination between parents, scholars and staff alike to ensure the meeting took place. The meeting brought together 25 parents and guardians from both urban and rural Liberia. The meeting was held on December 3, 2015 at GPFA head office in Congo Town, Montserrado County.

 The meeting served as one of the means of directly engaging parents to discuss some of the challenges AGLI’s beneficiaries are faced with. Additionally, the meeting created a space for parents to understand the importance of AGLI. It is equally an opportunity for GPFA to work with parents/ guardians  in allowing her vision to be brought to light  while  also serving as an opportunity for GPFA to understand some of the  methods and formulate parents are using in helping us reach our scholarship goals. It is also one of the means to formulate new ideas for development and progress for AGLI. The meeting is a platform for GPFA to directly understand some of the difficulties faced by parents.  The Parents expressed heartfelt gratitude to GPFA and explained how the scholarship program has brought relief to the entire family, especially where some of them are unemployed and/or are low income earners.

Break Fast walk and talk

On October 31, 2015, GPFA held its regular and final Breakfast Walk and Talk (BWT) under the theme, “Sixteen Days of Activism against Gender Based-Violence against Women and - Honoring the Girl Child.” This event brought together fifty (50) women and men from different parts of Monrovia. Due to the huge awareness about gender issues especially in Liberia, we at GPFA believe the fight against gender-based violence could be done if strong solidarity is built among women.

Our 2^nd Annual SEGAL AMBASSADORS FOR FAMILY PLANNING TRAINING WORK SHOP

GPFA held its 2^nd Annual SEGAL Ambassadors Family Planning Training Workshop at the Golden Gate Hotel in Montserrado County on October 10, 2015. This year’s SEGAL Family Planning Ambassadors training brought together 19 AGLI beneficiaries from the African Methodist Zion University, African Methodist Episcopal University, Smyth College of Nursing, United Methodist University, University of Liberia, Mother Patern College of Health Sciences, Cuttington University, Starz College of Technology, and Nathan E. Gibson High School. Facilitators for this year’s SEGAL workshop were drawn from Liberian Girls Guard Association, Medica Mondiale, Planned Parenthood Association, and Community Health Initiate. This training provides education and tools to our beneficiaries to planning a health family and living a healthy life.

GPFA INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS BACK FOR A VISIT

Our international students (Georgia and Yvonne) pursue graduate and undergraduate studies in the United States of America returned home for visit. Whist in Liberia, Georgia, our graduate student of the University of Arkansas - Clinton School of Public Service (Arkansas, USA) will be conducting an impact assessment with beneficiaries of the AGLI. This impact assessment will be the first since the assistance of GPFA AGLI. Yvonne, our undergraduate student at Cedar Crest College in the USA has returned to renew her I-20 Visa. Both Students will be volunteering with the Foundation until their time of return.

APPRECIATION

As we end this successful 2015 annual year, we extend our warm gratitude to all you many good and caring donors who have seen the need to brighten our future. You have helped us to make our dreams real and have given our beneficiaries and their communities reasons to celebrate. We wouldn’t have been successful without your many contributions.  The very growth and development of our beneficiaries depend on you.  Through your donations, you have helped change the lives of many women and young people. Thanks for a year full of hopes and successes for our program, we look forward to even more collaborations in 2016.

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