Because I am a Girl

Project overview

Despite Senegal's efforts to achieve universal access to a full primary education, inadequate infrastructure, resources, and teaching remain a challenge, particularly in rural areas. School retention is also hampered by poverty, which often draws children away from class to work and contribute to basic household needs. This project is addressing these challenges in three regions of Senegal by building classrooms, latrines, and water points across 60 schools. In addition, community-led microfinance groups are providing women with loans and financial knowledge so they can improve their income and better support their families.

Education update

The first two years of this project saw the completion of 40 classrooms, 20 water points, and 15 latrines across 60 schools. Most recently, new reading spaces with books were added to 35 schools, further improving children’s literacy, imagination, and creativity. 

While physical infrastructure provides the framework for development, true progress and sustainability are established by building social infrastructure through community awareness and participation. Local authorities, civil society organizations, teachers, parents, and children, need to be aware of how to uphold child rights and gender equality, so that children’s education and protection is prioritized both inside and outside the school environment. In addition, teachers and school management committees must learn how to maintain and govern their schools, ensuring that quality learning is offered long term. This social capital was bolstered through the following training sessions:

• Three sessions on infrastructure management for school management committees and parent-teacher associations, including 138 people.
• Three sessions on child rights and gender equality for 435 members of local government and community-based organizations.
• Two sessions on child rights, gender equality, and school governance for 123 teachers and principals.

Additionally, student groups have formed to take on leadership roles in maintaining their school grounds and motivating their peers to keep the school environment clean and safe. As an organization that uses a child-centred approach to development, children’s participation in projects is essential.

Gender equality in schools

After conducting a full gender analysis to identify how girls may be discriminated against in schools, the following actions were taken to remove certain barriers that often prevent girls from finishing school:

• Incorporating girl-friendly improvements to school facilities such as separate latrines and appropriate furniture in classes.
• Identifying male and female teachers who can act as gender sensitive role models for other staff and students.
• Providing school books, educational materials, and psychosocial services to address the impact of violence on girls in schools.

Thank you

Thank you for supporting this vital project that is helping thousands of girls and boys get the quality education they need to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.