Empowering grandmothers for children's education

The Holistic Development of Girls (HDG) program, applied by Grandmother Project – Change through Culture in Velingara, demonstrates that grandmothers are a powerful yet underused resource for promoting girls’ education, protection, and well-being.

In many communities, grandmothers traditionally play an important role in raising children and transmitting cultural values. However, most programs addressing girls’ education and early pregnancy focus mainly on girls and parents, while overlooking the influence and leadership of older women. The HDG program adopted an innovative intergenerational approach that strengthened the role of grandmothers as educators, mentors, and community leaders.

Why Grandmothers Matter

The study found that grandmothers are:

• Trusted figures within families and communities
• More comfortable discussing sexuality and adolescence with girls
• Influential in decisions related to marriage and education
• Experienced in guiding girls through puberty and social challenges
• Able to mobilize women and families to support girls’ development

By empowering grandmothers, the program strengthened the entire support system around adolescent girls.

How the Program Empowered Grandmothers: 

1. Strengthening Knowledge and Confidence

Grandmothers received training on:

• Adolescence and puberty
• Risks of early pregnancy and early marriage
• Girls’ education and well-being
• Communication and mentoring skills

As a result, grandmothers became more confident and informed. They were better prepared to guide girls and advocate for their education and protection.

2. Promoting Dialogue and Trust

The HDG program encouraged open communication between girls, mothers, and grandmothers through intergenerational discussions and community meetings.

These activities:

• Reduced mistrust between generations
• Increased respect for grandmothers
• Helped girls feel comfortable seeking advice
• Encouraged families to value grandmothers’ contributions

Grandmothers adopted communication approaches based on listening, patience, and dialogue rather than fear or punishment.

3. Supporting Grandmothers as Mentors

Grandmothers became active mentors and educators by:

• Discussing sexuality and relationships openly with girls
• Teaching positive cultural values
• Encouraging girls to stay in school
• Helping girls build self-confidence and resilience
• Warning girls about the risks of early pregnancy

Girls reported feeling closer to grandmothers and more willing to listen to their advice.

4. Encouraging Collective Female Leadership

The program strengthened collaboration among women from three generations — girls, mothers, and grandmothers. Grandmothers helped create “coalitions of women” that worked together to:

• Prevent early pregnancies
• Support girls’ education
• Monitor girls’ safety and well-being
• Promote dialogue within families and communities

This collective action increased community support for girls and strengthened women’s leadership.

Results of Empowering Grandmothers

The study showed several positive outcomes:

• Improved communication within families
• Greater respect for grandmothers
• Increased girls’ confidence and school motivation
• Stronger community protection for girls
• Reduction in early pregnancies
• More inclusive family decision-making

Grandmothers became recognized as key drivers of positive social change.

Recommendations

Programs promoting girls’ education and rights should:

• Explicitly include grandmothers in program design
• Strengthen grandmothers’ knowledge and leadership skills
• Foster communication among girls, mothers, and grandmothers
• Support community-based female leadership networks
• Engage men and boys to support girls’ development

Conclusion

The HDG experience in Senegal shows that empowering grandmothers can transform families and communities. When grandmothers are respected, informed, and actively involved, they become powerful allies in protecting girls, supporting education, and promoting positive social change across generations.