Building on the 2019 pilot with 230 girls in Solola, Guatemala, in 2020, GR is expanding the project to reach 500 boys and girls through partners implementing the GR curriculum and tools to build the confidence, skills and mindsets girls need to persist in school and to change attitudes so that entire communities--girls, boys, parents, teachers and leaders--stand up for girls and against gender discrimination.
Many adolescent girls in Guatemala are forced to drop out of school, prevented from pursuing their education because of issues including teen pregnancy, early marriage, sexual violence, caretaking responsibilities, lack of nearby secondary schools and forced migration. While 99% of girls attend primary school, only half make it to secondary. There is a significant need for programming that targets girls and their communities with proven strategies to get and keep girls in schools.
In year 2, Girl Rising will work with 5 partners to reach 500 youth throughout Guatemala in a variety of contexts. The 24-week curriculum, adapted for local use and updated for 2020 based on pilot results and participant feedback, will be delivered to girls (460) and boys (90). Current research shows there is a significant need to develop social-emotional skills and change gender norms for girls to succeed and stay in school as well as improve academic and life outcomes.
GR will also launch community screenings & discussions to reach parents and community members in support of change for girls. Learning from year 2 will also help us continue to refine programming for specific groups (in school/out of school; girls/boys; urban/rural, etc) as we scale the work year to year. Partnering schools and community-based organizations are anticipated to continue to use these materials for years beyond the initial pilot--potentially reaching tens of thousands of youth.
