By Tessa Davis | Program Director
Throughout 2015, Just Like My Child Foundation has been piloting innovative Girl Power Project® curriculum materials that have been being developed in beta phases of the program for several years. The purpose of testing the materials is to ensure they are most effective in helping girls to avoid the deadly pitfalls common in their community such as HIV and early pregnancy, so they can instead reach their full potential and achieve their dreams. The curriculum consists of a carefully designed step-by-step series of workshops, discussions and activities that are engaging, culturally relevant, easy and fun for the community and girls.
As part of the pilot, approximately 250 girls ages 10-15 from 5 vulnerable communities have so far benefitted from 2 comprehensive, three-day workshops totaling 42 hours of training at their schools on critical social survival skills, including personal empowerment, strategies for avoiding violence, and sexual and reproductive health. The specific curriculum materials that were piloted for effectiveness and that the girls were taught with in workshops include:
The Girl Power Lesson Plan Book & Training Videos: A Teacher’s Step-By-Step Guide
The Girl Power Book: How to live a Smart, Healthy and Empowered Life So You Can Achieve Your Dreams
Just like My Child Foundation gained invaluable information from the workshops, which has already resulted in enhancements to the curriculum. Perhaps most importantly, we learned directly from the girls that The Girl Power Project® curriculum is proving successful as is highlighted in the following quotes from curriculum pilot participants.
"The Girl Power Project has helped me to know the value of being a girl as well as being aware about myself and relating well with others." - 14 year old, Joyce
"I have learned through Girl Power what to do and who to tell in case of rape. I have learned how to be a good mentor." - 12 year old, Hope
"Girl Power has taught me the importance of having a high self esteem, preventing myself from having sex at a young age and increasing my confidence. I am a strong woman!" - 13 year old, Gift
"Girl Power has helped us to understand our reproductive health, especially on menstruation. I am practicing to be confident!" - 11 year old, Shakira
In November of 2015, 50 of these girls will attend Camp Girl Power where they will graduate as mentors and return to their communities in 2016 to continue to spread the seeds of empowerment through Girl Power Club Activities.
Just Like My Child Foundation has so much in store for The Girl Power Project® in 2016, including launching our three year Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to reach 10,000 girls with our Girl Power System and preparing to responsibly scale up to reach more girls. On behalf of the million girls we hope to eventually reach through this project, we wish to thank you for your ongoing support! We hope you will continue to follow our exciting progress!
We encourage you to click on all of the links we have provided and share not only our story and videos with others who may wish to get involved, but also your story! We would love to hear about why you are moved to support The Girl Power Project! Share your stories here and we will feature our favorite in our next Global Giving report!
We extend our utmost gratitude to our partners The Elaine P. Wynn and Family Foundation whose commitment, love and support have helped to move this project forward and The Population Council, whose technical support in helping us better understand the effectiveness of our work, has been invaluable.
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