Girl child Art Foundation plans to provide 30 young girls exposed to domestic violence, sexual violence (rape), drugs abuse, early pregnancies, and emotional trauma the opportunity for free but formal education and a safe space to thrive through theatre arts. This project will ensure that underserved girls who drop out of school in the urban slums of Nigeria receive quality education through activities like stage performance classes, dance, singing, and psychosocial support.
There are currently over 10 500,000 out-of-school children aged 5-14 in Nigeria, according to UNICEF. Girls account for 60% due to poverty, child marriage, sexual and domestic violence, drugs, early pregnancies, illegal abortions, and prostitution. These girls are within the urban poor, rural poor and other underserved youths. These young girls' futures are at risk of little or no earnings, labour productivity and economic growth, with no guarantee of a sustainable future or self-reliance.
GCAF provides education using theatre arts to in and out-of-school girls. The girls are trained in performing, creative writing, directing, theatre design aspects (scenery, costumes, lighting, sound), and artwork. This project will create awareness for girl-child education, promote education and bodily rights for the girls through the artistic expression of culture and crafts through theatre.
The project will educate young girls, improve their self-worth, encourage them to complete their education, equip them with skills to make a livelihood for themselves, spirit to rise out of poverty, and emotional well-being for the girls and young women and their families. It will reduce the number of rape cases and other sexual violence, drug abuse amongst girls, transactional sex and early marriage.
