Mentorship for Girls’ Education and Career Development

10/6/2022

Mentorship For Girls

Mentoring girls can help them reach their full potential in education and career development. In a world of climate change, rising seas, and economic downturns, a world of a global pandemic and stunted education systems, girls are peering over the distance at a future that appears increasingly to be a mirage. How would girls aspire for something they can’t see or imagine? Where do they find the motivation to discover in a context of uncertainty? Girls can often find some of those answers in a mentor. A mentor is someone whom girls can speak to out loud, about their fears and uncertainty which often live in their heads and haunt their hearts.

1) What is girls’ mentorship?

Mentorship is a process where girls reflect and share thoughts about their development prospects and career potential with a person who’s an expert in that field. However, there is much more explanation behind this short description. A mentor is a person who guides you through all the uncertainties and unanswered questions in your head, such as:

“Where should I seek motivation during the hectic times we live in? How can I aspire for things if I am not sure about my future?”

Girls’ mentorship is like a strong shoulder girls can lean on whenever they feel confused about life. Mentors play a huge role in their lives and can be of great help in numerous situations.
A mentor is:

Someone who encourages girls even when it seems they have no skills for certain subjects.
Someone who believes in you even when you fail.
Someone who can walk you through when you change a career or move to a new country.
Someone who will be your number one supporter despite the circumstances.
And finally, is someone who will be there for you when the whole world lets you down.

2) What are the benefits of mentorship?

african students kids smiling in uniform

To have a mentor is to have someone you can speak out loud to, about fears and uncertainty which often live in your head and haunt your heart. It is a person who will read your CV and offer the distinction between dialogue and professional writing. They will be able to lift your competence from your life experiences and build your self-worth and self-love.

A mentor can see your potential and present you with the million possibilities that you could transform it into. But mentoring has many more benefits beyond the girls’ personal growth, it can benefit their career choices as well. The advantages are numerous, and in this article, we'll list the more important for us:

Benefits of becoming a Mentee as a girl

There are significant advantages for girls to have mentors, whether they are starting their career or they want to enhance their skills and abilities.

Expert advice on One-on-One basis

A mentor has earned professional training and technical skills, which they can teach girls. They can help girls with people skills, managing time and strategic partnerships, among other skills.

Professional advancement at a faster pace

Mentors can figure out how long it takes to complete major career advancement over time. They can help girls accomplish similar goals and provide guidance to help them avoid possible pitfalls. Mentors can also keep track of the progress that they are making in areas that they want to develop in from career to personal development.

Increased opportunity for networking:

A mentor can connect girls with other industry leaders, broadening their career network. Their mentor may even be able to recommend them for new positions, training courses, or promotions to others.

Boosted motivation:

A mentor can assist girls in being more motivated and inspired. By reminding themselves what they're striving for by taking their mentor as an example. The personal encouragement of the mentor would boost girls’ confidence and eagerness to explore different things.

Personalised recommendations:

Depending on the girl's career path, a mentor may volunteer to examine or analyse their performance. They have worked in the sector before and can provide girls with a personalised assessment of their strengths and weaknesses. They can then collaborate with them to develop a tailored strategy for girls’ success.

3) How can girls be mentored?

Girls can be mentored by giving them a horizon of perspectives in their career or personal life in a non-judgmental way, without instructing or narrowing their pathway. Emily Joof explains "A mentor helps you find the answers to your questions as well as takes you outside the box to inspire but also offers you to be a version of yourself that you thought didn't exist. For example I was coached when I didn't believe I had an aptitude for Math in school and encouraged me to play basketball even though I reach no higher than 1,5 meters tall"

One of the most important skills a girl can have is confidence but unfortunately, 79% of women have admitted that they lack self-esteem (wear the city). Mentoring can help increase self-awareness which results in girls to realise their potential, therefore increasing confidence. This can be done by asking smart questions. For example, in a TED article, the mentor asked the mentee, “Could you please ask all the questions instead of me?” to which she then replied “why?” and the mentor explained, “Because I need to know what questions to ask.” In this dialogue, you can see how the mentor is trying to take layers off her shell by asking the right questions. My Mentor lifted my chin when I had no work experience and believed I had nothing to offer an employer. They reminded me that speaking three languages, travelling to 7 countries, leading Model UN, and Captaining my Basketball team was just as important to present to the world as experience.

Communication skills, career guidance and overcoming hurdles in life are reasons why people turn towards mentoring. Emily said "I only knew a few careers due to restricted traditions and culture; law, medicine and accountancy. My mentor helped me open a whole new world of art, history, anthropology and sociology. The words “yes you can be an author” even when I knew nothing about creative writing and was about to dive headfirst into the world of publishing with no safety ring". Did you know that Maya Angelou was mentoring Oprah Winfrey? This shows to say, even the most successful people need a hand to hold onto so don't feel disheartened when you feel you need help or guidance.

There will be many instances where changes in life can shake up our routine which could make us feel uncomfortable. This could be becoming a new mother. Someone told me breastfeeding was hard and offered tricks and tips to help which was a type of mentorship. Family issues are another reason to visit a mentor. Engaging the family via mentoring to improve relationships is critical for the mentor, mentee, and family's experience. Parents should realise that the mentor is there to assist in the development of a connection with the child, not to take the place of the parent. The child should find a sense of support and encouragement from those loving people, if the mentor and the family maintain open contact and participate in events and activities on a regular basis.

There are different types of mentoring techniques which will be dependent on the individual:

Virtual Mentoring

(Phone, email or text) is one that is at each person's convenience and can be in the comfort of your own home. However, if your home environment is not conducive, there are other options available which will be discussed later in the course of this blog. Online mentoring programmes can help connect more than two mentors with the mentee to provide another aspect. There would be a higher chance of availability which also saves travelling and the environment. Mentees can easily access their mentors this way.

Face to Face mentorship

Is the type of mentoring you can get the most out of depending on your needs. 60-80% of communication in these sessions is body language based which improves trust more than virtual communication. There will be more engagement and less likely to be distracted (together platform).

Group mentoring session

Expose you to other people's experiences and connect on a personal level. These sessions can be suitable for individuals struggling to communicate their thoughts and feelings. Group mentoring can be more engaging and take you out of your comfort zone and grow. However there are cons of this type as well; not getting one to one, perhaps limited confidentiality due to group or competition amongst group members (mentoring complete)a

The ideal way for mentees and mentors to work together is to set mutually pre - defined goals. Be completely open and clear with your mentor about your job ambitions or objectives, personal qualities, and places for development.
It's possible to have an informal or formal mentor connection. We recommend having an informal tone of voice, as when questions arise, having a direct chat could be more helpful. We also suggest interacting on a routine basis at least once a week to keep the mentor informed on any news or updates.

4) Who can mentor girls? And in what areas?

As professionals, parents, careers and humans we can easily take on this challenge, to hold open our palms and offer girls a piece of your time, share our reflections, learnings and knowledge, Emily describes. A great mentor can see the potential and present in girls with a million possibilities that could help girls to transform. A great mentor can also have a massive impact on your chosen stream. But here comes the question of who can mentor girls, to the defined path they want? Well here are some of the individuals that can mentor girls and what kind of areas potential mentors can provide mentorship with:

black woman teacher giving word to a student raising hand

Academic staff- Academic staff like your teachers can be a great example of mentoring girls. Teachers will be the first to applaud as you finish their class but remind you that this is a marathon, not a sprint, keep moving forward, high school- college- university- keep moving forward having filled your head with knowledge and your heart with ambition and strong self-esteem, a good teacher send you off in the world prepared. They convince their students that some colour on their fingers over a blank sheet of paper creates art worth admiring, art worth keeping. The prove to students that a few extra hours at home staring at those letters which don’t quite form words will soon transform into sentences, - Emily.

Family-Parents especially can have a significant impact on a girl's life. Parents can help girls with understanding the importance of trust, ways to make the family bond stronger, empowerment, ways to identify yourself and how to overcome barriers.

black family mentoring kids at home family time

Professionals- There are various professional websites available online. For instance, LinkedIn is a great way to reach out to professionals to see if they would be delighted to mentor you. Such professionals have experience, they could be working in the field that you would like to pursue in the future and potentially seeing yourself growing and climbing the ladders smoothly.

black business woman in office talking to the phone

Women have once lived a girl’s life. They have experienced the challenges and difficulties that girls would likely face in their journey to womanhood. Women who have defied all the odds to pursue a career, and are excelling in their different career fields, are best suited to mentor girls. It is even more powerful for girls to be mentored by women who looks like them, share similar background and culture, and have lived through challenges relatable to the girl’s experience. This would present to girls the realities and possibilities of, ‘If she can do it, I can do it’!

These are some of the examples but other individuals can mentor and guide girls on the path to success. With a mentors' magical powers, they can get girls to believe that a tiny wooden stick filled with lead can make marks that another can read as words. -Emily.

Let us know in the comments how Mentorship has impacted and supported you in your career or in life in general

Authors

Author: Emily Joof

Emily is an astonishing author
who has a great passion for writing
storytelling books for children. Her
story represents what she is, a great
passion for developing and spreading
multiculturalism in a captivating way.

Co-authors: Somaia Halawa, Kingston Rodrigues,
Dilek Kerey, Marta Pavlovich, Subear Hersi

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How to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls

15/2/2022

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Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls

#BreaktheBias
#StopViolence
#MeToo

Close your eyes and picture three little girls that you know. In our current world, at least one of them is likely to experience some form of violence at some point in her life. What’s worse, she is likely to die or experience extreme physical or psychological harm as a result.

In this article, we are going to discuss some of the ways in which this gross violation of the rights of a gender that forms approximately half of the world’s population can be eliminated.
To begin, we must remember the famous words of Sun Tzu: “Know your enemy”. Before we can adequately tackle any issue, we must first understand it.

What Constitutes Violence Against Women?

Violence can have several roots and forms. When it is directed at a person mainly because of the person’s gender, it is a unique form of violence referred to as gender-based violence (GBV). Although men can be victims of gender-based violence, it is an issue that disproportionately affects women.
When we hear the term “violence”, what typically comes to mind are acts that cause physical harm. But there is so much more to it. One doesn’t have to be beaten to be a victim of violence.

According to the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women issued by the UN General Assembly, violence against women is “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”
Keeping the above definition in mind, here are a few common forms of violence against women:

Photo by Mélodie Descoubes on Unsplash

Child Marriage
The issue of child marriage might seem like a thing of the past to some people, but it is still very much a problem. Just over a year ago – in 2019 – one in five women between the ages of 20 and 24 were found to have been married before the age of 18.

How is child marriage a form of violence, you ask? First of all, with the nature of marriage in many societies, it robs a girl of her autonomy – which she probably did not have in the first place, but marriage is likely to make it worse. Secondly, it often leads to early pregnancy which has a long list of complications that could cause her physical harm. And lastly, it often results in psychological and social harm by leading to social isolation and interrupted schooling.

Female Genital Mutilation
An estimated 200 million women and girls have experienced genital mutilation across 31 nations where the practice is common. In countries such as Guinea, where at least 9 in 10 girls and women between the ages of 15 and 49 have been cut, female genital mutilation is nearly ubiquitous.

Not only does this practice have a long list of physical complications, including bleeding to death, but it causes immense psychological harm and can have life-long consequences.

Sexual Violence
The term sexual violence encompasses a wide range of acts that rob a person of their right to choose when, where, how, and with whom to have sex. This includes rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse, and so on. The term sexual violence also refers to sexual acts with people that cannot choose/consent to them e.g. child sexual abuse and statutory rape.

The prevalence of sexual violence is staggering. As many as 15 million teenage girls - aged 15 to 19 - have experienced forced sex and, according to a report by the WHO, 1 in 5 women experienced sexual abuse as children.

Intimate Partner (or Domestic) Violence
One of the saddest truths is that women are more likely to experience violence from people that they are close to - or were once close to - as opposed to strangers. Broadly speaking, the term intimate partner violence refers to violence exerted by a current or former intimate partner e.g. a spouse.

Globally, nearly one-third of women who have been in a relationship say that they have, at some point in their lives, experienced some form of violence from an intimate partner. The effects can be fatal with up to 38% of females murders being committed by a male intimate partner.

Photo by Nadine Shaabana on Unsplash

How do we Eliminate Violence Against Women?

The issue of violence against women is something so pervasive and widespread that, at times, it can seem like an impossibility to eliminate. And with the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have exacerbated the issue, it is easy to lose hope. The truth, however, is that violence against women is preventable, and if we all take a stand against it, we can put an end to it. Here are a few things that need to be done to achieve this goal:

1. Promote Gender Equality
The idea that women are somehow less valuable or less important than men is one of the major contributors to gender-based violence. This idea is portrayed almost anywhere that you look in our society today, manifesting itself in various ways: socio-culturally, economically, and even legally. All forms and manifestations of gender inequality need to be addressed.

Legal Inequality
All around the world, discriminatory laws against women exist. Many of these laws basically classify women and girls as second-class citizens in aspects such as nationality, education, marriage and parenthood, employment, inheritance, and rights to property. For instance, with respect to nationality, in many countries:

Women do not have the same rights as men to acquire, change or retain their nationality.

Marriage to a husband of a different nationality automatically changes the nationality of the wife.

Women do not have equal rights with men with regards to the nationality of their children. There are up to 25 countries in the world that prohibit women from passing their nationality on to their children.

According to a report by the World Bank’s Women Business and the Law, only 6 countries globally have enacted legal equality between men and women. They are Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg, and Sweden. This needs to change. If even the law discriminates against women and girls, where can they possibly turn?
Laws that discriminate against women must be abolished and replaced by those that protect them and promote their rights as equal citizens with men.

Socio-cultural Inequality
This refers to social and cultural norms that promote the idea that men constitute a superior gender. This particular form of gender inequality is alarmingly rampant and faced by women all over the world.

For instance, from childhood, many men are imbibed with the mentality that they are superior to women and have a right to possess them - especially within the context of marriage. Such a mentality could very easily translate into the idea that they can do as they please with women, resulting in violence.

Rape culture is another prominent social issue that is contributing immensely to sexual violence. From the objectification of women in the media to everyday terms used in relation to sex ( e.g. words like “bang”, “nail”, and “hammer” are such aggressive and violent terms that many use to describe sex), so much of our modern-day culture promotes and normalizes sexual violence.

Socio-cultural inequality is arguably the hardest to tackle. It demands a remodelling of the mind-sets of millions – both males and females - globally.

Economic Inequality
Education is a key factor for economic empowerment but women form greater than two-thirds of the world's illiterate people. Right from childhood, most women are placed in a position of disadvantage and not equipped with the tools needed to earn a good living for themselves. Despite this, two-thirds of the world’s work is done by women and women produce as much as half of the world’s food supply. However, they earn a mere 10% of the world’s income.
This particular form of inequality leaves women vulnerable, especially in the case of domestic violence. Many women in abusive relationships remain because they do not have the means to provide for themselves and their children if they were to leave.

2. Create and Enact Laws Against Violence
In several countries around the world, the perpetrators of gender-based violence often go unpunished. In the Gambia, many laws addressing the problem of gender-based violence exist. These include the Sexual Offenses Act of 2013 and the Domestic Violence Act of 2013. However, these laws are rarely implemented.

3. Promote Awareness About the Dangers of Harmful Practices
As highlighted above, practices such as child marriage and FGM are still very common. Although their prevalence has decreased over the years, much more still needs to be done to create awareness of the harmful effects of these practices, especially in societies where they are rampant.

How to Fight Gender-Based Violence on a Personal Level

So far, everything we have discussed might seem a bit abstract. You may be wondering, “What can I do to tackle this problem?” Every single person can fight and prevent gender-based violence in one way or the other. Below are a few ideas you can try out:

Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash

1. Talk to Your Children
If you have children, it is important to discuss topics such as gender roles and consent with them. From an early age, teach both your male and female children about their bodies, private parts that should be off-limits, and what to do if anyone ever touches them inappropriately.

Also, talk to them about gender roles and stereotypes that they will constantly encounter. But don’t just stop at talking, ensure that you set good examples for them by practicing what you preach and making them practicalize it – e.g. by sharing childhood chores equally.

Teach your children that violence is never the way to resolve an issue and nurture a mindset of respect towards all beings regardless of gender, age, race, etc.

2. Listen to and Encourage Women and Girls to Speak Out
One of the major perpetuating factors of violence against women is under-reporting. Women are afraid to speak out and demand justice out of fear of backlash. This allows perpetrators of gender-based violence to walk free and continue wreaking havoc.

One of the most powerful things you can do as an individual is to combat the culture of victim-blaming. Listen to women and choose to believe them instead of automatically discrediting their stories or blaming them for their abuse. Always remember - and reiterate to others - the fact that abuse is never the fault of the victim.

3. Use Social Media
One of the biggest obstacles to the elimination of GBV is the fact that potential victims are unaware of their rights. In the Gambia, more than 80% of women believe that it is okay for a man to hit his wife under certain circumstances.

You can use your social media accounts to educate people and take a stance against GBV. Share stories, facts, and statistics that highlight the severity of the problem and debunk harmful myths. You never know who you might enlighten and protect with a single post.

4. Support Organisations that Protect Women and Girls
From educating girls to providing shelter for survivors of abuse, there are tons of organizations out there doing a wide variety of things to protect women and girls. The SAGG Foundation, for instance, is helping female children in the Gambia build brighter futures for themselves through education. For as little as 10 pounds a month, you can make it possible for a girl to obtain basic education and reduce her risk of experiencing violence.

Sponsor A Girl Here

Author: Victoria Alex
Content Writer

Victoria Alex, is a final-year medical student with an insatiable passion for writing. She channels her love for the written word into helping individuals and businesses grow their brands and connect with their target audiences via high-quality content.

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5 Powerful Conversations to Empower Girls

20/7/2021

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5 Powerful Conversations to Empower Girls

African context surrounding conversations with girls

“Women are better suited for baby-making than money-making” is a phrase the average African girl has heard one too many times. It is based on no scientific evidence, a pure myth, and yet keeps driving the decisions of many families, in the past and at present. Girls and women continue to battle these pervasive views and beliefs that limit their potential and opportunities and some of these include the belief that investing in women/girls is a waste of time; in actual fact, investing in closing the gender gap will increase GDP globally. Up to $28 trillion or 26% increase will be seen in the global annual GDP by 2025 according to a recent McKinsey Global Institute report.

Culturally, domestic chores are the basic responsibility of the female children, because of the notion that girls have been endowed with the special ability to do it. Girls are basically prototype mothers whose major responsibilities in life are to take care of their husbands and children even to the detriment of their own personal ambitions, dreams, and happiness. Empowerment, therefore, is only advisable when it can assist them in becoming responsible housekeepers. As such, female children are made to believe that they are objects of male dominance whose education must end in the household domestic affairs since they are less competent at any other thing that men and boys do.

The effects of conversations that girls are exposed to from an early age

The effect of girls being exposed to the above conversations is that they begin to see themselves as inferior to boys and many deliberately lower their ambitions so as not to be seen as competitors to men. Girls end up believing that an educated and empowered woman will dominate her husband. This belief that educated and empowered girls will look down on men negatively impacts girls’ empowerment and serves as an impediment from pursuing their goals.

Psychologically, these conversations have lifelong effects on girls. It affects their life outcomes because they tend to deliberately stick to the limits that have been placed on them leading to lower earnings, abandoned dreams, and goals and lower life satisfaction. The social impact often involves low self-esteem due to being unable to fully participate in society, their own personal decision-making, personal empowerment, and community engagement. At the end of the day, without exposure to empowering conversations from an early age, girls do not have the opportunity to fully participate in a democratic society and this affects their overall health and wellbeing and often has a lasting multigenerational impact.

Empowering conversations that should girls to be exposed to:

Entrepreneurial conversations

Girls need to be educated on access to finance, particularly those in rural areas. Access to finance is a real challenge for many African women and is a way for them to achieve their entrepreneurial goals. The conversation has to go towards telling them the kinds of businesses they can do to help themselves. Just like education, access to finance and ensuring entrepreneurship has a ripple effect. It means access to self-sufficiency, dignity, and security. The benefit extends to the community and generations to come. Studies from the World Bank show that when a mother has a source of income, the chances of her child surviving go up by up to 20% in Brazil. In Kenya also, a child will grow up to 17% taller when mothers invest more of their income in health and nutrition. These are things girls need to be told from an early age.

Confidence-building conversations

It is important to talk to girls about building their self-esteem and confidence and how to rise above outside influences such as media influence and peer pressure as well as pressure from family. Self-esteem is built up over time and it goes hand in hand with confidence. It is made up of thoughts, opinions, and feelings a girl has about herself and as such, it can change based on the way a girl thinks. It is important not to think negatively about one’s self regardless of circumstances because changing the way you think about yourself changes the way you feel about yourself.

To build confidence, girls have to be taught to focus on what goes well for them and not on their problems and also aim for effort and not necessarily perfection. Any mistake made is a learning opportunity. Also, girls need to try new things and give themselves credit for trying. Conversations they are exposed to need to remind them to change thoughts that make them feel inferior by not comparing themselves to others; focusing on what they do well and cheer others for their success because everyone excels at different things; recognize what can be changed and what cannot especially when it comes to flaws. Things like height, complexion, and family background cannot be changed. If it is something that can be changed, then they need to start immediately. It is important to tell them to set goals, make plans, and keep track of progress.

Career and passion driven conversations

Girls need to be exposed to conversations that let them understand that a workforce that is healthier increases prosperity across nations and a more productive economy. To achieve this, a girl needs to be empowered adequately to advocate for herself and make the decisions that affect her own life and future by herself. When a girl focuses on building a career and facing her passion no matter what that is, the potential of building a happier home is higher and this ultimately contributes to peaceful neighbourhoods despite higher economic pressures in urban centres especially. Her satisfaction with her life will also increase which will affect all members of her household, including her own daughters positively.

Self-love and self-worth conversations

Girls need to be taught how to accept compliments graciously and to not overlook the positive things people say about them. Conversations from an early age need to teach them to learn to appreciate and absorb compliments and take them seriously and also to give sincere compliments to others too as this does not in any way diminish their own self-worth. They need to love themselves first and in the right way before those around them can love them and be their own best advocate. They need to also take pride in their opinions and ideas as a girl and that someone disagreeing with them doesn’t affect their worth or intelligence.

Girls need to also make a contribution early by volunteering in their community when possible. When a girl does things that can make a difference, no matter how little, it builds her sense of self-worth and positive opinion of herself and makes her feel good. She needs to understand that her self-worth is not directly connected to her appearance and how she dresses. Instead, conversations should go towards kindness, effort, problem-solving abilities, integrity, determination, and other positive characteristics. Also, her worth isn’t built on achievements but on the effort and mental aptitude to meet set goals and she needs to love herself enough to not be in competition with other women but focusing on her own positive traits and cheering others on.

Black Woman Beauty Model Colourful Dress

More than a wife and mother conversations

Conversations along this line need to start very early. Girls need to know that beyond motherhood and being a wife, acquiring the right skills and knowledge to find employment and as a means to support themselves and their families as the case may be. It is important to have confidence in their own abilities so as to be able to stand up to the injustices which girls face such as child marriage. Furthermore, empowered girls have the right mindset to challenge conventional norms and reshape perspectives, and to model the lives of the generations after them. This makes the life of a girl much more important and valuable than just being a wife and mother.

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Strengthen the role of fathers in improving the status of girls education

11/6/2021

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The role of fathers in improving the status of girls' education

Fathers, are considered to be important role models for their daughters. Together with other male relatives who are present in the life of a girl from childhood, they play a major role in determining who and what the girls are going to be once they grow up. No, were are not neglecting mothers, but girls learn a lot about life from their fathers and they play a crucial role in improving the status of girls. When a girl is taught that a woman should be treated well, respected, and taken care of in their childhood, they will start to value their worth.

It is well understood that parenting is important in the ability of children to succeed, their academic performance and their social skills. The role fathers play in their daughters’ development is a major one and the type of relationship it is significantly impacts on the type of individual the daughter becomes.

What is the role of fathers in the education of girls

Academic abilities are influenced by father-daughter bonds:
Studies and evidence has shown that girls who have attentive fathers by their side are successful in their academics. They are more likely to achieve higher grades in school than the girls with absent fathers. How does this happen? Fathers who are play an active role in the life of their daughter, will encourage her to study harder and go for higher educational achievements.

Below are certain facts proven by research about a father's influence on a daughter's education.

Preschool girls who have their father involved are better in verbal skills when compared with the students whose fathers are not that much involved in their education.
The mathematic skills of the girls who share a close relationship with their fathers are usually above average, with good analytical skills
When fathers are not engaged, the girls are more likely to drop out or repeat a grade.

When fathers are actively involved in celebrating ‘the academic achievements of their daughters, it encourages girls to excel further into education.

A strong father-daughter bond not only affects a daughter’s self-esteem and body image, it affects how they perform academically. If fathers encourage their daughters to do well in school, give them access to tools such as those for getting academic assistance and help them when they struggle academically, daughters can be very successful academically. Girls and women with healthy relationships with their fathers performed better in school and on tests than those with an unhealthy or no relationship with their father. Girls who end up in male dominated careers and subjects also have better relationships with their fathers.

Benefits of a thriving father-daughter relationship for the girl, the family, and society

It is statistically proven that the girls who do not have caring fathers in their lives, are three times as likely to fall victims of teenage pregnancy, and substance abuse.

The Father Effect
The father effect is a phenomenon that shows up at a very young age for girls. There are numerous studies that show that children from a household with a father perform better in intelligence tests and have higher IQ test scores at age 3. higher levels of intelligence correlate with greater success, longevity and happiness. Acts as little as encouraging daughters to take challenging courses and helping with homework are linked to higher levels of sociability and fewer bahavioural problems. These girls are also less likely to become delinquent, are less aggressive and are more likely to have high-paying jobs when they are grown. If a father thinks his daughter is beautiful, smart and strong, she is more likely to see herself that way. Below are some of the benefits of a thriving father-daughter relationship.

Fathers mould the self-esteem and body image of their daughters:
The relationship between fathers and daughters affect their mental health. Researchers in a recent study (2018) discovered that young girls with good relationships with their fathers reported less loneliness and were less likely to become anxious or clinically depressed. This positive influence also extended to them being less likely to develop body dysmorphia, eating disorders or be unhappy with their body weight or appearance. fathers that are present and loving end up giving their daughters a strong sense of self and are they are often more confident in their abilities. How fathers also treat their wives and talk to their daughters also affect how their daughters view their own bodies. Daughters from an early age pick up on the way their fathers treat other women, especially their mothers and this influences their beliefs on how women deserve to be treated.

Fathers influence the social traits and behaviours of their daughters:
Studies reveal that daughters who regularly communicate with their fathers in a positive way have better communication skills with both males and females in other aspects of their lives. Starting from birth to adulthood, the type and quality of communication between a father and his daughter affects the daughter’s ability to express herself - her emotions, feelings and thoughts. Fathers who show love to their daughters and show unconditional acceptance help foster a positive sense of self. Daughters often get their courage and sense of adventure from their fathers. This can be achieved by fathers when they show their daughters that they are capable of doing a lot and then empowering them to do so.

Black Father with son and daughter on the laptop sitting on the sofa

How fathers can mould good relationships with their daughters

Begin on her day of birth: Fathers should get involved with their daughters from the start by actively caring for them as babies. This helps the relationship to grow with each passing day and milestone. Cuddle with your baby, change diapers, bathe and feed them. Research shows that starting from infancy, girls draw conclusions and develop ideas about the men in their lives.

Teach them new things: Something as little and simple as learning how to kick a ball or ride a bike are great accomplishments. A father can pass on all the things he enjoyed learning as a child to his daughter by showing her that learning is a journey of a lifetime and it is always alright to pick up a new hobby or skill. Learning something together is also a great way to connect.

Be involved: A father that is actively interested and involved in their daughter’s life is the hallmark of every great father-daughter relationship. This is more than asking about their day but about taking an interest in those things that the child finds exciting and inspiring. The key is to find out what the child is passionate about and fostering it.

Show unconditional love and validate them often: transform situations where they mess up into opportunities to teach them something by being calm, patient and loving in the process. Do not ridicule or shame them when they make a bad choice. Assure them that you still love them very much while you may be disappointed. Discuss, nutrition, exercise and the importance of sleep with them as a way to dismantle harmful stereotypes and not focusing on your daughter’s physical appearance but more on making good choices that will keep their body and mind healthy and strong.

Lastly, Be a good partner and parent: an available father that is involved and supportive creates a model for a healthy parental figure. A healthy parent-child relationship affects how parenthood is approached by the child in later life. The same applies to how a father treats their spouse or partner. They are more likely to seek out loving and positive relationships and connections with partners if that is what they have seen at home. It is therefore important for fathers to be good examples of the kind of partners they wan their daughters to end up with in future.

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Together with the support of Fathers, our male audience and supporters, we're placing girls on the path to success thorough education. See how you can be part of this movement to uplift and empower girls.

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Improving Girls education in Africa through Technology

16/4/2021

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Accessing Technology to improve girls’ education in Africa

In this day and age, technology is paramount to the education of young girls, especially in Africa.
Gambian girls in particular face many barriers to their education, and unfortunately, the lack of access to technology is an additional log on the metaphorical fire.

In general, technology is not widely available in Gambian schools due to lack of provision and poverty- families who cannot afford food will not prioritise technology. And even in cases where technology is available, young girls are not being given access: in sub-Saharan Africa, 45% less women have access to technology than men.

Myths Surrounding Girls Access To STEM

Furthermore, dangerous myths surround Gambian girls, propagating these issues. Some believe that females are less capable of using technology than men, and that technical positions such as STEM careers are not suitable for women at all- this is absolutely incorrect. In fact, it is antiquated myths like these that are widening the gender gap and pushing Gambian girls further behind their international and male peers.

As a result, we must work harder to ensure that these girls have every chance to thrive. They are already capable, determined and intelligent- and they have every right to achieve success.
Especially in today’s day and age, information technology is vital, and if these girls are to receive a modern education they must have the necessary equipment.

Solution for Girls Access to Technology In Africa

Unsurprisingly, the lack of computer education is hugely limiting: it sets a huge disadvantage, barring children from a host of different career paths and a brighter future. In particular, technology gives young girls access to endless information, communication and opportunity. Yet, less than 30% of ICT professionals are female, which is shocking when you consider that the future is being constructed around computers. And implications do not just affect women- a research study found that the comprehensive adoption of ICT would have a huge impact on socio-economic development and change in many aspects of African society.

In order to fight this, we must act now. Young girls in the Gambia need access to technology in order to stand a chance, starting elementary level: and we cannot do this without our donors .
Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you, or your organisation, could be of assistance in providing our girls with technology- the difference a laptop makes is astronomical to a young girl in Africa.

Finally, we would like to thank our donor Kuben videregående skole for providing some of our girls with laptops already. Kuben, like us, see education as a human right, and are helping to educate the future and lift the barriers preventing every child from receiving a vital education.

Find out how to sponsor a girl

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International Girls in ICT Day

11/3/2021

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International Girls in ICT Day – 2021

What is ICT?

Information Communication Technology (ICT) is a broader term for Information Technology (IT), which refers to all communication technologies such as the internet, cell phones, computers, wireless networks, software, video conferencing, middleware, social networking and any other media application, and services that allow users to retrieve, store, transmit, access and manipulate information in the digital format. It also involves media technology convergence such as telephone and computer networks.

According to UNESCO, 7 million people work in the ICT sector but only 30% are women. Not only this, only 6% of CEOs at the top 100 global technology companies are women. Women in Europe hold only 11.2% of leadership roles in the tech world. UNESCO shows that a market of up to USD 50-70 billion will open up in the ICT sector if gender equality is achieved. This means more women and girls need to be encouraged to go into ICT.

Photo by: HackathonGirls, Banjul

Why should girls go into ICT?

There are numerous job opportunities in the ICTs. The sector gives room for a wide range of ICT talents due to the number of job seekers possessing the required technical skills and the digital skills needed by employers. What this means is that women who are highly qualified in technical fields have a notable number of opportunities available to them.

Furthermore, ICT companies realise that workforce diversity is good for business and as such are working to attract and promote women. The ICT sector is male-dominated, particularly at senior levels. The companies and organisations are therefore working towards increasing the number of women represented in the sector because when there are more women at the top, financial performance is positively impacted.

By going into ICT and supporting the education of women and girls in ICT, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is being supported. Particularly, SDG 5 seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls through, among other domains ICTs. Jobs in the tech sector not only lift women out of poverty but creates a gender-balanced sector that provides more fulfilment at the mid and high level of their careers.

Importantly, technology is the language of the future. Therefore, a background in technology enables girls and women to have a role in developing the future. Technology is not restricted to engineers but cuts across various backgrounds from professions such as economics, health, philosophy and production which broadens its applicability.

Photo by: HackathonGirls, Banjul

Myths surrounding girls in ICT

The tech environment is not conducive or appealing to women:
While truly the tech sector isn’t as appealing to women as it should be, ICT is an exciting, well rewarded, respected career option and is highly lucrative. More women are needed in the sector to change the tech’s culture and image.

You can’t pursue a career in ICT without having a tech degree:
A lot of digital career options do not require a STEM degree. Many companies just generally look out for people who genuinely want to succeed, have a desire to learn, and possess transferable skills. This means that online courses or a coding club can make a whole world of difference in starting a career in ICT.

There’s no career progression so you’ll likely be stuck with writing codes:
Working in ICT doesn’t always equate to working for a tech company. Every sector incorporates technology in all aspects of business today which means there are wide roles and numerous opportunities.

You can't have a family life, social life and balance a successful tech career:
The truth is that every career requires compromise and finding a suitable work/life balance meaning that a career in ICT isn’t different. With good time management skills, positive mindset, and determination, the right balance will be created.

Photo By Mansata Kurang

How to encourage girls to go into ICT

1. Girls can be encouraged to go into ICT by creating events and seminars that are specifically designed to inspire girls to pursue their dream of becoming an ICT professional and encourage careers in ICT fields. This involves a fusion of classroom learning, hands-on experience, and interactions with females in the ICT sector to assure girls of the opportunities inherent in the sector.

2. Teachers also need to take girls on a journey through the digital world from Word to Excel to coding and so on so they can know about the vastness of the sector. This will assure girls that they will not be confined. Furthermore, the use of contexts that can be found in the real world should be encouraged. This means getting girls’ hands-on things that can be replicated in real life such as creating films, creating vlogs, and so on.

3. Another way to encourage girls to go into ICT is to create school clubs in societies that are designed to encourage girls to engage actively in IT. It also allows them to develop their tech skills by partaking in challenges specifically tailored to their interests such as sports, dance, and music. This will have an impact on their confidence and self-esteem.

4. Lastly, ICT education needs to be started early. This means starting from elementary school and putting other noted factors in place to sustain interest into adulthood.

See Mansata Kurang an award winning Gambian woman in Tech

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International Day of Women and Girls in Science

1/2/2021

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Inequality of Women and Girls in Science

All over the world, less than 30% of researchers in the science field are women. This shows that there is still a gross underrepresentation of female students and employees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related fields (UNESCO, 2019). Less than a third of female students go on to study higher education courses in science subjects like engineering and maths. Furthermore, women in STEM fields publish less than their male counterparts and often receive less pay see weforum.org, 2020.

Women and Girls in Science - Saharan Africa

girl wearing goggles holding a test tube

A UNESCO report estimates that In Sub-Saharan Africa, only 30% of researchers are women with a gender disparity very clear in disciplines such as mathematics, engineering, and computer science. These women are not only paid less, they do not progress well in their careers as much as their male counterparts. Low-income countries tend to have the lowest ratios of women to men as researchers in the science field. The percentage for some African countries are South Africa 43.7%; Egypt 42.8%; Morocco 30.2%; Senegal 24.9%; Nigeria 23.3%; Rwanda 21.8%, Cameroon 21.8%, Ethiopia 31.3%, Sub-Saharan Africa 31.3%.

Gender Biases Discouraging Women and Girls from Science

The impediments women and girls face range from social and environmental factors, negative attitudes towards STEM, bias, and discrimination to low self-assessment of girls. There are persistent stereotypes within schools and families that boys are better than girls at science and mathematics and can succeed more in science-based jobs. It is also believed that women cannot benefit from the heavily male-dominated STEM careers and it is not suitable for them as it is not family-friendly. Furthermore, some cultures believe that investing in girls’ education is not as important as that of boys. These all discourage many women and girls from science and it needs to be properly addressed to secure the future of women in science.

How to Gain Equal Access and Participation for Women and Girls in Science

Gaining full and equal access and participation for women and girls in science is a long and multifaceted process.

One way is by providing scholarships and general educational services that are gender-sensitive so that girls can be encouraged to go to school and undergo the necessary training. There are also medium to long-term approaches to encourage participation.
All these have to be started at the basic level by creating opportunities that enable girls to complete basic education to start with. Then, the educational system needs to be reformed such that girls are encouraged to interact with science and technology from a young age.
Not only this, science subjects need to be made attractive and relevant for women and girls. Mentorship and role model programs need to also be encouraged whenever possible.
Lastly, efforts need to be put in place at the grassroots to change attitudes and social norms about women and girls regarding science being technical or male-dominated.

Opportunities in Science for Women and Girls

It is projected that in the US alone, over 50% of new job growth in the next couple of years will require science and technology degrees. While women and girls have found it difficult to break into many STEM fields in the past, there are lots of self-evident reasons to pursue opportunities in science. Obtaining a degree in science or STEM strongly indicates financial success. The starting and mid-level salaries for STEM careers are higher than non-science jobs.
Moving away from the issue of financial gain and job security, science-related fields need women as the majority of people in this field are men. This means that the area is lacking the unique perspective, experience, and creativity of the other half of the population.

How to Break the Barriers and Overcoming Challenges in Pursuing a Career in Science

Other than being determined in the face of daunting challenges and obstacles:

Girls need to seek out advisors in the field they want to choose and participate in out of field learning so as to get a broader experience of the chosen field early enough.
In terms of financial challenges, girls and women should seek out scholarship programs specifically tailored to encourage women to enter the field.
Women and girls need to be told that success doesn’t come easy and risks and opportunities are often closely linked. Self-confidence is important for girls seeking to start a career in science.
On the part of the government and ministry of education in developing countries especially, more awareness needs to be made on the availability of scholarship opportunities and encouraging women and girls to apply.

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5 Myths Of Girl Child Education In The Gambia

4/12/2020

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Breaking the myths of girl child education and highlighting the facts

A UNESCO (2017) report suggests that 264 million children of primary and secondary school age are out of school. Worldwide, an estimated 100 million young people are illiterate. Out of this number, the greater percentage are girls who are at an even higher risk of missing out on education due to persistent myths and misconceptions surrounding their education. Some of them are:

Myth 1 - Boys are better at understanding technology than girls

In reality, technology is a part of the world we live in and a major aspect of the future. The ability to learn to use technology is present in both genders. What is true is that in some cases, girls have less access to technology than boys do as is true of all education and this has to change.

Myth 2 - Boys are better in school and education than girls

The truth is that boys are girls perform the same when they are not exposed to barriers to access. Barriers to access are gendered and pervasive as well as rooted deeply in the economy and society. They include low attendance rate for girls, gender-based violence, and lack of funding and early marriage.

Myth 3 - There is no gender bias from teachers

Science and math teachers are not biased toward their male students: in reality, biases are persistent and teachers tend to interact more with boys than girls in science and maths and any other subject deemed technical. For example, a teacher will often explain to a boy how to perform an experiment but do the experiment for a girl if she asks for assistance.

Myth 4 - The STEM field is not for the female gender

When it comes to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields, some people believe that women are just born at a disadvantage. While gender differences are visible on standardised tests, this does not make them innate. This is because, for instance, countries with larger gaps in gender equality also exhibit larger gaps in math performance by gender compared to more equal nations that show the issue is related to systematic conditioning.

Photo by The Medical Research Council: The Gambia

Myth 5 - Education becomes useless once a girl is married

it is believed that a girl ends her education in her husband’s kitchen whereas, in reality, an educated girl remains an asset to her community regardless of marital status as she can earn more, has better outcomes as a mother and is less likely to experience domestic violence. She is also more empowered on all levels.

Why do these myths persist in societies?

Societies hold these myths many times due to a combination of factors that range from a lack of education and awareness, a need to hold on to patriarchy, resistance to change and a love of tradition. Girls are expected to take care of their siblings, perform domestic duties and many times, bring the family out of poverty through early and arranged marriage.

Many people in rural societies especially are resistant to change due to widespread misconceptions regarding girls’ education and a preference for the family hierarchy or structure, which they are used to for generations. It is believed for example that an educated girl will become haughty, promiscuous and difficult to control. In reality, these qualities are not specific to educated girls and have little to do with formal education.

What are the implications for girls’ education?

Education is not seen as a priority in a lot of cases and the issues that discourage girls education are still not tackled properly at all levels in many areas.

This has led to a lower performance from girls and a higher dropout rate. Instead of encouraging girls that perform slower due to gender-based issues, they are simply ignored most times or discouraged and steered towards other areas like cooking and child-rearing.
The implication of this is the cycle of girls believing they cannot cope with education because of their supposed “innate” flaws and the duties, which societies have placed on them.
This leads to discouragement and the inability to express the burning potentials present in girls. The only solution is to break the myths surrounding girls’ education.

Photo by Suad Kamardeen on Unsplash

How to break the myths?

Breaking the myths involves a multi-layered approach involving the government, teachers, influencers in the community and parents.
1. Parental support as well as support from teachers have proven to be beneficial in creating interest in education for girls and improving attendance, particularly in STEM subjects.
2. Teachers need to be deliberate about taking steps to involve female students, as this is beneficial to everyone.
3. On the government level, there needs to be proper and better investment in education so that girls can be encouraged to get to school. An example is by building separate toilets for girls and providing free regular sanitary products. More women also need to be encouraged to take up public positions and go into decision making so they can mentor the next generation of female leaders.
4. Lastly, influencers in the community such as community leaders should be educated on certain key issues affecting girls’ education, encouraged to put an end to harmful practices such as early marriage, and forced domestication.

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International Day To End Violence Against Women

24/11/2020

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Ending Gender-Based Violence

What Is Violence Against Women?

Violence against women is any act of gender-based violence that results in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.

It is rooted in the gender inequality that women face throughout their lives from childhood through to their old age. Violence against women comes in many forms; physical, emotional, verbal, and many more. It can come through different channels including intimate partner violence, workplace violence, sexual violence, family, and even societal violence.
Gender inequality and norms play a big role in the acceptability of violence against women and are a root cause of violence against women.

Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash

Why Is Violence Against Women Prevalent?

There are various risk factors that contribute to the prevalence of violence against women, such as:

Lower levels of education;
A history of exposure to child maltreatment;
Witnessing family violence;
Attitudes that condone violence;
Community norms that privilege or ascribe higher status to men and lower status to women;
Low levels of women’s access to paid employment;
Weak legal sanctions for sexual violence, and other forms of violence against women;

How To Eliminate Gender-Based Violence From National And International Levels

Violence against women and girls is rooted in gender-based discrimination, social norms that accept violence, and gender stereotypes that continue those cycles of violence. To date, efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls have mainly focused on responding to and providing services to survivors of violence. However, prevention which addresses the structural causes, as well as the risk and protective factors associated with violence is pivotal to eliminating violence against women and girls completely.

Prevention is the only way to stop violence before it even occurs. It requires political commitment, implementing laws that promote gender equality, investing in women’s organisations, and addressing the multiple forms of discrimination women face daily.

Photo by Sydney Sims on Unsplash

Other ways to eliminate violence against women includes the following:

Create laws where necessary and enforce existing laws that protect women from discrimination and violence, including rape, beatings, verbal abuse, mutilation, torture, “honour” killings and trafficking;
Educate community members on their responsibilities under international and national human rights laws;
Create more awareness on the dangers of harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation and sexual initiations;
Promote the peaceful resolution of disputes by including the perspectives of women and girls;
Sensitise the public to the disadvantages of early and forced child marriages;
Highlight the value of girls’ education and protect girls from violence in schools;
Encourage and support women’s participation in economic development;.
Raise public awareness of the poor conditions some women face, particularly in rural areas using specialists so they can feel safe;
Encourage and engage young men and boys to become change agents by starting from the home;
Give girls a voice by creating workshops that educate them on sexual exploitation, girls’ rights and advocacy and protect their voice.

Join Us to Educate Girls to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence

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Education can contribute towards the eradication of violence against women and girls. An educated girl has the power to speak up herself. Join us to give girls a voice.

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International Day of The Girl Child 2020 My Voice Our Equal Future

21/9/2020

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International Day of The Girl Child 2020

My Voice, Our Equal Future

It is a known fact that girls are experts on their own needs and unique realities and all they need is the right support made up of opportunities and skills to make their voices heard. Without this, it is impossible to know exactly what a girl believes is best for her immediate and near future. This is why it is important to give girls power and a voice and to listen to them when they speak.

Why The Voices Of Girls Matter?

The voices of girls matter because by giving a girl a voice, she can express herself and limits are removed. There is more participation in decision making about her life; her choices are broadened and ultimately, the quality of education and enlightenment improves. When a girl has a voice, she can make changes in her community; lead, challenge, push boundaries and improve the lives of those around her by inspiring them.

What It Means For Girls To Have A Voice?

Giving girls a voice includes empowering girls and women such that they can participate in decision making at private and public levels and access to resources are no longer one sided (in favour of the male gender) so that both genders become equal participants in leading a productive and reproductive life. When she talks, the world listens.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

How Education Can Give Girls A voice?

Every child can reach their full potential through access to education. Without education, girls are exposed and vulnerable and cannot learn how to actualise their ideas and dreams. Education therefore provides the foundation upon which boundless opportunities for future generations of women is built.

Education gives girls a voice because education is key to addressing poverty and fighting disease. An educated woman is an empowered woman that can use her voice to effectively contribute to society, the economy and transforms her family and community through her choices. Being in school makes a girl aware of her rights and improves her own health which in turn affects her family positively.

Education also gives girls the confidence to speak up and increases the probability of them being heard. By giving women and girls a voice, they can join the campaign for equality.

In order to support girls' education, it is important to go beyond providing learning opportunities, it requires keeping girls safe and protecting them from all forms of violence within and outside their places of learning.

Importance Of Our Equal Future

An equal future is one in which there is gender equality. Gender equality goes beyond being a fundamental human right, it is the bedrock of a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. In an ideal world, gender equality should be the norm. Reducing inequality makes economies stronger and builds societies that are stable and resilient allowing everyone equal opportunity to fulfil their potential.

An equal future is one where girls and boys enjoy socially valued goods, opportunities and resources and rewards the same way. It does not mean that men and women become the same; it just means that access to opportunities does not depend on gender.

An equal future by giving girls a voice is linked to the realisation of basic human rights for all. It is a future in which girls and boys enjoy the same opportunities, obligations and rights in all areas of life.

There is equal distribution of power and influence and equal opportunity for financial independence through work or business. Both genders enjoy equal access to education and the chance to build up on their personal talents, interests and ambitions; share responsibility for the children and the home and are free from gender-based violence both at home and at work. Lastly, both genders are completely free from coercion and intimidation in an equal future.

From £10 a month, you can give a girl a voice through education. Find out how to sponsor a girl.

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Read more about how an equal world will enable the world to thrive, how it can create opportunities, economic resources, economic participation and decision making.

Read more about how young Gambian girls can be introduced about female leadership at a young age to make the society better in the future.

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Mentorship For Girls

1) What is girls’ mentorship?

2) What are the benefits of mentorship?

Benefits of becoming a Mentee as a girl

Expert advice on One-on-One basis

Professional advancement at a faster pace

Increased opportunity for networking:

Boosted motivation:

Personalised recommendations:

3) How can girls be mentored?

There are different types of mentoring techniques which will be dependent on the individual:

Virtual Mentoring

Face to Face mentorship

Group mentoring session

4) Who can mentor girls? And in what areas?

Authors

Find Out More:

​Barriers in Girls' Education

​Educating Gambian Girls

Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls

#BreaktheBias ​#StopViolence #MeToo

What Constitutes Violence Against Women?

How do we Eliminate Violence Against Women?

How to Fight Gender-Based Violence on a Personal Level

Author: Victoria AlexContent Writer

5 Powerful Conversations to Empower Girls

African context surrounding conversations with girls

The effects of conversations that girls are exposed to from an early age

Empowering conversations that should girls to be exposed to:

Entrepreneurial conversations

Confidence-building conversations

Career and passion driven conversations

Self-love and self-worth conversations

More than a wife and mother conversations

The role of fathers in improving the status of girls' education

What is the role of fathers in the education of girls

Benefits of a thriving father-daughter relationship for the girl, the family, and society

How fathers can mould good relationships with their daughters

Welcome to SaGG Foundation!

Accessing Technology to improve girls’ education in Africa

Myths Surrounding Girls Access To STEM

Solution for Girls Access to Technology In Africa

International Girls in ICT Day – 2021

What is ICT?

Why should girls go into ICT?

Myths surrounding girls in ICT

How to encourage girls to go into ICT

You'd be interested in our other blogs

Inequality of Women and Girls in Science

Women and Girls in Science - Saharan Africa

Gender Biases Discouraging Women and Girls from Science

How to Gain Equal Access and Participation for Women and Girls in Science

Opportunities in Science for Women and Girls

How to Break the Barriers and Overcoming Challenges in Pursuing a Career in Science

Join us to place girls on the path to success through education

Join us in this movement

Breaking the myths of girl child education and highlighting the facts

Myth 1 - Boys are better at understanding technology than girls

Myth 2 - Boys are better in school and education than girls

Myth 3 - There is no gender bias from teachers

Myth 4 - The STEM field is not for the female gender

Myth 5 - Education becomes useless once a girl is married

Why do these myths persist in societies?

What are the implications for girls’ education?

How to break the myths?

Ending Gender-Based Violence

What Is Violence Against Women?

Why Is Violence Against Women Prevalent?

How To Eliminate Gender-Based Violence From National And International Levels

Join Us to Educate Girls to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence

International Day of The Girl Child 2020

My Voice, Our Equal Future

Why The Voices Of Girls Matter?

What It Means For Girls To Have A Voice?

How Education Can Give Girls A voice?

Importance Of Our Equal Future

From £10 a month, you can give a girl a voice through education. Find out how to sponsor a girl.

Get Updates about Girls' Education in The Gambia

Archives

Barriers in Girls' Education

Educating Gambian Girls

#BreaktheBias
#StopViolence
#MeToo

Author: Victoria Alex
Content Writer