FRIDA support groups that empower GIRLS
See below these two wonderful examples….
I’m Glad, I’m Girl – Jamaica
Our group works with marginalized girls from rural and urban communities. The change in the lives of the girls is both short term and long term. In Jamaica our culture is based on our environment and often cross-generational conversations about sexuality and sexual and reproductive health are seen as taboo. We break that cycle and enable the girls to unlearn the myths that they have held inside for so long and relearn the facts about their bodies and their choices. Education is key if it is that we truly want to bring about change. The girls in turn will go home and educate their friends and families and the ripple effect will continue.
Over the past few years, we have seen drastic changes in the lives of the girls who have been to camp. These changes extend to include career decisions and financial literacy. In a bid to look at unusual ways to reduce poverty and create employment, the girls learn how to nurture their imagination and use it to bring them an income. Another change is one of empowerment, helping her to find their voice. Upon the first interaction with us as a foundation, the girls are given a pre-test and are supported to assess what their needs truly are. Many of them have lost their voice and identity. Their definition of being a girl is skewed by the various determinants of society.
The short-term effect of our interaction with them is that they begin to learn how to truly value themselves. They learn how to define self-love and to set realistic goals using the resources that they have around them. The long-term effect is that these girls become champions of change. They become speakers and mentors and have been able to help other girls to find their way. For many, knowing that they are a role model for someone else has helped them to try a little harder. FRIDA has definitely helped to foster this development as one of the primary sponsors of I’m Glad I’m A Girl.
Grupo de Mujeres Xiltlali -Nicaragua
We work on a range of issues including; preventing teen pregnancy, prevention of sexual abuse, breaking down power relations and sexuality and gender.
We have conducted workshops on the subject of sexual abuse, together with other partners in our country. In most of our workshops we perform skits or plays, and we are using sport (Futball Soccer) as a new methodology that is more dynamic and fun for the girls.
The younger girls are from a region called Valle de la Laguna, due to remoteness, other organizations have not reached these communities to discuss these issues. We believe the workshop has empowered the girls to organize themselves, participate and share experience from home and school. For so far this year we have noted that the girls are a little more confident and unafraid to express themselves. This is very valuable for us as an organization because the girls are empowered and finding their rights, and they are learning what is most important.
