Program Components
Girls Space Empowerment uses empowerment approaches and human right framework to support girls’ education and development, address issues facing girls, and empower girls through a wide range of services and activities including Keep Girls in School Initiatives, life skills, technology & media literacy, leadership skills training, mentoring, counselling & psychosocial support, skills training, economic opportunities, civic engagement, community services, social & recreational activities, and special event. It also engages in social action and advocacy to address teenage pregnancy, child marriage, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), female genital mutilation, and gender inequality.
Community-Based Girls Space
Girls Space Chapter offers weekly sessions at safe spaces in the communities for girls who are not in school and girls attending school where there is no Girls Space to ensure that they have access to amazing empowerment program. The program help address issues facing girls, help girls return to school, enroll girls in school, or learn skills and access other opportunities that will enable them to achieve their goals. Community support is vital to the success of Girls Space Program. Girls Space Empowerment works closely with stakeholders including chiefs, leaders, elders, and relevant community set up and run Girls Space Chapter in a community. The stakeholders can support Girls Space with providing guidance, community space such as community centre, court barray, or church hall/room, recruitment of participants and community members as volunteers, and program support such as in-kind donation.
School-Based Girls Space - Keep Girls in School Initiative
In partnership with schools, Girls Space Empowerment operates school-based Chapters to help keep girls in school and successfully finish their secondary school education by addressing the barriers facing girls in school and providing educational support, life skills development, mentoring, and other support they need to achieve their education. The Keep girls in School Initiative helps to empower girls, improve academic performance, prevent teenage pregnancy and child marriage, reduce sexual and gender-based violence, and reduce girls` school dropout rates. Girls Space Empowerment offers weekly sessions and activities in primary and secondary schools, including homework and tutorial assistance, study strategies, reading, spelling, debate, public speaking, exam preparation, career planning, life skills, girls` talk, leadership skills training, technology and media literacy, workshops on various topics, social and recreational activities, and other empowering activities. We offer extended learning opportunities such as inspiring and supporting girls to pursue career opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and After School Program to help girls facing greater academic challenges. Girls Space also provides need-based support and scholarships to cover cost of education for girls facing challenges, such as uniform, school supplies, shoes, transportation, sanitary menstrual sanitary pads, extra class fees and other support.
Promote Girls` Education
Girls Space Empowerment strives to improve girls ‘access to quality education by address issues that denied girls access to education and creating opportunities for girls. Girls Space engages in activities that promotes girls` right to education and provide educational support such as advocacy, raising awareness, scholarships, sponsorship, school supplies and other support.
Menstrual Pad Initiative
The menstrual pad initiative strives to provide menstrual pads to girls in need and empower them to stay in school by educating them on menstrual hygiene management and reproductive health. Girls Space also help to end stigma, raise awareness, and engage in advocacy to support girls
Technology and Media Literacy
In Sierra Leone, many girls and young women have limited or no skills and access to digital technology and they struggle to afford digital devices such as computer and access internet. Girls Space provides opportunities for girls to learn and gain skills in technology and media literacy, which will help to mitigate gender digital divide or technology gap for girls.
Online Girls Space Platform
Girls Space Planform is an online platform that provides a safe place for girls and young women to chat, connect, learn, get advice, support, share knowledge, and talk about a wide range of issues. It also offers workshop, webinar, training, debate, educational activities, and other opportunities.
Life Skills
Girls Space provides opportunity for girls to participate in life skills activities that are tailored to their needs, situations, and age range. It helps girls to develop valuable skills and become better equipped to make informed decision, discover their strength, handle daily challenges, advocate for themselves and on behalf of others, develop strong relationships with family and peers, explore opportunities, become an agent of change, and succeed in life
Leadership Skills Training and Opportunities
The leadership skill training is designed to help girls develop leadership skills and create leadership opportunities that lead girls to become mentors and leaders in the program, schools, communities, groups, and organizations.
Girls Talk Empowering
Girls’ talk empowering is an initiative that help empower and inspire girls to thrive, amplify girls` voices, increase girls` resilience and ability to navigate the challenges that impact their lives, and mobilize girls to become change agents in their communities, county, and around the world.
Mentorship
Mentorship is key for girls’ empowerment and development and our mentors are critical to the success of the program. Girls Space mentorship aims to provide a strong support and guidance to help empower girls to thrive. We connect girls with trained and experienced adult mentors and older adolescent mentors, who provide guidance, advice, support, facilitate sessions, help girls acquire life skills, and advocate for the girls.
Psychosocial and Counselling Services
Mentorship is key for girls’ empowerment and development and our mentors are critical to the success of the program. Girls Space mentorship aims to provide a strong support and guidance to help empower girls to thrive. We connect girls with trained and experienced adult mentors and older adolescent mentors, who provide guidance, advice, support, facilitate sessions, help girls acquire life skills, and advocate for the girls.
Skills Training and Economic Opportunities
Girls Space strives to increase access to skills development and economic opportunities for vulnerable girls and young women. The structural, cultural, gender-based barriers, and limited access to job and skills training opportunities often prevent or discourage girls and young women from seeking skills training and job opportunities that would help them reach their economic potential.
Civic Engagement and Community Services
Girls Space provides opportunities for girls to make a difference in their communities and in the lives of community members. It helps girls to develop knowledge, skills, values, and motivation them to use their skills and voices to make a difference. It is essential for girls to become empowered and giving back to help build thriving or impoverished communities. The girls could engage in community projects, volunteering, community garden, tree planting, community events, and other community engagement activities.
Social action and Advocacy
Girls Space engages in social actions and advocacy that focuses on the needs of girls and issues facing them to drive policies and practices that create positive change, ensure equality and opportunities for girls and young women. We collaborate with governments, local authorities, and organizations to ensure that they work toward change, invest in girl`s education and development, and play a pivotal role in enabling all children and girls to achieve their full potential.
Social and Physcal Activities
These provide opportunities for girls to participate in activities that help improve their social skills, physical and mental status well-being, and equip them with essential life-skills that can help them navigate and succeed in life. The activities include games, arts & crafts, exercise, gym, music, sport, and more. Girls Space offers day camp that provides opportunity for girls to have fun and exciting experience. The camp offers exciting new learning experiences, skill building, confidence building, a sense of community and friendships. The camp activities include leadership activities, art & crafts, project, hiking, music & dance, sport, fitness, and a variety of challenging and stimulating activities. A safety system will be in place to ensure the safety of the girls.