Empowerment: Sierra Leone

Because I am a girl…
I have the right to go to school. And some day I will be a nurse.

Girl Power: Promoting equal rights and opportunities for girls

Here’s the situation: In Sierra Leone, an alarming number of girls drop out of school because they are forced to marry at an early age, often as young as 12. And once that happens, they are left extremely vulnerable to irreversible consequences including pregnancy and HIV and AIDS. Not to mention gender-based violence and genital cutting, which are both major problems throughout the country.

Through your support of Because I am a Girl, you will help us directly impact the lives of 5,000+ girls living in 10 rural communities in the Freetown Peninsula. To bring about positive change, we’re taking a holistic approach, involving not only the girls themselves, but also men, boys and the whole community. Our plan is to:

• Create support groups, school clubs, and mentor programs so that girls can share their experiences and find help in a safe, nurturing environment.
• Educate men and boys about the detriments of gender-based violence and why it is so important for girls to stay in school.
• Develop community awareness programs designed to protect girls from falling through the trapdoors of early marriage and pregnancy.

Join us in supporting the Girl Power Project in Sierra Leone by donating today.
Read the latest project update.
Learn how you can get involved.
Find project updates from the field at the Because I am a Girl Blog.