Promoting Equality and Safety in Schools

For many of us, the idea that our children should have to worry about sexual assault or discrimination at school is unthinkable. But it is the reality of girls in several places in Burkina Faso where girls are at times subjected to sexual violence and physical harm in school settings.

What did we do?

Plan International worked with individuals, communities and schools to develop and implement activities that emphasized the importance of girls’ rights and gender equality, while also providing training on recognizing and reporting acts of school-related gender-based violence. The program, known by its acronym PEASS, has also worked on peace negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

The PEASS program addressed other barriers to girls obtaining education by evaluating and updating facilitates for girls to safely manage their periods while at school, and supporting safe spaces for girls’ clubs and leadership activities. One of the students’ favorite activities was learning how to create their own reusable menstrual pads using materials that are readily available in their community. Scholarships were also provided to some girls to cover school fees and supplies they could focus on their studies.
Together, we created safer, more respectful learning environments that allowed girls to complete their education.