Protecting girls from aids Nigeria workshop: Why girls need safe spaces. Safe-space programmes come in all shapes and sizes. But whether it's a financial literacy group run from a mosque or a health and leadership programme set up in a youth centre, the aim remains the same: to inspire girls and equip them with the information and support they need to achieve their greatest potential. Here, Janna McDougall from the Nike Foundation outlines 10 compelling reasons why safe-space programmes for girls are at the heart of the girl effect… 1.
Safe spaces build friendships. In many places, girls in poverty have only one or two friends, whereas boys have many more. Many girls are pulled out of school when they're on the cusp of puberty, cementing their isolation, and they may not be allowed out of the home except to do chores such as fetching water and firewood. Safe-space programmes reduce girls' isolation by creating space for them to build connections to other girls, in a place where they know they can trust each other. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. The Coalition for Adolescent Girls | Poverty Ends with Her. Girleffect. Female Genital Mutilation: A Change Has Begun is a short and intimate, survivor-led account of life with FGM which speaks of the positive shift in perspective within practicing communities in the UK. Produced by Spirited Pictures, this 10 minute documentary, commissioned by Girl Effect, reveals brand new Home Office data - embargoed up until the point of the film's release - on the prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation in England and Wales today.
A Change Has Begun has just been released at Girl Summit 2014 hosted by by David Cameron, The Home Secretary Theresa May, Secretary of State for International Development Justine Greening and heads of state, practitioners, survivors, charities and community groups who are gathering with the aim of securing new commitments from the private sector, faith leaders, other civil society organisations and governments. The film complies with BBC broadcasting standards and is TV ready. Adolescent girls are the most powerful force for change on the planet. Girl Consultation Toolkit.