Empowering grandmothers for children's education

In southern Senegal, grandmothers are essential to the education of young girls.  They are not only storytellers of keepers of traditional culture, but they are also confidants to young girls on all matters.  Grandmothers support young girls’ education and push other community leaders to do the same. 

“We organized meetings with the WRAs to discuss their daughters' education. The objective of our meetings with WRAs was to see how we can help girls protect themselves from the risks associated with pregnancy. It was at the end of our meetings with the WRAs that more trust was established between us, and since then, they have understood that our objective is to help them in the supervision of their daughters. Now the WRAs encourage girls to approach us.”

-       Grandmother Leader, Hafia.

Grandmothers are also present in the schools, supporting teachers and serving as cultural bridges between the school and the community.  In the schools, they give lessons, but some also work together with teachers to plan special activities. 

“I went to school to talk about the problems that early marriage and early pregnancy can cause. We organized storytelling sessions and guessing games at school with the other grandmothers in collaboration with students and teachers.”

-       Grandmother Leader, Némataba

Your generosity ensures that grandmothers receive the training and support they need to promote girls’ education.