Fund Emergency Housing for Girls in Barbados

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

On behalf of our entire community and team, I Am A Girl wants to wish you a very Merry Christmas season, to you, your family and your community.

Thank you for being you, for your enthusiasm for our work, and for your generosity.  We are so grateful for all you have contributed and appreciate all your efforts to support our girls!

How are things going?

In general, your contributions were extremely helpful in our day-to-day operations to support our emergency efforts.

One of our aims was to contribute to the most vulnerable of our girls, towards their social wellbeing, so that their goals may be realized, as well as ensure that their basic needs were met, so they had no worries about their own development.

We have girls who have shared that they are very grateful that they got an opportunity to attain our support, and by extention yours, because they would be lost without it.

Over the past year, we were able to enrol and support more than 75 girls in our programming, and one (1) of the results coming out of programming is that 50% of the girls created and submitted to us, Personal Development Plans for their Education and Development.

We plan to keep them, going forward, to constantly review their plans and assign them with personalized mentorship to aid with focusing on achieving their SMART Goals, and who they need to be to attain them.

A second result coming out of programming is that ten (10) girls who previously never considered university, are now making plans to apply next year, with our career support, and two (2) have successfully been accepted, through our referrals, in a government-run youth development programme (Barbados Youth Advance Corp.) that will aid with them continuing their journey to self-discovery.

It is amazing to how much the right guidance, direction and support could shift the life of a girl, especially when feeling like violence is all they will ever know, when coming from abusive circumstances.

Impact and Assessment:

• Actual # of girls mentored for this year’s programming

Answer: 70/75 girls = 93%

• Actual # of girls helped with direct ancillary needs for this year’s programming

Answer: 65/75 girls = 87%

What Has Happened Since?

Since we last connected with you via reporting, three (3) months ago, we have had five (5) emergency interventions between October and December 2022, specificially of girls and young women being displaced and homeless, as a result of being put out.

Of the five (5) instances mentioned, three (3) were from domestically abusive circumstances, inclusive of physical and financial abuse from a male parent and/or step-parent.

In three (3) of the five (5) instances we were able to find and place the girls in permanent housing solutions within one (1) month of this displacement, which we are so grateful to our community partners that assisted in this achievement.

For the other two (2) cases, both are still displaced; one (1) with a family friend, and the other with a friend.

We are totally aware that this number of cases among our enrolled mentees is rising and we know, if it is happening in our programme so frequently, chances are it is also rising island wide.

We will continue to ensure our girls get the resources they need, while also searching for the ideal solution for their development and peace of mind. 

Also, in the new year, we will also endeavour to complete a feasibility study, to understand the broader scope of need within the country.

Ways you can support!

• Build community with us.  Tell a friend! Tell a colleague! Tell a family member! Help others understand how they can donate to our cause.
• Become a recurring donor (if you are not already). We would love your support on a monthly basis, as you would become a part of the on-going efforts to get girls the help they deserve, because protection and safety is needed rather than homelessness and harm.
•  Be an advocate.  Share our report or details about our work via your social channels, and spread the word!

Once again, as the year draws to a close, we thank you for all you have done this year, and look forward to connecting with you again in 2023!

Stay blessed, and enjoy your Christmas season.

Links:

• Take A Closer Look At Our Work!