Empower African Girls and Women as Global Leaders

Thank you for your continued support of the Empower 20 Girls and Women as Leaders project. 

Programmatic Updates 

Adolescent girls worldwide are speaking up and advocating for a more gender-equal world. One of the most successful tactics for pushing progress on the continent towards gender equality, poverty eradication, and inclusive economic growth has emerged as the necessity to invest in young women's economic empowerment and skill development. From April through July of the first quarter of the Africa Matters ShE is Empowered Programme 2023, the ShE program has been committed to continuing with programming activities on capacity building, mentoring, and Community Engagement Projects. 

Capacity Building

The portfolio in 2023 has held over ten online module sessions on topics so far. This includes Personal Development, Essential Skills, Project Management, African Identities, African Leadership and Youth Activism, Social Entrepreneurship, and African Feminisms. Leaders were introduced to theoretical frameworks of what skills women and girls need to break into the ever-changing world, taught practical methods essential for their community projects, and how they can contribute to society through knowledge-based themes that not only provide knowledge systematically and practically, but also promote awareness, advocacy, and dialogue.

Mentorship Program

In addition to the capacity component, the ShE portfolio oversaw the mentorship program, which matched ShE Leaders with seasoned professionals on the African continent. The AMI Mentorship program provides Leaders with the chance to be exposed to and connected with professionals who can help them improve professionally and personally. This mentoring experience is the first step in achieving the goals they have set for themselves, and it will assist in navigating the barriers to pursuing leadership. They were matched based on what both parties stated they required out of the mentorship relationship.

The matching process was successful, and 80% of the Leaders were assigned to their suitable mentors.

Community Engagement Projects

Our program places a strong emphasis on community engagement as we believe that the Leaders must have the necessary resources and tools to effect change in their communities. That is exactly why we upskill them with those skills in the capacity building component. 18 Leaders have started the planning stages of their community engagement projects and 2 have successfully started execution. These projects are related to critical issues such as Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Education, Mental Health, and Skills Development.

The Leaders have diversified the manner in which they incorporate education. Education focusing on empowering young women and girls, as well as promoting financial literacy and political participation. Additionally some are incorporating creative ways to address the issue of Gender-based violence (GBV) in their SRHR community engagement projects, as well as focusing on environmental conservation, especially water management.

As the ShE Team, our ultimate goal is to support the Leaders to acquire specific skill sets that can assist them in generating income transformation in their communities. We do this through highlighting the importance of Social Entrepreneurship throughout the program. 

Upcoming Activities 

As we approach the halfway point of the year, the program has been able to provide essential skills to the participants. The portfolio will continue to facilitate the remaining capacity-building sessions, which will further increase the Leaders' understanding of themes related to youth involvement and leadership. Now that the participants have begun planning their community projects and some executing, the program will prepare to move to the execution phase, where impact, empowerment, and serving as change catalysts will occur. In addition, the portfolio will be preparing for the 2024 application cycle.  

Closing Remarks

We are immensely grateful to all supporters of AMI, and especially of our program, who have contributed to any and all success of our program. We have had a rewarding half to our 2023-24 program cycle, and with more changes up ahead, we are happy to know that we have the avid support of many who believe in investing in African youth and their personal, professional and leadership development. It is this belief that inspires us to continue to grow and succeed, enabling us to work alongside African youth in their journeys to create tangible and transformative change where they are. 

You can continue to contribute to this journey by donating to our program via GlobalGiving or by reaching out to us for potential partnership and sponsorship opportunities.

Thank you once again for your unwavering support. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please feel free to contact us at she@africamattersinitiative.com