The Mentoring Camp for Girls is the tool through which we seek to achieve personal transformation and empowerment for young African girls so that they are better prepared to participate in the leadership and development of the African continent.
The need to invest in young African women early as part of the process of maximising the potential of African societies to reproduce themselves cannot be overstated. By establishing this programme, we are responding to several challenges including early marriages, sexual violence, mis-education, discrimination on basis of gender among others
This program wants to reach the girls at an age when they are most vulnerable. The challenges of sexual abuse, sexual violence, coercion, and intimidation faced during these years can greatly be reduced by better understanding available information and increased access to alternatives that are empowering. Lack of correct information on topics such as sexual and human rights make cycles of violence impossible to break, especially on a long term and sustainable basis.
Indeed, it is increasingly clear that violations of women’s rights and especially those that are also linked to their democratic and constitutional rights have a direct link to societal expectations and the socialization process. The patriarchal system and cultural structures have been used to perpetuate marginalisation of young women due to age and other issues linked to their identities.
The Girls Camp aims to empower girls at an early age so as to break these cycles that have time and again hindered the emancipation of women.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Girls Camp 2007
The Girls Camp is an initiative of the Meeting Place and Resource Center for Black women in Zurich. After several similar camps in Europe, this pilot run in collaboration with Community Empowerment & Rural Development Society (CERDS) based in Machakos, Kenya.
After 2 years of networking, project collaboration and research, the two organisations have established a mentoring programme for African girls using the blueprint developed by the Resource Center. This initiative is set to target a particular group of young Africans: girls between the ages of 15 and 20.
Objectives
i. To train and mentor young African girls to develop awareness about themselves, and become potential key players in facilitating transformative change
ii. To enhance their understanding of their social environment; and to be more conscious actors in that environment
iii. To empower them by developing their confidence and personal skills, through widening their knowledge base on issues of importance such as gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, including HIV/AIDs, personal hygiene, FGM.
Links
http://www.blackwomenscenter.ch
Youth Forum
After 2 years of networking, project collaboration and research, the two organisations have established a mentoring programme for African girls using the blueprint developed by the Resource Center. This initiative is set to target a particular group of young Africans: girls between the ages of 15 and 20.
Objectives
i. To train and mentor young African girls to develop awareness about themselves, and become potential key players in facilitating transformative change
ii. To enhance their understanding of their social environment; and to be more conscious actors in that environment
iii. To empower them by developing their confidence and personal skills, through widening their knowledge base on issues of importance such as gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, including HIV/AIDs, personal hygiene, FGM.
Links
http://www.blackwomenscenter.ch
Youth Forum
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)