Educate girls and fight poverty in Senegal

Thanks to your generous support, our Our Sisters Lead program in Senegal has continued to thrive. We asked two of our 405 leadership program participants to share how the program has impacted their lives:

Fatima, 18 years old, based in Sokone, Senegal: “Our Sisters Lead trains girls and boys with leadership tools so they can get out there and serve their community to bring about positive change. I joined the program to serve my society and develop my leadership to be seen as a role model… I wanted to develop public speaking skills so that I could

communicate better. The issues that matter most to me in my community are violence against women and girls, substance abuse, and motor safety. The program helps solve these problems by training young people like us who will then carry out awareness-raising activities within their community through radio broadcasts, social mobilizations, and talks. I am happy and proud to be among the leaders of the program!”

Modou, 17 years old, based in Sokone, Senegal: “I joined the Our Sisters Lead program because I saw the positive impact it had on our predecessors who are now role models for our community. I especially wanted to perfect my communication and break my shyness. What issues do you see in the community that need to change? I am passionate about solving several problems facing society, including ending gender-based violence and fighting climate change. It’s important to me that we take action on these issues and sensitize our communities so that we can live in more perfect harmony. I will make the most of the knowledge I’ve gained from the program and will be a role model for the next generation. Thank you, WGEP, for including

boys in the program through the framework of positive masculinity.”

Our holistic program model works– over 99% of our scholars stay in school each year– in remote, rural regions where fewer than 15% of girls graduate high school. Your continued support is critical to the success of this program and the girls we serve. We are grateful for your ongoing commitment to breaking down barriers and expanding opportunities for girls in Senegal. Together, we are creating a brighter future where every girl can decide for herself what her future holds!

As part of our ongoing program expansion, we are now serving the remote island communities along the Sine-Saloum Delta of Senegal, including Bassoul, Djirnda, and Bassar! For the 2022-2023 Senegal school year, we are supporting 778 girls from primary school through university with comprehensive school scholarships, health education, and mentoring, including dozens of girls in these remote regions.

Bassoul, Djirnda, and Bassar are only accessible by boat, and girls face many challenges to attending and succeeding in school. When we expand our program to a new region, our local team members conduct a large-scale engagement meeting to introduce the goals of the program to the community, complete with drumming, dancing, and support from influential community leaders, such as school principals and local government officials. This engagement helps to build trust, and create community buy-in for our work.

Thank you for making this support possible. Together, we can envision a world where every girl has access to a high-quality education, and can decide for herself what her future holds.