Educate girls and fight poverty in Senegal

Thanks to your generous support, our Sisters to School program is making a profound impact on the lives of young girls in Senegal like Soukeye, a 16-year-old resident of Niokholokho, has been a part of the program since elementary school.

Coming from a challenging background with a large, polygamous family, Soukeye faced obstacles that often forced her older sisters into early marriages. However, thanks to the Sisters to School program, Soukeye has been able to defy these odds.

In her own words, “My older sisters were married before even finishing the middle level. For my part, I am lucky to be enrolled in the Our Sisters at School program, which allowed me to ensure that I stayed in school and succeeded in school. With the Our Sisters at School program, I benefit from a full scholarship with school supplies, monthly toiletries, lunch, health insurance and especially transport because of the long distance I travel every day. On the other hand, the health workshops that I followed equipped me to resist family pressure and know how to take care of myself. The program gave me more motivation to do well in school and succeed in life."

With the support and resources she needs from Sisters to School, Soukeye, is breaking the cycle of poverty and early marriage, and paving the way for a generation of empowered young women 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!