By Imelda Durand | Translation & Editing Coordinator
The primary reason is that in hierarchically structured societies, elders, particularly older women, have authority over girls and younger women. In addition, they influence the head of the families, (their sons’) decisions. Secondly, Grandmothers spend a significant amount of time with children. They are constantly organizing activities with children in the community, like storytelling sessions and counselling them on various issues. Lastly, leadership training empowers grandmothers to unlock their life experience skills to be a force for change.
Grandmother Project’s leadership training sessions in 2023 improved the leadership of grandmothers and empowered them in their communities to promote the importance of children’s, especially girls’ education and their holistic development. The training sessions were organized in a series of participatory learning activities to stimulate critical thinking through dialogue among the participants, draw awareness to common concerns and propose possible solutions. These activities included role plays and case study discussions on daily situations, based on drawings, photos and testimonies of grandmothers from different communities. In conclusion, the 2023 Grandmother Leadership Training program was very successful in empowering grandmothers to ensure that all children, but especially girls, can benefit from their wisdom and continue their education.
Feedbacks from the participants:
“The training sessions to strengthen our role regarding children’s education in our neighborhoods, increase our confidence to invest more in promoting their schooling, especially for girls. Today, we have more courage and arguments to mobilize our community members for supporting girls schooling.”
Grandmother Leader, Vélingara
“Today, we are very comfortable because we have excellent relationships with our elders, which was not the case in the recent past. In our village, the relationships between young girls and grandmothers have been greatly strengthened thanks to the various activities carried out with Grandmother Project. This situation reassures us and reinforces our self-confidence.”, Young Girl Leader, Chateau d’Eau
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