Problem

In Southern Sudan, adolescent girls are more likely to get married or give birth than they are to be in school. Girls’ education is considered even less of a priority because of cultural beliefs. Parents are reluctant to send adolescent girls to distant schools with all-male teachers and for security reasons where there is conflict. Daughters are also kept at home to perform household chores. As a result, girl’s enrollment in schools is half of that of boys and only 1% complete primary school.

The Gift

This gift will improve the quality of life of a teenage girl in Southern Sudan between the ages of 14 and 20. Girls will form their own Adolescent Development Centers as a socialization and life skills development platform which will be run, managed and supervised by adolescent leaders. In general, there will be 20 to 30 girls participating in each center, which will enhance their social awareness, confidence and build their social capital. Each girl will also be offered focused income generation training so that they can start their own businesses for economic self reliance. This training will also be supported by the provision of microfinance to the girl.
Research has shown that when a girl is educated, she marries four years later and has 2.2 fewer children. The population’s overall HIV rate goes down, malnutrition decreases 43% and 10% more girls attend secondary school. Furthermore, the economy grows 3% more and when the girl earns income, she reinvests 90% of it in her family.