Non-Governmental Organizations, NGOs working on girls have been advised to adopt the Girl-centered design in their intervention programs and activities.
The advice was jointly given by Brandt Christen, Co-founder, She’s the First and Kate Kiama, Programs Manager, Akili Dada, during a presentation at the convening of Global Fund for Children, GFC’s partners across Africa in Kenya.
Christen while speaking on the importance of the adoption of the Girl-Centered design, explained that girls are experts on their issues and no one could devise a better approach other than the girls.
She’s the First, an organization where girls decide their future according to Christen ensure they engage girls because of the certainty that girls know what’s best for them.
Kate Kiama of Akili Dada, a Swahili word which means ‘brain sister’ explained that “because programs are designed for girls does not means they are for girls” and expatiated on the need for organizations to embrace and work with girls in their interventions.
She gave highlights and said, “don’t tell girls what to do, ask them; no one is a bigger expert of what girls need than girls themselves; trust girls to think for themselves; and don’t tell girls what they need, ask them.”
There was an expert panel session where girls – teenage mother, girls with disabilities and school girls were the panelists and recommended certain interventions they want from the government, organizations and communities.
Some of their recommendations were; availability of menstrual hygiene products in communities and schools, equity not equality, community based youth health practitioners who can sensitize girls on sexual and reproductive health rights among others.
Earlier, Bundie Kabanze, GFC Program Officer, Africa advised partner organizations to adopt various approaches that would make their interventions sustainable, stressing the need for a community driven style. He recommended Adaptation and Innovation as keys to attaining sustainability.
GFC’s Partner present at the convening are; Achievers Ghana; Samburu Girls Foundation, Kenya; Centre for Development Initiative, Ghana; Nyanza Initiative for Girls Education and Empowerment, Kenya; Action for Children, Tanzania; Girls Leading our World Initiative, Kenya; Malaika Kalebuka, DR Congo; Child and Youth Protection Foundation, CYPF Nigeria; and Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection, CEE-HOPE Nigeria.
Earlier in the Year, CEE-HOPe Nigeria and CYPF Nigeria were part of related community-driven and human rights-based training at the Tostan Centre in Senegal also sponsored by the Global Fund for Children.
