Girls' Advancement (Wezesha Vijiana) Program

  • P Project/Program

? Activity Status: Unknown

Key Information

Cultural norms create gender barriers that prevent girls from attending and excelling in school. Girls also lack knowledge and tools needed to become confident and self-sufficient women. These challenges are amplified for girls from rural communities. The Girls' Advancement (Wezesha Vijiana) Program provides tools and training for self-esteem, mother and daughter meetings, the understanding of sexual violence, peer support, and mentoring. Data and stories show that girls in our programs make healthier choices, which improves their attendance in school and improves their academic performance. Hear directly from several of our girls and mothers. The results are that educated girls who have access to feminine hygiene kits and quality training are on their way to becoming healthy women in business and in life.


Lead Implementing Organization(s)

Location(s)

Sub-Saharan Africa

Kenya, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania

Government Affiliation

Non-governmental program

Years

Not applicable or unknown

Partner(s)

Not applicable or unknown

Ministry Affiliation

Unknown

Funder(s)

Not applicable or unknown

COVID-19 Response

Unknown

Geographic Scope

Global / regional

Meets gender-transformative education criteria from the TES  

Unknown

Areas of Work Back to Top

Education areas

Other skills

  • Life skills/sexuality education

Skills

  • Other academic performance-related

Cross-cutting areas

  • Gender equality
  • HIV and STIs
  • Menstrual hygiene management
  • Mentorship

Program participants

Target Audience(s)

Girls (both in school and out of school), Youth

Age

Not applicable or unknown

School Enrolment Status

Not applicable or unknown

School Level

Not applicable or unknown

Other populations reached

Not applicable or unknown

Participants include

Not applicable or unknown

Program Approaches Back to Top

Health and childcare services

  • Sexual and reproductive health services (including family planning)

Life skills education

  • Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE)
  • Sexual and reproductive health (including puberty education)
  • Social and emotional learning (SEL) skills building

Menstrual hygiene management

  • Sanitary product distribution

Social/gender norms change

  • Engaging parents/caregivers of students or school-age children/adolescents

Program Goals Back to Top

Education goals

  • Improved academic skills (literacy and numeracy)
  • Increased school completion (general)
  • Increased school enrolment (general)
  • Reduced absenteeism

Cross-cutting goals

  • Improved sexual and reproductive health
  • Improved understanding of sexual harassment, coercion, and consent
  • Increased agency and empowerment
  • Increased knowledge of HIV, puberty, and sexual and reproductive health
  • More equal power in relationships
  • More equitable gender attitudes and norms