THANK YOU!
Thanks to the Morris Family Foundation’s ongoing contribution, we’ve launched our Girl Tok online program in Sierra Leone connecting girls to life-changing education through a pandemic!
We’re very excited to share with you some amazing results!
PROJECT DETAILS
What: One Girl's Girl Tok Program
Where: Sierra Leone
Funding period: 1 July 2020 – 30 June 2021
Grant amount: $100,000
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
We are so excited to share with you everything that we have learned through implementing the first 6 months of Girl Tok. What a roller coaster of excitement, learning and many, many, many selfies!
Girl Tok Groups
It started with a very exciting induction, where 69 girls were handed their first ever smartphone and switched on the internet connection for the first time. What followed in the next four months was electric. The number of texts and selfies sent during the 10 day countdown alone may have set a new record for the most Freetown has ever seen. The main twelve week program was then launched and girls were led through lessons by their mentor, found connection in their online groups and showed the world their potential as future internet users and advocates!
Mentors
We always centre young women’s leadership and voice, so we recruited and trained 10 of our own Scholarship program alumni to be mentors for the Girl Tok groups. Their commitment to teaching and creativity shone through in the glowing reviews from their groups and we now have a pool of tech savvy teachers ready to lead their communities.
Hygiene packs
All participants received hygiene packs to make sure they stayed safe and healthy through the lockdown. They received sanitary pads, soap, face masks and information about staying safe from COVID19.
Equipment
All the girls and mentors received a smartphone with matching pink cases to participate in the online learning program. They also received a solar panel for charging, data to come online, a program manual and their own journal to keep track of their thoughts and learning.
Psychosocial training of staff
Supporting girls’ mental health through a pandemic is a big job. We did psychosocial training with the team in Sierra Leone to equip them with the skills they needed to provide excellent support through the program to the girls in a safe way. Facilitated by an expert in developing strengths based and girl-led wellness interventions, this was an invaluable experience for our field staff.
WE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
But you already knew that. What we really want to tell you is how we've performed against our achievement indicators!
SDG 4
Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning
Girl Tok Objective 1: Girls education and personal development continues
79
young women in the One Girl scholarships program in Freetown participated in weekly activities for 4 months keeping them connected to learning.
Target: 89 Girls participate in weekly activities for 5 months
83%
of girls returned back to school. Of the 69 school age participants, 29 returned in October and 28 in January. In addition to these numbers, 9 scholars in the final year will also be attending graduation classes outside of school in preparation for their final exam. That takes the percentage of girls returning to formal and supplementary education to 96%! What an achievement!
Target: 70% Girls re-enrol in school
After doing Girl Tok…
"I feel so excited and proud of myself"
"I know more goals and how to achieve goals"
"I feel a big proud of myself how I can talk"
"I know that I can empower other girls some day"
Girls celebrating the end of the program at the Girl Tok graduation ceremony.
SDG 3
Good health and wellbeing
Girl Tok Objective 2: Girls know about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and sexual and gender based violence (SGBV)
79
girls completed audio lessons about consent, healthy relationships, tackling period taboos and women’s rights.
Target: 89 participants complete audio lessons about SRHR and SGBV
Advocates
Girls chose to speak about sexual and gender based violence in their final advocacy posts. The concepts had been written out in their own words and shared with their friends. What an amazing moment of advocacy and girl power!
Target: Girls recall information about unhealthy or abusive relationships and sexual and gender based violence.
After doing Girl Tok…
"I know my rights and responsibilities as a Girl"
"I know about womans (women's) violence"
"I learnt how to protect my body"
Tenneh* makes a speech at the Girl Tok graduation ceremony with One Girl’s Africa Regional Director.
*Tenneh’s name has been changed to protect her identity.
Girl Tok Objective 3: Girls feel connected and supported
79
young women (69 scholars and 10 mentors) received weekly check in calls for their mental health and wellbeing.
Target: 89 young women receive weekly mental health check in calls
69%
of girls with very high life satisfaction (compared to 53% at the start).
19%
reduction in high anxiety ratings.
Young women maintained their mental health scores through the pandemic, with their sense of worthwhileness remaining constant. Happiness tended to be lower at the end, but this may have been because the program was ending. The girls reported a real sense of community and friendship in their groups in their reflection.
Target: Girls feel supported and have good mental health and scores on wellbeing questions are maintained through pandemic
After Girl Tok...
"I feel good about myself"
"I feel like I am a queen"
"I now know that I am unique"
SDG 10
Reduced inequalities
Girl Tok Objective 4: Girls develop technology and social media skills
79
young women went from 50% never having used the internet or smartphone before to confidently researching topics, sending voice notes with their opinions, watching videos of inspiring women and leading online groups as mentors.
Target: 89 girls participate in weekly activities using social media
100%
of girls said they were really confident using the internet and they use it all the time, compared to only 13% at the start. The overwhelming finding reported by participants was that they had learned how to use the internet confidently and safely, interact using whatsapp and research new and exciting topics. The change seen from the first week when they had never used the internet to the last when they did their advocacy project was absolutely astounding.
Target: Girls are confident using technology and social media.
After Girl Tok…
"I know how to go to the google do research"
"I know what happens around the world e.g. COVID-19"
"I am someone who knows about internet"
What's next?
In the next 6 months of the program, we will be delivering the back to school component and expanding the program’s reach to 204 girls and 230 community members. Activities include:
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We're so excited to continue this amazing work with you. Without the Morris Family Foundation, none of these incredible results would have been possible.
THANK YOU!
With love,
Chrisanta and the One Girl team x
