The 2023 Girl Programme issued grants to 23 women-led movements and groups.
Malala Fund’s Girl Programme puts girls at the forefront of the organisation’s work, providing them with training to hone their advocacy skills and a global platform to deliver their message. This fiscal year, the programme awarded $1.5 million in new unrestricted grants to feminist-led movements, groups and organisations working on girls’ rights and education. These partners help girls grow as leaders and advocates and develop their movement building skills.
“Young women-led movements and groups are powerful forces for tackling barriers to girls’ education. With a deep understanding of the contexts where they live and work, they can drive positive change for girls in their communities and around the world,” said Jean-Ann Ndow, Girl Programme Director at Malala Fund. “As an organisation committed to resourcing the work of young women, we are thrilled to welcome this second cohort of Girl Programme grantees.”
From training girl activists to working with school administrators to make schools safer, the organisations this year are helping more girls speak out and share their perspectives with decision-makers. Equipping more young women to shape attitudes and inform policy agendas in their own communities accelerates social change.
Meet the 2023 Girl Programme grantees below:
BANGLADESH
Badabon Sangho challenges the systems and structures that limit women and girls’ access to education. With their grant, Badabon Sangho will convene young women to learn about social justice issues and how to be strong advocates. The organisation will then amplify girls’ voices through wider campaigns fighting for equality.
Family Ties for Women Development (FTWD) aims to uplift marginalised communities in the Kishoreganj district of Bangladesh. With their grant, FTWD will create safe spaces for girls and offer advocacy training. Using a multi-stakeholder, data-driven approach, they will also find solutions to local challenges keeping girls from learning.
Pcycle, a women-led social enterprise, focuses on training the next generation of women leaders in the fight for a gender equal world. With their grant, Pcycle will run a fellowship programme for girls aged 14-24. It will help girls develop the skills they need to speak out on education and the issues facing their communities.
BRAZIL
Blogueiras Negras provides a feminist, anti-racist platform for Black women to connect, learn and share their stories. With their grant, Blogueiras Negras will run workshops for girls on Black history, technology and storytelling. Participants will also learn how to find their voice and connect with women mentors.
Coletivo Mangueiras, a youth-run organisation, campaigns for equal rights and access to sexual and reproductive health care. With their grant, Coletivo Mangueiras will support Black, Indigenous and LGBT teens to learn about their rights and take collective action. They will conduct informational workshops, host community discussion events and raise awareness about their work through social media campaigns.
Grupo Curumim strengthens girls’ citizenship by fighting for issues like education, health and reproductive rights. With their grant, Grupo Curumim will advocate for education equality and train students and teachers on how to get involved.
ETHIOPIA
Empathy for Life Integrated Development Association (ELiDA) addresses the challenges faced by women, girls and youth in Ethiopia. With their grant, ELiDA aims to ensure more than 1,000 girls can access quality education in the Amhara region. They plan to engage the community, engage girls in advocacy and offer support to girls at risk of dropping out.
Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive and Child Health Research (MARCH) Centre works to improve women and girls’ access to health care. With their grant, MARCH will help students affected by conflict ease back into classes across six schools in the Tigray region. The team will create safe spaces where students can access psychosocial support and attend creative workshops focused on collective healing. MARCH will also help rebuild schools and partner with the government to scale their safe spaces programme.
LEBANON
NO2TA Feminist Lab, a media initiative, provides a space for women and girls to share information about the issues they face and their goals for the future. With their grant, NO2TA will work with young women to create content challenging the harmful social norms that keep girls out of school. Girls will learn how they can tell their story through mediums like journalism, stand-up comedy, social media, music and art.
FEMALE, a grassroots feminist organisation, works toward a just, safe world for women and girls in all their diversity by driving social-behavioural changes, building movements, producing knowledge and pushing for policy reform. With their grant, FEMALE will lead a capacity building programme for young women under 24 to learn about social justice, leadership and how to be strong advocates for education and equality. The participants will also engage decision-makers and connect with local and regional feminist movements.
NIGERIA
Zenith of the Girl Child and Women Initiative Support (ZEGCAWIS) protects women and girls impacted by gender-based violence, abuse and discrimination. With their grant, ZEGCAWIS will support girls to speak out about menstruation and the inequalities they face. Girls will also help launch a campaign asking schools to offer free menstrual supplies.
Participatory Communication for Gender Development (PAGED) Initiative aims to promote gender parity and foster inclusiveness across Nigeria using media and advocacy. With their grant, PAGED Initiative will help girls in Kaduna and Kano states learn about film, storytelling and advocacy. The girls will then produce short films about the barriers to education in their own communities.
Young Women Movement for Development (YWMD) supports young women and girls' rights in northeast Nigeria. With their grant, YWMD will create safe spaces for girls in Borno state. Girls will get access to mentors, connect with peers and learn how to act on the issues they care about. YWMD will also develop the organisational systems they need to grow and scale their impact.
PAKISTAN
Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) works to protect the rights of women, people with disabilities and religious minorities. With their grant, AWAM will mobilise communities to increase girls’ school enrolment and retention rates.
Cities for Children (CfC) works to protect the rights of children living in low-income, urban communities. With their grant, CfC will advocate for safer schools and help train girls aged 10-14 as peer education mentors. These girls will help younger students with literacy, numeracy and school readiness skills.
HER Pakistan, a women-led social enterprise, works to end period poverty, shame and stigma and promote girls’ education. With their grant, HER Pakistan will help girls learn about menstruation and access period products. They will also educate teachers, administrators and community leaders on how period-friendly school environments can reduce absenteeism and keep girls learning.
TANZANIA
Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Zanzibar advocates for policies and practices needed to advance progress on gender equality, education and women's economic empowerment. With their grant, FAWE will support advocates pushing for girls’ education in the Unguja North Region of Zanzibar. They will also support girls’ leadership training and connect young mothers and out-of-school girls to remedial classes.
Zanzibar Fighting Against Youth Challenges Organization (ZAFAYCO) aims to encourage more young people to get involved in civic engagement. With their grant, ZAFAYCO will create platforms for young women and girls to challenge social norms and call for equality. They will also provide access to training, mentorship and opportunities to engage with leaders for up to 60 girl activists.
Zanzibar Female Lawyers Association (ZAFELA) aims to achieve equality and fight discrimination faced by women and children. With their grant, ZAFELA will provide lessons to 20 girls on life skills and how to advocate for their rights. They will also engage boys and community leaders to discuss the importance of girls’ education.
The Pink Box Initiative works to tackle the effects of period poverty on girls’ education. With their grant, they will promote education in an agricultural district in the Mwanza region. Pink Box will reach out to girls’ clubs, create safe spaces in school to address gender-based violence and help re-enrol out-of-school girls. They will also use community storytelling sessions to teach parents, local farmers and other leaders about the benefits of girls’ education.
To learn more about the Girl Programme, visit malala.org/girl-programme.
*For safeguarding reasons, Malala Fund has omitted the names of the three grantees.
