The Power of Girls in Senegal

My son, Alec, and I just spent 10 days with non-profit, Plan International , in Senegal. [yes, this was part of my retirement plan.] I’m not going to lie–the logistics were rough and complicated. Extremely long bus rides on dirt and crater-filled roads. We went from Dakar to Kedougou to Khossanto to Bandafassi (see map below). Electricity, warm water, toilets and food we could eat were often hard to come by. But the truth is–we had to experience it for ourselves. These girls endure extremely difficult living conditions in their marginalized world. The poverty is pervasive. Climate change (it was 105 F for most of our time there) makes it extremely hot and is limiting access to clean water even more than it already was.?

Beyond the physical conditions, Senegalese girls live amongst age-old traditions and cultures that simply have no place for women, other than to take care of the home. As one local teenage boy put it, “we did not see them as individuals. They existed for pleasure, no other reason.”? And one father said, “The girls did all the chores. I frankly didn’t speak to my wife or daughters. We didn’t see any reason to send the girls to school.”? When a man showed up and asked to marry one’s daughter, the answer was almost always ‘yes,’ regardless of the girl’s age or her opinion. No one talked of puberty or menstrual cycles or reproductive health. If girls did go to school they were sent home when they had their periods because there was only one toilet for the entire school. They often just chose not to come back.

Yes, this all feels monumental to overcome but the last couple of weeks has shown me that it IS indeed possible. Over the last 3 years Plan International has worked through #GirlEngage with 3 cohorts of girls, 600 in total, from Kedougou, Khossanto, and Bandafassi. They also included the fathers, mothers, boys and village leaders. The girls can’t bring change to their communities alone. Everyone needs to be onboard. Activities and topics included: self-esteem, assertive communication, reproductive health, gender based violence, a solar energy engineering project, days of community activism, hygiene products, school supplies, creation of girls’ toilets, father awareness training, mothers’ support groups, etc.

Over the course of our time there we engaged with the girls from all three cohorts and listened deeply as they articulated their journey thus far. We marveled at the change in self-confidence. They all plan to graduate. They are crafting big dreams for themselves. “I want to be a lawyer.” “I want to be an engineer.” They now describe themselves as ‘brave, confident and determined’. They promise to take what they’ve learned to other girls. They promise they will raise their families differently. From one of the girl’s poems: “My voice counts. I take the power. I am strong. I am influential. I am a Champion of Change. I am Girl Engage.”???

“My voice counts. I take the power. I am strong. I am influential. I am a Champion of Change. I am Girl Engage.”?

Forced marriages and early pregnancy are starting to go down. Girls are graduating from high school. One mother articulated how there is now laughter and conversation in her house. One father said he is now helping with fetching the water. Another said he feels more comfortable in his own home. “It is peaceful now.” Brothers are also starting to help with the chores. We have created the seeds for girls to grow and blossom.

This trip was the most moving experience of my life. Perhaps we can’t change the world but when you provide the space, support, and education for girls to find their true selves you create those Champions of Change and a ripple effect that will go on for years.

My ask is that you consider donating to this profound work in a part of the world that desperately needs the power of girls to rise and help create more productive communities.?

Ping me if you would like more information about Plan or our trip and I thank you in advance for your support.