Wezesha Vijana Program
Wezesha Vijana Program (Swahili for empowering ourselves) is a unique, multi-faceted approach to personal, social, economic, and health skills development that is based on a human (woman) centered design. This rights-based program emphasizes the active participation of adolescent girls and young women in defining their own needs and leading solutions to the issues that affect their lives.
WHY THE WEZESHA VIJANA PROGRAM?
Understanding relevant cultural, social, and health factors are critical to addressing girls’ education and the “keeping girls in school” gap. Girls struggle to develop essential life skills due to the systemic issues of gender-based violence, early marriage, lack of education and limited opportunity that deeply affect rural communities.
16.7 MILLION GIRLS
are our of school in sub-Saharan Africa (UNESCO)
37% OF YOUNG WOMENS
(20-24) were married before the age of 18 (sub-Saharan Africa – UNWomen)
MORE THAN HALF
56% of urban girls and women live in slum conditions (sub-Saharan Africa – UNWomen)
WHAT DOES THE PROGRAM DO?
Who is the Program for?
Who is the Program for?
WVP focuses on the upper-primary level adolescents (ages 11-14) when girls are more at-risk for dropping out.
WVP includes boys as peer-allies (33% of students) who learn about the challenges girls face and how to best support them as they overcome these challenges.
Topics Students Learn
Topics Students Learn
Through 16 sessions, students learn about puberty, children’s rights, gender-based violence, teen pregnancy, HIV and STI awareness.
Also, the children learn about financial literacy, savings, and budgeting to develop experience in money related issues in order to foster financial autonomy.
What Makes the Program Unique
What Makes the Program Unique
The program’s unique features include community support, parental engagement, peer mentoring, and active engagement of boys.
Wezesha Vijana Program empowers young women to take control of their futures and make a positive impact in their communities.
THE IMPACT
7,800
Girls participated in skill development and recieved psycho-social support (2021)
405
Girls graduated secondary school (kenya & Tanzania, 2021)
4,810
Girls supported with sanitary products and dignity kits (2021)
Through “safe spaces” and learning about money and power dynamics, girls support each other and educate their peers using activities that they have developed. By treating girls as active participants rather than passive beneficiaries, Wezesha Vijana Program empowers young women to take control of their futures and make a positive impact in their communities.