THE ROAD TO THE GIRL POWER CHILD-ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETITION: JUNE

GIRL POWER CLUBS AFRICA TAKES A BOLD STEP TO BUILD AND SUPPORT BUSINESS INITIATIVES AMONG CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS.

Joy and excitement fill the minds and hearts of members of Girl Power Clubs Africa as we draw near to the competition day which is on the 22nd of June 2024.  In the previous weeks the participants have been grouped into different groups and with the help of their facilitators have been able to come up with outstanding business ideas. During the group formation, the facilitators were keen enough to put the participants in groups without bias and in a way that everyone was comfortable. The facilitators mixed the students in the upper classes with those in the lower classes, those who are quick to learn and who take time to learn a new concept. Each group got to select a leader amongst themselves and the group leaders received instructions from the facilitators and they pass the information to the rest of the group.

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Key areas that will be looked at by the judges focus on teamwork. This will be to see whether the group worked together to develop one idea. Other things to look at will include communication skills in the group, how organized they are, and their confidence while presenting the idea.

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PRICES FOR THE WINNERS

The start-up competition is aimed at evaluating the business ideas that the participants have and selecting the ones that qualify to receive financial support. A total of Ksh. 20,000 has been set aside to be distributed to the winners on this level. This award will motivate the participants to do their best and also help them to begin to realize that their dreams are achievable even at a young age. The winners will also get a chance to get one-on-one mentorship with some of our partners in the business department.

By Medrine

Girl Power Business Formation Groups

Girl Power Clubs Africa members across Nairobi are thrilled about the opportunity to receive business education from our dedicated facilitators. This initiative aims to equip young girls with essential entrepreneurial skills, fostering their creativity and empowering them to explore their potential. The students have been organized into groups of about seven, based on their unique skills and abilities, ensuring a diverse range of talents and perspectives within each team.

Within these groups, the girls engage in dynamic brainstorming sessions, exploring various business ideas they can start at a young age. Some of the innovative business ideas presented by the girls include selling snacks like mandazis to their peers during break time and offering mending services for torn school uniforms. These ideas reflect the girls' keen understanding of their immediate environment and the practical needs of their fellow students.

The girls are confident that, with the support and guidance from the facilitators and teachers, they can successfully implement these business ideas. This confidence is nurtured through hands-on learning experiences and mentorship, which provide the girls with a solid foundation in business principles and practical skills.

As seen in the picture, some Girl Power members are actively discussing their business ideas, demonstrating their enthusiasm and commitment to this initiative. The discussions are vibrant and filled with creative energy, as the girls exchange thoughts and refine their concepts.

Lillian, one of the students, expressed her excitement about the program: 

"When I grow up, I want to become a businesswoman, so getting a business education right now will help me become responsible and achieve my goals in the future."

Her statement highlights the profound impact this program has on the girls, inspiring them to envision a future where they are empowered, responsible, and successful.

This initiative not only provides the girls with valuable business knowledge but also instills in them a sense of responsibility and ambition. By nurturing their entrepreneurial spirit at a young age, the program lays the groundwork for a generation of empowered women ready to contribute positively to their communities and the broader economy.

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Written by Medrine Kidavae

Girl Power Clubs Africa Celebrates the Menstrual Hygiene Day 24

The Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed to create awareness and to act to address the challenges and hardships faced by women and adolescent girls during menstruation.

Thematically, the 10th Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrated on the 28th of May 2024, underlined the commitment to making menstruation a normalized and respected aspect of life. The focus was on ensuring that by 2030, no one is held back because they menstruate. This vision aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to health, education, and gender equality. 

The Girl Power Clubs Africa joined the world in making this day a memorable one specifically in Kenya around the Kibera neighborhoods.

The facilitation of menstrual hygiene.

 Every organization was doing it in its own way. For Girl Power Clubs Africa, we went to one of the schools which we partner with, to talk about how society views menstruation and if fathers and other stakeholders in the society were involved in creating awareness to everyone in the society to be part of it and help the girls during their cycle by providing sanitary towel and any basic thing

 

The girls were given a forum to share their views on how society viewed menstruation, it was the negative response that most fathers are not involved furthermore they view it as the mother’s responsibility to handle such issues, what if a girl doesn’t have a mother who will help her during this journey? This question keeps ringing in the girls' minds and community as a whole.

The mentors facilitated proper hygiene to the girls during their cycle, disposing of used sanitary towels and how to wear them, and what challenges they are facing during their cycle and is a lot of challenge that needs to be addressed so that our girls overcome this menstrual stigma.

By Laura Adera, Sadili