Girls Clubs

Health

Glasswing International develops and implements Girls Clubs in public schools and health clinics in the poorest rural and urban communities in the region. It is an evidence-based, holistic program that develops girls’ social, health and financial assets to build their protective factors, reduce vulnerabilities, and avoid negative outcomes (such as school dropout, teen pregnancy and gender-based violence). By focusing on ensuring a safe space for girls and building their social and financial skills, these clubs equip girls, ages 9-18, with the tools they need to reduce and mitigate exposure to risks, violence, and marginalization, enabling them to overcome adversity and thrive

In addition, girls strengthen their knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, which has given them greater tools to make decisions about their bodies and how to relate to sexuality, avoiding unhealthy sexual practices.

The impact obtained is:

9 out of 10 girls have strengthened their knowledge about the institutions to which they can go to receive sexual and reproductive health services.
9 out of 10 girls know about contraceptive methods as a mechanism to avoid early pregnancy.
8 out of 10 girls recognize that the right time when a woman should start having children is when the woman must decide and be prepared both physically and emotionally. This is an important change of attitude since they are recognized as people who can decide on their body and as a result project better plans for their future avoiding early pregnancies or unfavorable circumstances for them and their family.
7 out of 10 girls strengthened their knowledge of sexually transmitted infections, recognizing the ways of transmitting an STI, which favored breaking myths regarding the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

The Girls Club also generates positive attitudinal changes in the participants:

8 out of 10 girls strengthened their knowledge of sexual and reproductive rights. The participants recognize that they now know that they can decide if they want to have children and how many, as well as they can choose if they want to get married, when and with whom.
9 out of 10 girls recognized patterns and situations that are violence in a relationship. They know how to identify mild attitudes such as pushing, hurtful words, as well as serious situations such as beatings.
7 out of 10 of the girls changed their perception favorably to equal equality relations between men and women. The participants recognize mechanisms and cultural patterns that promote that men and women are not socially equal.
8 out of 10 young people improved their self-esteem favorably and their ability to be able to relate positively with their peers.

The girls also strengthen their entrepreneurial skills, develop tools that allow them to undertake productive initiatives: