Institute Equips Women to Shatter Barriers for Girls

Nairobi, Kenya | She’s the First, a global girls’ rights organization, is thrilled to announce the launch of the Girls First Institute. This groundbreaking initiative equips grassroots organizations worldwide with the resources, tools, and strategies to prioritize girls’ rights, education, and agency in their communities.

The Girls First Institute, which offers two certification levels, “Essential” and “Advanced,” provides vital skills in girl-centered program design, feminist mentorship, and sexual and reproductive health and rights programming, addressing the lack of affordable, high-quality training for women-led, girl-focused organizations in the Global South.

Why It Matters Globally, millions of girls face systemic barriers to education, from early marriage and gender-based violence to economic hardship and cultural norms. Grassroots organizations play a vital role in addressing these challenges, yet many lack access to the resources and training necessary to maximize their impact. The Girls First Institute bridges this gap by providing:

• Free, Evidence-Based Resources: Curated tools and guides to help organizations design and implement girl-centered programs.

• Collaborative Learning Opportunities: Webinars, workshops, and peer-learning sessions led by experts and practitioners.

• Advocacy Support: Guidance on amplifying girls’ voices and advancing policies that promote gender equity.

“The launch of the Girls First Institute demonstrates our commitment to empowering women leaders who are at the forefront of transforming communities and uplifting girls,” said Kate Kiama, Director of Programs and Impact at She’s the First. “By equipping women with essential skills and certifications, we are building their capacity and ensuring a brighter future for girls worldwide.”

Curriculum Content Unlike generic, one-size-fits-all training, the Girls First Institute provides customized programs specifically for locally and women-led girl-focused organizations. She’s the First equips leaders and practitioners with the skills and knowledge needed to deliver girl-centered programming, primarily:

• Girl-Centered Program Design: Mentors and organizational leadership learn to center girls in the entire program design cycle effectively. 

• Feminist Mentorship for Girls: Participants come to understand how mentorship can build agency for girls and learn how to design a mentorship program that best aligns with their program’s goals.

• Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights Programming: Enrollees learn how to design responsive SRHR programs for the unique needs of girls in their programs while creating safe and brave spaces for girls.

“She's the First has pushed us to design better tools, such as our mentoring plan for the girls. This has greatly strengthened the service we provide to the students,” said Gabriela Scarafioca, Program Director of Sacred Valley Project in Peru, an organization enrolled in the Girls First Institute’s Advanced Certification Program. “Thanks to the constant training of our work team, we have been able to detect our weaknesses and put much more effort into improving. And we have been able to help many girls gain confidence in themselves. They show greater determination and autonomy when it comes to making decisions.”

How to Enroll The Girls First Institute is open to women-led organizations in the Global South committed to advancing girls’ rights and education. Interested participants can access the platform and learn more at https://shesthefirst.org/girls-first-institute.

About She’s the First 

She’s the First is a global girls’ rights organization fighting for a world where every girl can choose her own future. We team up with grassroots leaders to make sure girls everywhere are educated, respected, and heard. Over the past 15 years, we’ve created transformational outcomes for 563,741 girls by working alongside 685 community organizations in 42 countries. To fulfill our mission, we teach a girl how to speak up for herself in her home, school, and community, while we teach the mentors in her life practical ways to support her agency. As a result, these girls become the first women in their families to achieve amazing milestones—and they are never the last. Learn more at shesthefirst.org

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