Panajachel, Guatemala | On February 16th, 2024, Ellas al Frente, a joint venture by She's the First and MAIA, hosted a transformative conference aimed at equipping grassroots leaders and girls with essential skills to champion girl-centered programs in the Northern Triangle region—the region's first girl-focused summit. Girls, particularly indigenous girls, in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador are among the most vulnerable populations. Girls' rights are constantly under threat in a region marked by discrimination, gender-based violence, and high levels of inequality. This conference is an innovative initiative dedicated to improving outcomes for girls in the region.

The Ellas al Frente Summit, organized by She's the First and MAIA, brought together 19 organizations, 40 practitioners, and 25 girls from Guatemala, Peru, El Salvador, and Honduras. Participants discussed challenges faced by girls in the region, including discrimination, gender-based violence, and limited educational opportunities. Held in Panajachel, Guatemala, the summit equips grassroots leaders and girls with the tools they need to champion girl-centered programs in the region.

“At She's the First, we understand that real change starts at the local level," said Ceci Ariaza, Senior Program Manager at She's the First. "Through Ellas al Frente, we are forging the first coalition of its kind for girl-centered organizations in the region, with a shared goal of unlocking the potential of girls and enabling them to thrive."

This year's conference brought together Ellas al Frente organizations, our Latin America Partners, and a one-day summit that attracted 40 practitioners and 25 girls from 19 women-led organizations. The conference included parallel sessions for both mentors and girls from the same organizations, with programming designed to address each group's specific needs and perspectives, ultimately improving outcomes for girls in the region. 

Key Highlights:

• Empowering Girls: Wendy Palax, a young activist, led the "Girl Hour," emphasizing the importance of centering girls' voices in discussions about their rights and empowerment.

• Practitioner Training: Mentors received training on various topics, including feminist mentoring principles, safeguarding girls, and using the "What Would You Do?" game to teach healthy relationships.

• Girl-Led Activism: Girls participated in sessions on becoming changemakers, managing menstrual health, and building healthy relationships through the “What Would You Do?” game. They also received resources to continue their learning journey.

At the end of the conference, all participant organizations received a copy of the " What Would You Do?” game in Spanish. This tool is helping mentors worldwide teach girls about healthy relationships and setting boundaries. 

"The Ellas al Frente program has taught me that creating communication networks with organizations that work with girls is necessary," said Dania de León, Program Coordinator of She's the First. "The program has allowed all participating organizations to grow, redesign programs, and create social cohesion at the same time as they learn and feel included and recognized for their work."

The Ellas al Frente conference is a critical step towards advancing girls' rights and empowerment in the Northern Triangle region. With the support and resources gained at the conference, participating organizations are better equipped to create brighter futures for girls in their communities and have a stronger support network to address challenges.