By Florence Sidi, Programs Coordinator

After months of meticulous preparation, the 8th iteration of the Girls First Summit in Nairobi and the first-ever Summit in Uganda finally arrived! Girls First Summit, hosted by She’s the First,  brings together courageous women who work with underserved girls to strengthen their programs, learn practical ways to build girls' power in their communities, and network.

Changing girls’ environments starts with investing in the women who run programs for underserved girls—because of their influence and lived experiences in local communities. We’re addressing the scarcity of affordable, high-quality professional development training by offering free, customized certification programs for women-led, girl-focused organizations in the Global South via our Girls First Institute. The Girls First Summit is the Institute’s signature annual event—this year, we expanded the Summit beyond Kenya into Uganda to train the mentors of even more girls!

The excitement was palpable as She’s the First’s team worked tirelessly to bring this year's summits to life. Over 100 enthusiastic practitioners and 40 girls eagerly entered the conference halls, ready to engage in inspiring and impactful events presented at the Sarova Panafric Hotel in Nairobi and the Hotel Africana in Kampala.

Key Moments from Nairobi

The Critical Role of Girls' Voices

Community-based organizations (CBOs) play an important role in addressing the unique challenges faced by girls. Including girls' voices in decision-making processes ensures that the programs designed to support them are relevant and effective. Hearing from girls at the beginning of each summit emphasizes the necessity of their perspectives in creating sustainable solutions. 

The Nairobi summit commenced with the Girl Hour session, a powerful platform where girls share their stories and insights. Moderated by Sukeji Modi, a member of both She's the First’s Girls Advisory Council and Board, and a dedicated advocate for girls, this session emphasized the significance of involving girls in discussions about their futures. Their voices resonated throughout the day's sessions, serving as a powerful reminder that true change begins with listening to those we aim to empower: Girls!

The panelists identified challenges in managing menstrual health, discussed what mentors can do to create safe, trusting relationships with the girls in their programs, and highlighted the need for safe spaces where girls feel secure and supported.

Practitioners then participated in a series of sessions led by members of the She’s the First team. Ceci Arriaza, the Senior Programs Manager, led a session on Funding for Girls Programs, where participants gained insights into the grant writing process, proposal development, and effective narrative framing. Kate Kiama, the Director of Programs and Impact, facilitated a session on Girl-Centered Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning, emphasizing the importance of involving girls in program design and evaluation to create impactful interventions. Ceci also led a session on Creating Safe Spaces for Girls: SRHR Programming, exploring strategies to build safe spaces and promote feminist mentorship. All of this training works together to teach women leaders effective ways to increase girls’ power and voice within their organizations so they can create more effective programming for them. Together, we can build a world where every girl chooses her own future. 

Meanwhile, the girls engaged in their own series of full-day sessions and interactive activities, each designed to empower and educate them on crucial topics. Vandana Kumari, the Founder of Rang Kaarwaan India and a She’s the First Girl-Centered Incubator Fellow, led a session on Empowerment through Education, providing comprehensive knowledge about sexual and reproductive health. Joan Chelangat, STF’s Programs Intern, co-facilitated the Strategies for Emotional Well-being session, addressing mental health challenges and support strategies. I moderated the “What Would You Do?” card game, allowing girls to learn from each other, reflect on their responses, and build confidence in their ability to handle real-life scenarios. These sessions collectively aimed to empower the girls, ensuring they left the summit with enhanced knowledge, skills, and a stronger sense of self.

Engaging with Funders

While the above sessions took place, we also held a concurrent meeting with funders from the NGO sector. Led by She’s the First Board Member Mary Murigi of Co-Impact and Tammy Tibbetts, She’s the First CEO and Co-Founder, this session brought together representatives from  Echidna Giving, Global Fund for Children, Co-Impact, Vibrant Village Foundation, Freedom Fund, and the Gender and Education Dialogues. The discussions centered around funding priorities and barriers, as well as anti-oppression strategies to work with and for community-based organizations. This dialogue was crucial in aligning the goals of funders and practitioners, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively to support the empowerment of girls.

Highlights from Uganda

The excitement in Uganda was evident as our team ventured to bring the Girls First Summit to new territory. At the first-ever Girls First Summit in Kampala, the day commenced with the Girl Hour session, which I had the honor of moderating. The girls took the stage with confidence, sharing their opinions and ideas, and providing invaluable insights for the representatives from community-based organizations in attendance. This session vividly reiterated the critical importance of giving girls a platform to express themselves and ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

After the tea break, practitioners immersed themselves in sessions on Stronger Mentorship Programs to Build Girls’ Agency and Girl-Centered Approaches to SRHR Programming. These discussions underscored the importance of feminist mentorship and the necessity of incorporating girls' voices into sexual and reproductive health and rights programs. Later in the day, participants delved into the "What Would You Do?" card game, exploring the dynamics of healthy and unhealthy relationships and addressing potential unconscious biases that could emerge during facilitation. The room buzzed with laughter, camaraderie, and lively interactions as everyone participated in the gameplay. Participants were eager to take home copies of the "What Would You Do?" card game, excited to incorporate it into their programs and foster meaningful discussions with the girls they support.

Moving Forward

The Girls First Summit 2024 was a resounding success, leaving participants inspired and armed with valuable knowledge and tools. Attendee feedback was overwhelmingly positive, underscoring the critical role these gatherings play in fostering collaboration, enhancing local leaders’ capacity to address the most pressing needs of girls in their communities, and amplifying girls' voices. Looking ahead, we remain dedicated to advancing this crucial work and supporting community-based organizations in their mission to build a more just and equitable society for all girls. 

These summits were more than just events; they were catalysts for change, reminding us that empowering and listening to girls paves the way for a brighter, and more inclusive future.