A global setback for girls—but hope isn’t lost

Dear Community, 

At a time of deep uncertainty and overwhelm, we remain steadfast in our commitment to a world where girls are educated, respected, and heard. 

Politics’ Impact on Girls Right Now: 

In January, the Trump administration halted USAID funding, cutting off all U.S. foreign aid, including aid for education, humanitarian efforts, and women’s and girls’ health care. As a result, nearly a million women and girls lose contraception access per week. Gender equity programs are at risk as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is attacked.

As we saw during the pandemic, girls pay the ultimate price for this fallout, with their education, bodies, and futures. The rates of school drop-out, early pregnancy, gender-based violence, forced child marriage, and sexually transmitted diseases and infections will rise. These statistics are a tragedy and have repercussions on global health, peace and security, and the economy, affecting us all. 

But here’s why we’re hopeful. There is strength emerging from what She’s the First has built over the past 15 years: from 936,396 girls whose futures expanded in mentorship programs; from 946 women leaders trained to build girls’ agency across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Last year alone, 6,570 girls accessed age-appropriate Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) education through STF.

When a community has existing infrastructure, policies, and tools to empower girls, we can do some damage control. Progress that allows girls to beat the odds and be change agents, rather than statistics, is possible.  

How We’re Responding: 

1. Supporting leaders on the frontlines: This year, we'll equip 193 organizations with the skills and knowledge to deliver girl-centered programming, including mentorship groups that teach girls about their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and provide psychosocial support—at a time when governments have cut off access to these services.  

2. Deploying mid-year grants to our partners, which they use to address girls' most pressing needs in their communities.

3. Mobilizing girls: In the U.S., we’ll empower girls to speak up for their rights amid rising misogyny in high schools and on college campuses. We have activism training events planned for girls in Houston, Dallas, and Austin at the end of March.  

Can you take one small action today to stand by girls in these turbulent times?

(consider joining our monthly donation community, the Front Row)

We’re so proud of how far we’ve come in 15 years — let’s keep going, together. 

Warm regards,
Kate Kiama & Tammy Tibbetts
Co-CEOs