What’s happening this week?
We are seeing the start of a leadership journey for eighty girls, all of whom have the power to change our world. Our Blended Learning Leadership Initiative is launching again in five countries and eight locations! Read on to find out more about this programme and why we believe girls can change the world.
What does “Blended Learning'' mean and why do you use this approach?
Blended Learning is an approach which combines online learning with classroom interaction, bringing the best of both approaches together for a more impactful learning experience. We developed the Blended Learning Leadership Initiative as a way of expanding our reach to even more organisations and girls. Our in-person Exchange Programme was incredibly popular, but was limited to a small number of girls who could benefit and we wanted to expand our impact. We wanted to take the best parts of the Exchange Programme and together with our partners design something which would, by virtue of being partly online, reach many more girls.
How does it actually work?
We hire and train facilitators from our partner organisations, who deliver partially online content to groups of 10 girls in a particular location. The facilitators access an online course, which guides them through the delivery of 11 sessions of expertly designed leadership and community development content. Our partners are local organisations who are deeply embedded in the communities they serve: the programme is delivered in the girls’ local language and is flexible enough to be adapted to the local context (we always love hearing about adaptations facilitators have made to the programme). Our partners are the heart and soul of our work, we are partner-led and strive to build genuine and equal partnerships built on respect and deep listening.
So, what do the girls actually do?
The facilitators guide the girls through a journey of learning about community development, social change movements, leadership, and finding and using your own personal voice. As part of the programme, the girls run their very own event on a topic which impacts their community. This might be on child marriage, menstrual health, domestic violence, traditional gender roles, but it will always be chosen by the girls as something important to them and their community. By the end of the programme the girls have experienced project development and planning, practiced leadership skills, and interacted with the other Blended Learning Leadership groups from all over the world.
Girls in Gujarat, India start the Blended Learning Leadership Programme led by their facilitator Asma
What impact does this have?
Our ultimate goal is to see female- and community-led change making a difference to social issues. By mobilising girls to be leaders in their communities we see impact on a number of levels. At a personal level we see the girls build their skills, their self-confidence, and their self-esteem. At a community level we see the impact of the work the girls do, we see people engaging with the issues that affect girls and women, and we see community members seeing that girls can lead for the first time. In the longer term girls who are mobilised for social change become leaders and innovators working to change the world and make it a better and more equal place for us all.
Where are your partners working at the moment?
Our partners are currently working in Haiti, South Africa, Jordan, India, and Cambodia.
How do I get involved?
If you are an organisation working in a developing country with girls living in poverty aged 13-18, you can apply to be a Blended Learning Leadership Initiative delivery partner. Email info@globalgirlproject.org for more info.
If you want to support our work you can become a regular donor here
If you want to find out more about our work you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn here.
If you want to volunteer for us, please get in touch with info@globalgirlproject.org.